Australian chief of selectors George Bailey has revealed the reason behind the controversial call to drop spinner Nathan Lyon in a decision that the veteran was “aboslutely filthy” with.
Lyon was a shock omission for the second Ashes Test in Brisbane with the Aussies instead going with a four-pronged pace attack featuring Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett and Michael Neser.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Nathan Lyon speaks on axing.
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The move to drop the spinner immediately raised eyebrows from expert commentators.
It’s the first Test in Australia he has missed since 2012.
“For someone like Nathan Lyon who is such a seasoned professional with a good record at the Gabba, I think it’s a massive call for the Aussies to make,” Ricky Ponting said on Channel 7.
“I’m still a bit surprised by it, to be honest,” Aaron Finch said.
“I am shocked because last time Nathan Lyon didn’t play a Test in Australia was back in 2012 at the WACA,” Simon Katich said.
“I can’t believe it,” England great Stuart Broad said.
The confusion continued throughout the first session as Neser bowled just three overs.
He did pick up the crucial wicket of Zak Crawley in the middle session, but the absence of Lyon is still a huge talking point.
Bailey addressed the situation during play on Day 1.
“I don’t think he agreed with it, and that’s fine,” he said.
“I think Beau Webster’s in the same boat. That was heavily debated around Inglis and Webster, Neser and Webster.
“Nathan will disagree with the decision, and that’s perfectly OK. I think he disagreed with the decision in Jamaica, and that was perfectly OK.
“There’s no qualms about players feeling like they can impact the game and the fact of the matter is he could have.”
Bailey insisted it would be a one-off decision.
When Lyon was omitted for the third and final Test in the West Indies earlier this year national selector Tony Dodemaide also said it was “a one-off”.
“Very much it’s a one-Test decision. Nath will play in Adelaide,” Bailey said.
“It’s just how you think you’re going to structure up the resources and how it’s going to be used when it gets dark, when you think you’re going to be using seam bowlers, how many bowlers get used in a day, when you think the new ball is going to be available, that sort of stuff.”
Bailey added there were “a number of factors” at play.
“I wouldn’t like to be going down a path where you’re saying it’s purely the wickets or purely the way the game’s been played and certain games not going as deep into days four and five,” he said.
“It’s probably just highlighted with Gaz because there’s been years where he has (bowled a lot) and his ability to bowl long spells, go at two an over and do that sort of stuff. It just hasn’t quite panned out that way.”
Lyon later told Channel 7 he was “filthy” at the decision.
Absolutely filthy, but yeah, can’t do anything about it,” he told Channel 7.
“Hope I can play my role in making sure I get the guys ready and do whatever I can to make sure that we get the right result here.”
As of 8.30pm local time, Lyon had not brought himself to speak with Bailey or coach Andrew McDonald about his omission.
“I haven’t really sat down with ‘Ronny’ (McDonald) or George yet. When things settle down in my own head (I will),’ he said.
“I’m not the first player to miss a Test match and I won’t be the last, but obviously I’m pretty gutted, because I know the role that I can play within Australian cricket, especially at a venue like this.
“I’m extremely disappointed, but I’ll do whatever to make sure these guys (the Australian team) are right.”
Meanwhile, Bailey insisted the Aussies weren’t playing “funny buggers” with the selection intrigue around skipper Pat Cummins.
Cummins was left out of the squad for the second Test last week, but was a talking point this week with reports saying he was still a chance to play.
The skipper was extremely close and now seems a certainty to feature in the third Test in Adelaide.
“He could’ve played but there would’ve been some restrictions around the overs,” Bailey said.
“Probably the key factors were what does that look like for post-this and are you accentuating that risk going forward and what are the uncontrollables in the game and does that put other players under pressure?
“It’s one where we can’t budge. There was going to be a hard number of overs.”
Cummins has made outstanding progress from a back injury and will only be in a better condition by Adelaide.
“Now he’s into that mode where it’s back-to-back bowling days,” Bailey said.
“It’s one of those ones where the longer (recovery) the better.”
– With AAP
