BRISBANE: Nathan Lyon’s future with the pink ball in hand looks bleak after he was dropped for the second Ashes Test at the Gabba.
At the toss, captain Steve Smith announced the decision with Queenslander Michael Neser picked in his place.
“Pink ball, we think it’s going to offer quite a bit, particularly later on under lights,” Smith explained to Fox Cricket.
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“With no daylight savings here you play in the night a lot. We thought that’s going to be the best [chance] to take 20 wickets in this particular fixture.”
Lyon has now been dropped twice in four months, and both those games have been pink-ball Tests.
Nathan Lyon. Getty
The other call came in Kingston, Jamaica for the tour of the West Indies.
Scott Boland was the man picked in that Test, with Australia winning by 176 runs. The West Indies were bowled out for 27 in the second innings.
Mark Waugh wasn’t sure about the decision, calling it an “unnecessary change” considering the presence of Cameron Green.
“It’s a lot of the same sort of bowling, I just wonder if the lack of variety is going to come back to bit them,” he said.
Kerry O’Keeffe also described it as “risky”.
“I can’t agree with the non-selection of a spinner on a dry Australian pitch,” he said.
“All the chips are on an Australian victory here to go up 2-0 up in the series and then normal transmission will resume.”
Nathan Lyon. ICC via Getty Images
Pat Cummins also missed out on selection for the second Test due to injury. The captain was ruled out of the first Test weeks before the series but there was a suspense around whether he’d be picked for the Gabba.
“He was close,” Smith said.
“He’s done everything right the last little bit. We just thought it might have been a little bit risky this game, but he’s certainly tracking well for the next one.”
Mitchell Starc’s pink ball wizardry was of full display early at the Gabba, dismissing Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope for ducks.
