Australia v England start time, scores, results, wickets, teams, how to watch

While Travis Head confirms he will open the batting, we await the final XI in the toss. Tom Decent He touched on the precarious situation spin bowling found itself in Australia last week – in anticipation of exactly that scenario.

These are strange times for spin bowling in Australia. The mix of the pink ball, the historically bowlable Gabba surface and England’s unwavering Bazball scheme leaves Lyon’s place in the XI open to debate – even after an eight-wicket win in two days.

Lyon, who has made 140 appearances on the lush green field, has not been dropped from a home test since January 2012, when Australia played four quick matches against India in Perth, with Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Starc and Ben Hilfenhaus all in the mix. He was not included in the third Test against the West Indies at Kingston in July; He was left out of the Australia XI for the first time since the 2013 Ashes when he was fit.

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He carried the drinks with him in the pink-ball match in Jamaica that week, bowled two overs as England were skidded twice in Perth last week and may be surplus to requirements in Brisbane.

What does this say about the future of spin bowling in Australia? And what does it say that Joe Root’s part-time off-spin, offering similar offerings against all-rounder Will Jacks, feels is all England need?

“The national team’s spin bowler, Joe Root, could make anyone involved in cricket cry. It’s such a shame,” says Stuart MacGill. “How did they not train other spinners?

“But I don’t think we’ve done a good enough job developing our own spin bowlers.”

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