Veteran Lyon dropped in 12-year first as Aussies opt for rare all-pace attack – fox sports

Veteran spinner Nathan Lyon has been dropped for Australia’s third Test against the West Indies in Kingston, with the tourists opting for a rare all-pace attack in a conditions-based selection.
Speaking to reporters on Friday ahead of the pink-ball Test, captain Pat Cummins announced that Australia hadn’t settled on a starting XI for the series finale, hinting the visitors would consider dropping Lyon.
And on Saturday afternoon, Cummins confirmed the 37-year-old had missed selection for the Jamaica Test, with Boland recalled for the first time since January’s New Year’s contest against India at the SCG.
Lyon has not been omitted for a Test match for a reason other than injury since the 2023 Ashes.
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The series finale is expected to be another bowler-dominated affair, with Australia’s batters reporting “swing and nip” during their twilight training session under Sabina Park’s newly-installed floodlights. Of the previous 12 Test innings at the Kingston venue, only once has the batting side reached 300.
Since the start of 2020, pace bowlers have averaged 19.66 at the Jamaican venue compared to 36.36 for spinners.
Lyon 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, the off-spinner 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.
Lyon only needs two wickets to surpass Glenn McGrath’s career tally of 563 Test scalps, at which point he’d become Australia’s second-leading wicket-taker in the format behind Shane Warne.
Australian all-rounder Beau Webster can switch to spin if required, while Travis Head is a proven wicket-taker with his part-time tweakers, averaging 25.12 with the ball in Tests since March 2022.
Elsewhere, the West Indies have dropped veteran opener Kraigg Brathwaite, who played his 100th Test last week, replacing him with Mikyle Louis.
The 32-year-old has averaged 19.87 with the bat in Tests since March 2023.

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