A decade and a half ago, the Australian off-spinner was hobbling into Ashes legend down the Lord's Pavilion stairs, his calf torn and his series finished.
That was when the home audience applauded with shivers down their spines, showing respect for one of England's fiercest rivals.
According to Lyon, who spoke to BBC Sport, "My wife, her parents, and a good family friend were all in the crowd in tears." "I probably didn't realize how much respect was being offered at the time.
I'm appreciative of the ability to look back on and think about that. I've always believed that most of England despises me."
Lyon had fallen on the ground two days prior, suffering only minor injuries while trying to retrieve the ball from the deep. He never considered not batting in Australia's second innings; instead, he relied on his wife Emma to help him into the shower and get ready.
He says, "I was batting all the time." "People go to work when they are ill or sick because they have a variety of jobs. Not to bat was not a decision. It was always, "I'm going to go, no matter how bad I am."
Australia was leading the Ashes series 2-0 and about to win it in England for the first time since 2001 when Lyon took off for home.
The 36-year-old was likely the only one to keep his team from losing 3-2 to the Manchester rain as he watched his team struggle to a 2-2 draw during the night down under.
The loss of one of the best finger spinners in history was clearly felt by Australia, but so was the less evident but no less significant loss of Lyon's aggressive and competitive nature.
He practically proves the point when he says, "I do believe it would have been 4-0 to Australia if I was here."
Lyon had fallen on the ground two days prior, suffering only minor injuries while trying to retrieve the ball from the deep. He never considered not batting in Australia's second innings; instead, he relied on his wife Emma to help him into the shower and get ready.
He says, "I was batting all the time." "People go to work when they are ill or sick because they have a variety of jobs. Not to bat was not a decision. It was always, "I'm going to go, no matter how bad I am."
Australia was leading the Ashes series 2-0 and about to win it in England for the first time since 2001 when Lyon took off for home.
The 36-year-old was likely the only one to keep his team from losing 3-2 to the Manchester rain as he watched his team struggle to a 2-2 draw during the night down under.
The loss of one of the best finger spinners in history was clearly felt by Australia, but so was the less evident but no less significant loss of Lyon's aggressive and competitive nature.
He practically proves the point when he says, "I do believe it would have been 4-0 to Australia if I was here."
Seated at Old Trafford, his new home, Lyon is a Lancashire county cricketer. In the hen house of English cricket, not quite a fox, but unquestionably a double-agent.
To qualify for the Ashes tour in 2027 when he would be 39 years old Lyon has committed to a term with the Red Rose. County cricketers can gain knowledge by competing against and playing alongside some of the greatest players in the world.
The Lyon-Lancs agreement came under special attention following England's tour of India, where left-arm spinner Tom Hartley made his breakthrough. These Australians are moving here, taking our jobs and bowling our overs.
But Lyon's goal is not to restrain Hartley.
Lyon adds, "I'm not here to take Tom's place." "Tom and I will be bowling together here.
"Hopefully I'll be able to pass on a bit of knowledge here and there, but I'm learning from him as well."
With Lyon, there's a lot to explore. He is a typical finger spinner who can play cricket in any age using the same conventional techniques. He currently stands ninth among all Test wicket takers with 530 wickets, but a run to the 2027 Ashes would catapult him considerably higher.
Lyon, an Australian great who was formerly a groundskeeper, will always be "mates for life" with Joe Root because of their Adelaide club cricket playing days together.
To qualify for the Ashes tour in 2027 when he would be 39 years old Lyon has committed to a term with the Red Rose. County cricketers can gain knowledge by competing against and playing alongside some of the greatest players in the world.
The Lyon-Lancs agreement came under special attention following England's tour of India, where left-arm spinner Tom Hartley made his breakthrough. These Australians are moving here, taking our jobs and bowling our overs.
But Lyon's goal is not to restrain Hartley.
Lyon adds, "I'm not here to take Tom's place." "Tom and I will be bowling together here.
"Hopefully I'll be able to pass on a bit of knowledge here and there, but I'm learning from him as well."
With Lyon, there's a lot to explore. He is a typical finger spinner who can play cricket in any age using the same conventional techniques. He currently stands ninth among all Test wicket takers with 530 wickets, but a run to the 2027 Ashes would catapult him considerably higher.
Lyon, an Australian great who was formerly a groundskeeper, will always be "mates for life" with Joe Root because of their Adelaide club cricket playing days together.
Despite having a reputation for being a nervous performer, Lyon never falters in front of the camera. He describes himself as "humble" because of his country upbringing in rural New South Wales and the morals his parents instilled in him.
Notably, however, he also declared that he thought the bowling foursome he forms with pacers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood is the "best in the world" and that he planned to "end the careers" of England players before to the 2017–18 Ashes.
Lyon, who is expected to be Australia's media attack dog now that David Warner is out of the picture, took a snotty swipe at England's disputed 'Bazball' strategy in November.
Notably, however, he also declared that he thought the bowling foursome he forms with pacers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood is the "best in the world" and that he planned to "end the careers" of England players before to the 2017–18 Ashes.
Lyon, who is expected to be Australia's media attack dog now that David Warner is out of the picture, took a snotty swipe at England's disputed 'Bazball' strategy in November.
Lyon continues to brush off the England camp's complaints that their tactical set-up from the Brendon McCullum period is too similar to that term.
"They do," he responds.
"I have no problem learning about it. It's the cricket they play. We've been playing enjoyable cricket for a while now, in my opinion, so we don't really need to give it a label to make it acceptable.
"I seen David Warner achieve hundreds of runs in a single session, long before the Bazball was created.
Now, it is up to them to continue doing it. They are not playing Bazball if they are not going at a pace of six runs per over. You have to take action if you're going to discuss it."
"They do," he responds.
"I have no problem learning about it. It's the cricket they play. We've been playing enjoyable cricket for a while now, in my opinion, so we don't really need to give it a label to make it acceptable.
"I seen David Warner achieve hundreds of runs in a single session, long before the Bazball was created.
Now, it is up to them to continue doing it. They are not playing Bazball if they are not going at a pace of six runs per over. You have to take action if you're going to discuss it."
Australian cricketers used to routinely visit the UK every four years and easily crush the British team in the Ashes.
Lyon belongs to a generation of extremely successful Australians who have never won the title in the UK outright, together with players like Brad Haddin, Warner, Cummins, Shane Watson, Starc, Steve Smith, and Michael Clarke.
After a disastrous run-out of Jack Leach in 2019, Lyon's calf injury in 2023 likely cost his team a series victory.
Lyon belongs to a generation of extremely successful Australians who have never won the title in the UK outright, together with players like Brad Haddin, Warner, Cummins, Shane Watson, Starc, Steve Smith, and Michael Clarke.
After a disastrous run-out of Jack Leach in 2019, Lyon's calf injury in 2023 likely cost his team a series victory.
"I have been part of two teams that retained the Ashes here, let's not forget about that," he says. "But, yeah, 100% the bucket-list dreams for me are to win Test series here and in India."
It's a different story in Australia. Lyon has a 13-0 series lead over England, who will visit Australia at the end of 2025 for what is probably the last match of the Ben Stokes and McCullum era.
"I haven't really thought about that Ashes series," Lyon states. This year, we have India at home, which is one of the biggest series you can play in.
However, it doesn't seem like 18 months away. It will certainly be unique."
He was an injured animal when they last saw him. England will be in the den of Lyons the next time.
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