Ricky Ponting defends Kevin Pietersen over controversial concussion substitute comments

Ricky Ponting clarified Kevin Pietersen did not suggest Nathan Lyon walked out to bat injured just to get hit in the head and allow Australia to bring in a concussion substitute.

Australia’s off-spinner torn a muscle in his right calf on Day 2, but bravely padded up on Saturday, hobbling to the middle to bat at No11 and managed to finish four off 13 balls as the tourists were bowled out for 279 in their second innings.

‘I think [taking] time out of the game and also eking out every single run,’ Pietersen said on Sky Sports broadcast as to why Lyon hobbled out to bat.

‘[But] Imagine if he [Lyon] had been hit on the head and got concussion, he’d have got a like-for-like replacement and a world class spinner [Todd Murphy] … it gives food for thought.’

Had Lyon been hit in the head while batting and concussed, due to the ICC’s laws he could have been substituted out for a like-for-like replacement – meaning spinner Todd Murphy could’ve come in and bowled in the fourth innings. 

Ricky Ponting clarified comments Kevin Pietersen made about Nathan Lyon on Day 4

Lyon came out to bat on the fourth day despite nursing a severe calf strain

Speaking early on Day 5, however, Ponting clarified the comments.

‘I wanted to clarify some comments that were made in the commentary box yesterday,’ he said.

‘When Nathan Lyon came out to bat, Kevin Pietersen was talking about the potential of Nathan Lyon being hit in the head and what that would mean as far as a concussion sub was concerned.’

The former Australian captain went on to explain the commentary team felt that Lyon being replaced by Murphy would represent a ‘worst case scenario’ for England, rather than a ‘best case scenario’ for Australia. 

‘In no way at all were any of us saying it would be good to see Nathan Lyon being hit in the head,’ he said. 

‘In fact, it was the complete opposite. 

‘The worst case scenario for England was that if they continued to bowl short and Nathan was hit [in the head].

‘I just wanted to clarify that, because there has been some negative chat around this morning, which has probably been a little bit unfair. 

Pietersen questioned the wisdom of Australia’s decision to send out Lyon to bat 

The veteran off-spinner could barely walk but battled bravely for 13 balls

‘And in fact I think there was some chat at the back of the commentary box as far as worst case scenario for England, not best case scenario for Australia. 

‘By no means, no way at all would anyone ever hope to see someone get hit in the head.’

Pietersen shared a clip of the explanation on Twitter, captioning the video with ‘cleared up by Ricky Ponting’. 

A clearly emotional Lyon was not impressed after the match upon hearing about Pietersen’s comments. 

Ponting (right) was seen speaking to Lyon at Lord’s ahead of the fourth day of play

‘I have heard comments that people thought I went out there to get hit in the head, and I’m really against that because I’ve lost one of my mates due to being hit in the head,’ he said, referring to the tragic death of the late Philip Hughes.

‘So I think that’s a really poor excuse or conversation being had.’

Lyon was just metres away from Hughes on November 25, 2014, when he was felled by a Sean Abbott bouncer while playing for South Australia against NSW in a Sheffield Shield match at the SCG.

He collapsed onto the turf and never regained consciousness, with the popular star dying in front of his teammates. Lyon and David Warner were two of the first players to get to him, before he later died in hospital.