‘Don’t think he’ll play’: Stunning call on Aussie Ashes XI as great predicts bold shake-up

Former Australian all-rounder Brendon Julian believes that veteran spinner Nathan Lyon should be omitted for this summer’s Ashes Tests in Perth and Brisbane, calling for the hosts to unleash a four-man pace attack.

The 37-year-old was controversially dropped for last month’s Frank Worrell Trophy series finale in the Caribbean, with seamer Scott Boland recalled in a conditions-based selection. Australia won the pink-ball contest in Kingston by 176 runs after rolling the hosts for 27, the second-lowest total in Test history, with Boland taking a hat-trick.

Speaking to Fox Cricket, Julian called for Australia to keep Boland in the starting XI for the first two Ashes Tests at the expense of Lyon, citing the success of the West Indies cartel in the 1970s.

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“I think Boland will play in Perth, and I think they’ll go with four quicks in Perth and Brisbane,” Julian said.

“I don’t think Lyon will play those first two Test matches.

“If it’s quick and bouncy in Perth, who would you rather face? Would you rather face Nathan Lyon or Scott Boland?

“The West Indies did it for a long, long time, they played four quicks.

“The way that Boland is bowling at the moment, he deserves a run at it, especially in a day-night Test match in Brisbane, where you may not bowl a spinner as much.

“And if Perth is quick and bouncy, then why not?”

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Among cricketers with at least fifty wickets, Boland boasts the lowest Test bowling average in the last century (16.53), while that figure drops to a remarkable 12.63 at home.

The Victorian seamer stunned England on Test debut with career-best figures during the 2021 Boxing Day MCG clash, but courtesy of Australia’s world-class bowling attack, he has only played 13 matches since.

The last time Australia didn’t pick a strike spinner for a home Test was back in January 2012, an innings-and-37-run victory over India at the WACA — Lyon has played 68 consecutive Tests on Australian soil since.

The off-spinner only produced one over during Australia’s most recent pink-ball Test, last December’s contest against India in Adelaide Oval, while he didn’t bowl a single delivery during the 2022 day-night Test against England at Bellerive Oval.

However, he boasts a superb record in pink-ball Tests, taking 43 scalps at 25.62 — only national teammate Mitchell Starc has more wickets in day-night matches.

Meanwhile, Lyon has taken 29 wickets at 20.86 at Perth Stadium with a strike rate of 47.8, the lowest for him among Australian venues.

Nathan Lyon’s Test bowling average in Australian venues

* Minimum five matches

20.86 — Perth Stadium

25.36 — Adelaide Oval

28.82 — Gabba

31.58 — MCG

36.00 — Bellerive Oval

39.20 — SCG

47.93 — WACA

Australia's Nathan Lyon. Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP Source: AFP

Meanwhile, Julian predicted that Nathan McSweeney would earn a Test recall ahead of the Ashes, opening the batting alongside Usman Khawaja for the series opener in Perth.

The South Australian, who typically bats at No. 3 in the Sheffield Shield, made his Test debut as an opener during last summer’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign, but he was dropped after making 72 runs at 14.40 across the first three matches. Teenage prodigy Sam Konstas replaced him ahead of the Boxing Day contest at the MCG, but the New South Welshman has since accumulated 163 runs at 16.30 across five matches, putting his spot under jeopardy.

Last month, McSweeney was elevated to opener for Australia A’s second red-ball match against Sri Lanka A in Darwin, dismissed for 12 in a high-scoring contest at Marrara Oval.

Julian also called for the axed Marnus Labuschagne to return to his favoured position at No. 3 and Cameron Green to slot back into the middle order at the expense of fellow all-rounder Beau Webster.

Green was elevated to first drop during June’s World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s and the recent West Indies tour, notching 188 runs at 23.50 across the four matches.

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“I don’t think (Labuschagne) will open,” Julian said.

“I think Marnus could bat at No. 3.

“I think McSweeney will come back and open, he deserves another go. Last summer he was up against (Jasprit) Bumrah, up against India. I think he’s good enough (to open). He’s got a really good technique.

“If you go the four quicks, then you won’t need the all-rounder coming in at No. 6, and that’s where I think Cam Green is better suited.

“I don’t think Cam Green is a No. 3, I see him further down the order.

“It might be really hard on Beau Webster, he might drop out of the side. Webster’s done a really, really good job.”

The first Ashes Test gets underway at Perth Stadium on November 21.

Additional reporting from Dane Heverin

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