The Ashes: Nathan Lyon left out of Australia team for second Test
Only the great Shane Warne and legendary seamer Glenn McGrath took more Test wickets for Australia than Lyon. The 38-year-old player needs two more players to surpass McGrath’s 562 and take second place on the list.
Lyon were last excluded from a home test against India at Waca in January 2012. He had played 71 consecutive home tests.
“Given Australia’s record at the Gabba and how quickly the ball got soft, I’m really surprised Australia left Lyon out,” former England spinner Alex Hartley said in Test Match Special.
“You might need someone to get the job done but maybe they think they have enough part-timers to do that – Labuschagne can bowl a bit.”
Lyon was left out of the Australian XI twice in three tests; He was also excluded from the day-night match against the West Indies in Jamaica in July, which Australia won by 176 runs.
Regarding this decision, Lyon said: “I am disappointed in many ways. I believed and still believe that I can play a role in all circumstances.
“I want to play every match for Australia and I have a belief that I can play a part in any situation, just like every cricketer should have that belief.”
Neser extends Australia’s batting at number eight and has experience of being the Gabba’s home ground, but only Warne and McGrath have more wickets in Brisbane than Lyon.
As expected, Leeds-born Josh Inglis came into the Australian side to replace the injured Usman Khawaja. Travis Head continues in the opener with Inglis in seventh.
England had already confirmed their playing XI, with spin-bowling all-rounder Will Jacks replacing injured fast bowler Mark Wood.
England have not won at the Gabba or in any of their three previous pink-ball matches in Australia since 1986.
It was the first day-night match in Australia in which England batted first as captain Ben Stokes extended his side’s toss-winning streak to seven consecutive Tests.
