Australia’s selectors are considering dropping Nathan Lyon from the playing XI for the second Test against Bangladesh which starts in Mackay on Saturday.
Lyon, Australia’s second most prolific Test bowler ever with 568 scalps, was one of many home players to struggle in the shock first Test loss in Darwin.
From left: Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins, Alex Carey. nna\zgates
The 38-year-old delivered figures of 1-125 across the two innings as Bangladesh cruised to a historic nine-wicket win.
Australia captain Pat Cummins usually names his XI the day before play but was not ready to show his hand when meeting with reporters on Friday.
“Haven’t looked at the wicket yet so we’ll probably wait for tomorrow,” Cummins said.
The skipper said selectors were considering playing Scott Boland in a four-pronged pace attack at the expense of Lyon.
Travis Head, Beau Webster, Marnus Labuschagne, Matt Renshaw and Steve Smith are part-time spin options.
Cummins confirmed that Renshaw would open the batting as Jake Weatherald’s replacement.
When fit, Lyon has always been picked in a Cummins-led red ball Test.
He has been omitted in pink ball Tests under Cummins’ captaincy.
Test legend Ricky Ponting told Triple M that the selectors had to start introducing younger players.
“It (Darwin XI) was the oldest team Australia’s put on the park since 1928. Only one player under the age of 30 and that’s Cameron Green,” Ponting said.
“The current group, they’re going to have six or seven guys retiring at the same time. I’ve been there when I was captain. It’s not a nice place to be. Trying to regenerate all at once is really difficult.
Marnus Labuschagne of Australia walks off after he was dismissed by Taijul Islam of Bangladesh. Getty Images
“I think they missed a trick last week, I would’ve had a couple of young guys in for that Test match.
“I thought it was the right time to look at some of the young boys, because you then know with that amount of time, if you look at them and it doesn’t work you’ve still then got time to go back to the older ones.
“But if you hang onto the older ones as long as they have done it just makes the change even harder.”
The match will be the first Test at Great Barrier Reef Arena.