Nathan Lyon has officially been dropped in favour of a four-pronged pace attack as Australia confirm two changes to their XI for the second Ashes Test in Perth.

England won the toss and have elected to bat, the headline news item is Lyon, who will miss a home Test he for just the second time in 15 years, and first since 2012.

Lyon makes way for fast-bowling allrounder Michael Neser, who hasn’t played at Test level since Australia’s day-night clash with West Indies at Adelaide in 2022.

If needed, Australia can lean on Travis Head for some part-time spin, but will otherwise rely on Neser, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Brendan Doggett to take 20 wickets.

Neser’s inclusion also helps lengthen the batting card, which has looked particularly thin at the bottom without the handy runs of injured skipper Pat Cummins at No.8.

“This is Michael Neser’s home ground and he knows the conditions really, really well,” Ricky Ponting said ahead of the toss.

“But for someone like Nathan Lyon who is such a seasoned professional with a good record at the Gabba, I think it’s a massive call for the Aussies to make.”

Stand-in skipper Steve Smith also confirmed at the toss that Western Australia’s Josh Inglis will come in to replace the injured Usman Khawaja, who is recovering from the back spasms that stopped him from opening the batting in Perth.

Inglis was terribly unlucky to be dropped for the World Test Championship final against South Africa in June, having made a century on debut against Sri Lanka in February.

He was recalled for the first Test against West Indies in July but struggled on a tricky pitch at St George, and made way again in the second Test for the returning Steve Smith, who dislocated his finger in the WTC final.

Smith also confirmed that Head will move to the top of the order in place of Khawaja after his heroics in that position at Perth, with Inglis to slot in at five.

England declared their XI earlier this week, with batting allrounder Will Jacks – who bowls part-time spin – to bat at No.8 in place of express seamer Mark Wood, who misses with injury.

Australia XI

Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (c), Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett

England XI

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer