Nathan Lyon insists he has nothing to prove on return to Australia’s Test team, after going from indispensable to left out twice in the space of three matches.<\/p>\n
Lyon is considered a certainty to return for the third Ashes Test in Adelaide starting on Wednesday, with significant heat and a drier wicket expected to favour spin.<\/p>\n
Australia continued their preparation on Monday albeit without Steve Smith who sat out training while feeling unwell. He is not considered in any doubt to play.<\/p>\n
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Pat Cummins will also return as Australia eye an unassailable 3-0 series lead, while questions continue to linger over the top of the order.<\/p>\n
But there are no doubts over Lyon’s selection this time.<\/p>\n
The 38-year-old Lyon played 100 Tests straight for Australia between 2013 and 2023, before a calf tear in the Lord’s Ashes clash stopped the off spinner’s historic run.<\/p>\n
He was then left out as Australia chose a four-pronged pace attack for a pink-ball Test in Jamaica this year, marking his first omission while fit in 12 years.<\/p>\n
Selectors at the time labelled it a “one-off” in “exceptional circumstances”, before making the same call for the day-night Test at the Gabba earlier this month.<\/p>\n
Australia won both those Tests, with Scott Boland taking a hat-trick in Lyon’s place in Jamaica and Michael Neser a five-wicket haul in Brisbane.<\/p>\n
Asked on Tuesday whether he now had a point to prove as Australia eye a chance to wrap up the series, Lyon was defiant in his response.<\/p>\n
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Lyon will return to Australia’s XI for the third Test in Adelaide.\u00a0 (Getty Images: Darrian Traynor)<\/p>\n
“I’ve played 140 Test matches. I feel like I don’t have a point to prove to anyone,” Lyon said.<\/p>\n
“I’m very clear on my role within this Australian cricket team. I love playing with everyone in that change room and love playing representing Australia.<\/p>\n
“If I get that opportunity again, I’ll keep doing that. My dream is to continue to play cricket for Australia.<\/p>\n
“No one’s got a given right to be selected. You’ve got to work your backside off to make sure that you put your hand up for selection and you earn that right.”<\/p>\n
Smith, meanwhile, is expected to train again on Tuesday after hitting on Saturday and Sunday.<\/p>\n
Travis Head also faced the new ball in the nets on Monday alongside locked-in opener Jake Weatherald, before Usman Khawaja joined soon after.<\/p>\n
Australia are yet to confirm whether Khawaja will return to the side following back spasms, and if it will be as opener or in the middle order if he does come back.<\/p>\n
The 38-year-old stood at first slip in training on Monday, where he traditionally fields if in the slips. Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis and Beau Webster were alongside him.<\/p>\n
Realistically, Khawaja is in a three-way battle with Inglis and Webster for one spot in Australia’s team for the third Test which starts on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Australia’s first-choice opener since the start of 2022, Khawaja will turn 39 on day two of this Test. He has two scores above 50 in his past 27 Test innings.<\/p>\n
Head scored a match-winning century while opening in place of Khawaja in Perth, along with scores of 33 and 22 in Brisbane.<\/p>\n