Cricket World Cup 2023: Australia must axe Marcus Stoinis, recall Nathan Lyon to save campaign
A heavy defeat to open the World Cup in India showed plenty of problems for the Aussies, but none more than the need for another spinner, so it’s time to talk about calling Nathan Lyon.
If Marcus Stoinis can’t get himself fit for Australia’s next big game against South Africa on Thursday, selectors should parachute Nathan Lyon into the World Cup instead.
Australia can’t lose from putting such a strict deadline in place.
With Stoinis in the line-up, Australia will be a stronger team, but if his hamstring issues linger, then as big a blow as it would be to lose him, at least the gaping hole of not having a second frontline spinner in India can be immediately addressed.
If Ashton Agar has recovered from the calf injury that had him scratched from the original squad, then he would also be an option to come straight in if Stoinis is cut, but Lyon with all his experience is a big moment performer who can be trusted to step up to the challenge even if he will only make his return to grade cricket this Saturday.
It wouldn’t be ideal preparation given Lyon hasn’t played a single ODI since the last World Cup in 2019.
But he is Nathan Lyon, the GOAT, and the type of player you would trust with only a grade match under his belt.
The worst mistake Australia can make after Sunday’s sobering opening loss to India is to remain in a no-man’s land where they have only 13 fit players to choose from.
Australia’s most recent World-Cup winning captain Aaron Finch was spot on when he said selectors can’t wait indefinitely for the injured Travis Head to return from his broken hand.
At the moment Head is still watching on from his loungeroom in Adelaide, and as long as he remains unavailable for selection, the current imbalance in Australia’s 15-man squad threatens Australia’s future in the tournament.
The pressure Australia is under only having one specialist spinner to choose from has been exacerbated by the fact the man riding solo Adam Zampa has had a sluggish preparation for the World Cup and was underwhelming in the heavy six-wicket loss to India in Chennai.
Stoinis is a vital member of Australia’s World Cup hopes, but only if fit.
In the 2019 World Cup, Australia carried Stoinis through the tournament with fitness issues and ultimately it cost them and they regretted not replacing him.
By all accounts Stoinis’ hamstring is almost right, and that’s a good thing in itself because Australia’s all-round balance and middle-order batting will be strengthened by having him rushed straight into the line-up against South Africa.
An argument could be made for Stoinis replacing Cameron Green, Marnus Labuschagne or even captain Pat Cummins in the best XI to face the Proteas.
But if Stoinis fails a fitness test for Thursday, then at least Australia can take comfort from the fact they have Sean Abbott waiting in the wings who is capable of covering that sort of role.
The real urgency is there is no second spinner in the squad and on Sunday night’s evidence, it would appear a massive ask for Australia to win the World Cup without one.
Regardless of whether Stoinis proves his fitness or not, selectors must now be ruthless on any player who comes down with a fitness issue for the remainder of the tournament.
Any opportunity to replace a current member of the squad with a spinner must seriously be looked at because the need is so great.
Australia will be praying they can get through the next four matches against South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the Netherlands without another loss – because that will at least buy them the time to get more bases covered.
By then, it should be known if Head is ready to return or whether the mountain is too steep to climb.
And by then, Lyon will have played a one-day cup match for NSW and Agar might also be close to returning to fitness.
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