Australia has left out veteran spinner Nathan Lyon for the second Ashes Test at the Gabba, opting for an all-pace attack under lights with the pink ball. The decision marks the first time Lyon has been omitted from a home Test since January 2012, when he was a 24-year-old with just nine Tests to his name. Now 38 and with 562 wickets from 140 Tests, Lyon was deemed surplus to requirements after Mitchell Starc's rapid removal of the English in Perth limited him to just two overs in the opening Test.
Stand-in captain Steve Smith explained the call, saying, 'With the pink ball, we think it's going to offer quite a bit, particularly later on under lights. We feel that's going to be the best to take 20 wickets in this particular fixture.' Chairman of selectors George Bailey acknowledged Lyon's disagreement with the decision, telling Fox Sports, 'Don't think [Lyon] agreed with it, and that's fine. Nathan will disagree with the decision, and that's perfectly OK.'
Former players questioned the move. Darren Lehmann called it 'strange,' noting that spin would play a role in the heat and humidity. Jason Gillespie described it as 'gutsy' and said Lyon seemed 'pretty disappointed.' After the first session, with England at 2-94 and the ball stopping swinging, Gillespie remarked, 'I can't help but feel they'd love a frontline spinner right now.' The pitch had only 3 millimetres of grass, suggesting the pace attack may face a long grind.
