He is the greatest off-spinner Australia has ever seen and the marathon man when it comes to Test cricket, but there is one iconic Aussie skill Nathan Lyon has yet to master

Cricket legend Nathan Lyon can do almost anything in the middle, but put him in a swimming pool and the tide turns very quickly.

Speaking during an interview with GOATan online platform to bring spectators and athletes together, gave Lyon an incredibly rare insight into his rehabilitation following his calf injury in England during the Ashes series.

Rehabilitation involving pool work, more specifically: swimming.

“I’m trying to swim, which is a challenge in itself,” he said in the candid interview when asked if some of his rehabilitation sessions were “quirky.”

It seems sticking your head in the water scares him more than meeting speedsters who love bowling bouncers like Ben Stokes and Mark Wood.

The next day he was on crutches and a ten-week rehabilitation program was carried out

Lyon also shared his timeline on returning to First Class cricket, saying he would be ready by mid-October.

“I’m very excited about how the calf is developing,” he said.

“It’s been 10 weeks since it happened and the medical team around me has implemented rehabilitation like you’ve never seen in a calf before.”

Lyon retired lame when he played a ball late on day two of the second Test at Lord’s in June and appeared unable to put any weight on his right leg as he was helped off the field by Australian staff.

The next day, after scans and medical treatment, Cricket Australia provided an update on the condition of Lyon, who became the first bowler to play 100 consecutive Tests by taking the field in London.

“Nathan was diagnosed with a significant calf strain,” the statement said.

‘He will need a period of rehabilitation after this match.

Once he got back to Sydney, the scans showed it was more than just a strain, but was in fact a tear.

Since then, he has prioritized his healing.

‘I started running earlier this week after ten weeks of recovery and will start bowling again this weekend. My gym sessions have now gone from an hour to about three hours, and there have been a lot of calf exercises,” he explained.

‘Also a lot of toe walking, but lifting the calves is interesting. I do them in different positions and I have never done that before and never understood how and why before.

He’s gone from not being able to put any weight on his torn calf to “feeling better than my legs ever have.”

“I think the second Shield game, like I said, I’ll be playing again in mid-October, and I’ll be ready.

“Fans needn’t worry as I’m back better than before and I can’t wait to get into the middle with ball in hand.”

This forced break and overcoming his fear of water may have added years to Lyon’s Test life.

The GOAT will be 38 by the time of the next Ashes 2025 series.

Fellow legendary spinners Muttiah Muralitharan got so far, but Shane Warne finished with 37.

Lyon talks Friday about when he’ll return, his struggles with swimming and how cool GOATD is

“Honestly, I don’t see any reason why I can’t continue,” he said.

“I’ve always said this from day one: if I wake up one morning and don’t have the drive to get better, then I have to leave the game.

‘But now I wake up hungrier than ever. I feel like I have a lot to give and I’m looking forward to it.

‘In my opinion I am far from finished.’