Nathan Lyon axed again as shock decision leaves Test future in doubt
Nathan Lyon has been dropped for the second time in three Tests – a move that will ‘rock’ the veteran spinner, and leave him facing an uncertain future.
Australia are “off’’ Nathan Lyon and are playing a dangerous game with his fragile confidence levels.
The man who Australia would not drop for 12 years has now been dropped twice in three Tests and would be feeling the rejection deeply.
The selectors said his axing for the recent day-night Test in Jamaica was a one-off. Suddenly it is a two-off.
It was the first time Lyon has been left out in Australia since January, 2012, a sporting lifetime ago.
Yet, for all of that hardcore job security, Mitchell Starc once said of his great mate “he’s played 70 Tests and made 70 Test debuts.’’
It was a cheeky barb at the fact that for all his wicket-taking progress and job security that comes with shining in a trade which has few stars Lyon still frets deeply over his work and struggles to feel totally secure.
This will rock him.
Just like his recent omission in the Jamaica Test against the West Indies, Lyon has been dropped in a day-night Test where a lot of the game will be played at night when the fast men are expected to be suited.
But here’s the thing. Lyon bowls well at night and has a pink ball bowling average of 25.
And he bowls well at the Gabba. Like Shane Warne he loves the ground’s extra bounce.
The other thing which would have jolted Lyon is the fact that it was not as if he was left out for Australia’s full strength attack.
As good as they are, Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett entered the match with 12 Test wickets between them. Lyon has 562.
The other insulting factor for Lyon was that the pitch looked conspicuously dryer than it did the previous day, going from tree frog green to gumleaf green.
He would have fancied his prospects on that deck.
Many former Test players arriving at the ground took one look at the wicket and said “Lyon should play.’’
England’s former champion seamer Stuart Broad was shocked.
Lyon’s future will be interesting.
Does this decision open him up for a challenge to other like youngsters like Matt Kuhnemann or Corey Rocchiccioli? Is he closer to the end than we think?
Interesting times ahead ...
Originally published as Nathan Lyon axed again as shock decision leaves Test future in doubt
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