Australia's bold and contentious selection gamble to omit veteran spinner Nathan Lyon from the second Ashes Test is already showing signs of backfiring, with England's top-order batsmen capitalising on a lack of variety in the bowling attack.
"Absolutely Filthy": Lyon's Raw Reaction to Axing
The shock decision, confirmed just an hour before the toss at the Gabba, left Lyon "absolutely filthy", as he revealed to Channel 7. This marks only the second time since his 2011 debut that Lyon has been omitted from a home Test match. He was replaced by right-arm paceman Michael Neser for the day-night fixture, a move that mirrored his absence during Australia's recent pink-ball Test in the West Indies.
On a seesawing first day that concluded with England at 9-325, there were several moments where Australia desperately missed Lyon's control and wicket-taking threat. The tourists, recovering from a poor batting display in Perth, were themselves surprised to see Lyon's name missing from the team sheet. "I can't remember the last time other than in the West Indies recently that they haven't played him, so we were surprised," admitted England opener Zak Crawley.
Crawley and Root Pounce on Homogenous Attack
The tactical impact was immediate. With Mitchell Starc the sole left-armer, the Australian attack of Neser, Cameron Green, Scott Boland, and Brendan Dogett presented a uniform challenge of right-arm medium pace. This lack of variation played directly into the hands of the English batsmen.
Zak Crawley, who powered his way to a commanding 76, conceded that the predictable attack helped him settle. "I suppose there was some rhythm I could get in with the four seamers playing. It definitely got easier as the game wore on," Crawley said. He suggested the ball did less after the initial 10-15 overs, allowing him and captain Joe Root to build significant scores.
Root, in a sublime return to form, remained unbeaten on 135, breaking a drought of 30 innings without a century in Australia. The partnership between Jofra Archer and Root for the final wicket, worth 61 runs, further frustrated the Australian pacemen under the lights, highlighting the missed strategic option of a specialist spinner.
Strategic Cost and Bowling Burden
The selection call also carried consequences beyond the scoreboard. By not deploying a spinner at any point on Thursday, Australia fell eight overs behind in their over rate, risking penalty points in the World Test Championship standings.
While Starc, who claimed a brilliant 6-71, publicly backed the team's composition, the figures told a different story. The other four pacemen combined conceded 249 runs for just two wickets, placing an enormous burden on Starc's shoulders. Starc stated he didn't feel extra pressure without Lyon but expressed sympathy for his teammate's disappointment.
"It's a tough one for Nath. Everyone wants to play every game and I'm sure he'll be disappointed not to be playing this week," Starc said. He added that the selectors had chosen an attack tailored for the Gabba's pink-ball conditions and that the omission was "not a reflection of Nathan and his skills."
As England prepare to resume batting in valuable daylight hours, Australia's decision to enter a crucial Ashes Test without their most experienced and prolific spinner looms as a defining moment of the series, one that may have already handed significant momentum to the visitors.
