Why Mike Hussey had doubts about choosing Nathan Lyon to be the songmaster of the Australian Test cricket team, and how Lyon proved he made the right choice

But he was an off-spin bowler.

The six singing masters before me were all batsmen or wicketkeepers with an established place in the team. Injuries, selection and changing conditions at home and abroad mean job security is always less certain for bowlers. And Australia’s track record with off-spinners was particularly worrying. It would be fair to say that none of Australia’s great spinners up to that point were ‘ofie’ – Shane Warne, Richie Benaud, Bill O’Reilly, Clarrie Grimmett, you name it, they were all leg-spinners.

So I was concerned about Nathan’s ability to retain his place on a team that was in transition.

After much thought over my decision, I decided that I should trust my instincts and choose according to my character. He was the best person for the job, so I gave him the job.

Little did I know he would lead the team for the next 12 years and play 100 consecutive Tests until the 2023 Ashes. He proved my doubts about his place in the team wrong and became Australia’s off-spin GOAT with over 500 wickets to his name.

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Earlier this year “Gas” handed over the baton and made goalkeeper Alex Carey the new song manager.

Last week’s Brisbane Test showed how well he chooses; Carey led by example with the glove and bat. It may seem ironic to say this given Nathan didn’t play for Brisbane, but I think the Gabba Test also showed how well I chose in 2013.

The selectors took a huge risk by dropping Lyon and entering the Test without a specialist spin bowler, especially on such a genuine surface.

Although I felt this was taken into consideration, I must admit I was shocked when “Gas” was confirmed out of the team before the draw.

He has an excellent track record at the Gabba. His natural overspin on the ball provides extra bounce on the lively Brisbane pitch and brings the close fielders into play. But his record at Optus Stadium in Perth is even stronger and he only made two overs in the first Test there, so I can understand what the selectors are thinking.

The pink ball used in the Brisbane day-night match may be soft and England’s batsmen had shown that their willingness to play hard on the Australian bowling would create plenty of opportunities for the Australian pace-hitters. So Australia trusted that the Brisbane Test was another short game and gambled on Michael Neser, who had two Tests to his name, against Lyon, who scored 140.

I’m sure there were times in the game when the selectors were very nervous and wondered whether they had made the right decision in leaving Lyon out of the team. There were certainly plenty of former players and pundits who said it was a crazy move, and Lyon made his view clear when he told the broadcaster he was “dirty” about being dropped.

He was walking a fine line with these comments. There was no doubt that he was upset, and it was possible that his reaction would have upset the team if he had allowed his emotions to boil over.

But what mattered most was how he conducted himself in the Australian dressing rooms. And this is where Nathan’s best qualities always shine brightest.

It was normal for Nathan to fiercely defend his place in the team and oppose the selectors’ decision to leave him out; I wouldn’t expect anything less from him. The important thing was that he pulled himself together, stayed positive and did whatever the team needed. It wasn’t going to be easy, but that’s what Nathan did when I saw him handing out drinks or gloves to his team-mates at the Gabba.

Nathan is now 38 and has been left out of two of Australia’s last three Tests (the pink-ball matches in Jamaica and Brisbane) and made little involvement in the Test in Perth.

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But his spirited response to these disappointments shows me he still has the fire in him to compete, so I expect him to play all three remaining Tests in this Ashes series and make a significant contribution.

The famous Adelaide Oval, where he once worked on the ground crew, is another venue where he has a strong record. And once again, he has a point to prove to the skeptics, and I’m sure he’s dying to say it with his teammates.

Mike Hussey played 79 Tests for Australia and will commentate for Fox Cricket and Kayo this summer.

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