Veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon admitted he was feeling “absolutely filthy” after learning he would not be part of his national side for the second Test of the The Ashes series. He said he had arrived at the ground at noon only to be informed about 30 minutes later that he would not play.
The Australian selectors opted to drop Lyon in favour of a pace-heavy attack — bringing in Michael Neser and giving a chance to Josh Inglis in place of injured opener Usman Khawaja. The revamped bowling line-up alongside Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Brendan Doggett reflected Australia’s decision to go with an all-pace attack for the Gabba Test.
When asked about a possible chat with selectors, Lyon said the conversation was “short.” He added: “Absolutely filthy, but yeah, can’t do anything about it. Hope I can play my role in making sure I get the guys ready and do whatever I can to make sure that we get the right result here.”
Selection Logic — “One-Test Decision”
Ahead of the Test, chief selector George Bailey clarified that dropping Lyon was “very much a one-Test decision,” implying that he is expected to return for the third match in Adelaide.
Bailey explained that the choice was influenced by considerations including how they planned to use their resources — when they expected to bowl seaming spells under lights, and how many overs would be bowled in a day. According to him, such tactical planning justified the tempo-oriented selection. He acknowledged, “Nathan will disagree with the decision, and that’s perfectly okay.”
Lyon’s Legacy, Disappointment and Professionalism
Despite his omission, Lyon reminded everyone of his strong record at the Gabba — a ground where he has enjoyed success. He pointed out that he “absolutely love[s] playing cricket” there, and believed the pitch would have offered “a bit of bounce” that suited his style.
Though deeply disappointed — saying he was “extremely disappointed” — he maintained professionalism, affirming his commitment to support the team. “I’m not the first player to miss a Test match, and I won’t be the last,” he accepted, but stressed that he would do “whatever I have to do to make sure these guys are up.”
He also indicated he hasn’t yet sat down with coach or selectors to discuss the decision, preferring to “let things settle down” in his own head before engaging in conversations.
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