England has made one change to its XI for the third Test in Adelaide with seamer Josh Tongue replacing Gus Atkinson as the tourists look to pull off the unlikeliest of comebacks to regain the Ashes.
Atkinson has taken just three wickets this series and added only seven with the bat in Brisbane as England slipped to another heavy defeat to go down 2-0.
He’s paid the price for his lack of threat with the ball, with England turning to Josh Tongue who has taken 31 wickets in his six Tests but has been largely ineffective in two tour matches this summer.
Ollie Pope has retained his spot at No. 3 despite struggling in Brisbane, while the visitors need a lot more from Harry Brook who loomed as their wildcard but has been a bust so far with his poor shot selections.
“Sometimes we’ve got to rein it in a little bit,” Brook said, conceding some of his dismissals outside the off stump were a result of “shocking shots”.
“Learn when to absorb the pressure a little bit more and then realise when the opportunity arises to put pressure back on them.
“I feel like I probably haven’t done that as well as I usually do in this series so far.
“There’s no reason behind that, I just haven’t identified them situations well enough.”
Meanwhile, Nathan Lyon is set to come straight back into the Aussie side after he was dropped for the day-night Test in Brisbane.
The veteran spinner is poised to become Australia’s second-leading wicket-taker in Tests if he claims two scalps, with Lyon “disappointed” to be left out having bowled just two overs in the first match.
“I’ve always said that as soon as the ball spins, there are more eyes on TVs, and I stand by that,” he said.
“You look at when we go over to India and you look at the conditions there and the exciting cricket when the ball starts spinning, there are so many people watching it.
“So for me, spin is incredibly important in the game of cricket … it doesn’t matter what format it is, spin plays a massive role.”
Lyon has been dropped for two matches this year where Australia’s quicks ran riot, with the off-spinner unwilling to give his views on why he thinks he wasn’t picked.
“I don’t know. That’s probably a really good question for the captains and the selectors,” he said.
“I’ve played 140 Test matches so I don’t feel like I have a point to prove to anyone.
“I feel like I’m very clear on my role within this Australian cricket team. I love playing with everyone in that changing room and I love representing Australia.
“If I get that opportunity again then I’ll keep doing that. My dream is to continue to play cricket for Australia. No one has got a given right to be selected – you’ve got to work your backside off to make sure you earn that selection.”
England XI for third Test: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue
Originally published as Nothing to prove: Nathan Lyon on track for major milestone as England makes key change for third Ashes Test
