MELBOURNE — Nathan Lyon has been as much a fixture of Australian cricket as the baggy green itself. But after more than a decade as an automatic selection, the country’s second-highest test wicket-taker now finds his place under genuine pressure, with selectors weighing all-pace attacks for looming series against South Africa and New Zealand.
Lyon, who turns 39 in November, missed the final two Ashes tests of the home summer with injury before being recalled for the recent Bangladesh series. In Darwin, he operated as a support act for the celebrated pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, returning figures of 1-125 in Australia’s opening defeat and being out-bowled by Bangladesh’s spin-bowling all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
His spot for the second match in Mackay was far from guaranteed. Captain Pat Cummins confirmed selectors initially considered unleashing Scott Boland in an all-pace attack, but the surface ultimately favoured Lyon. The off-spinner claimed 3-25 in Bangladesh’s second innings, including two tail-end scalps, yet it proved little more than a cameo as the tourists collapsed for 64 and 95.
“I guess the quicks were getting the job done and we probably saw less overs from Nathan this test match, on probably a wicket that suited a little bit as well with that bounce and spin,” wicketkeeper Alex Carey said. “Nathan’s a high-class bowler, has been for a number of years.”
A Proud Competitor Unwilling to Step Aside
Lyon remains adamant he belongs in the side and that age has not dulled the craft that has delivered 571 wickets in 143 tests. A hamstring injury disrupted his Ashes campaign, but he would be the last to accept that his workload needs careful management — or that Australia can prosper without a specialist spinner.
Any selector suggesting otherwise should brace for a fiery response. When Lyon was dropped for the Gabba test during the Ashes, his first omission from a home test in 13 years, he described his mood as “absolutely filthy” in a television interview.
“I’m not the first player to miss a test match and I won’t be the last,” Lyon said at the time. “But I’m obviously pretty gutted because I know the role that I can play, and especially at a venue like this.”
Pace-Heavy Tours Loom Large
More difficult conversations may await ahead of the October tour of South Africa, where fast bowling is expected to dominate. Boland, who took 20 wickets during the Ashes, is waiting for another opportunity. All-rounders Cameron Green and Beau Webster offer additional seam-bowling depth, while Travis Head provides handy part-time spin.
Carey acknowledged the selectors’ balancing act.
“You could easily say Nathan can play every test match, if it just lines up well,” Carey said. “But I think for the selectors to be really flexible on different surfaces is great options for us.”
For a champion spinner who has defied expectations throughout his career, the coming months will test whether pride and performance can still outweigh shifting tactical winds.
