Lyon could sit out pink-ball Test at Jamaica as ‘Everything’s an option’ for Australia with lineup not announced yes.
‘Everything’s an option’ as Lyon could be left out for first time in 12 years.
Australia is considering its lineup balance due to the pink ball and Sabina Park’s pitch conditions, and captain Pat Cummins isn’t ruling out benching Nathan Lyon in favour of another pace bowler.
Lyon hasn’t missed a Test XI since the 2013 series against England, with the exception of the three games he missed in the 2023 Ashes due to a calf injury sustained at Lord’s.
Asked directly whether leaving out Lyon was a possibility, Cummins said: “I think everything’s an option. We honestly haven’t settled on it. We all left yesterday and thought we’d just sleep on it, come back and have a look and make up our mind today.”
Cummins, head coach Andrew McDonald, and touring selector Tony Dodemaide engaged in a lengthy conversation as Australia’s training session came to a close on Friday. Following the second Test, George Bailey, the chair of selectors, left for Australia. Cummins now frequently announces the starting lineup the day before the game.
“[There are] a few more unknowns…I think mainly [the] pink ball and trying to get our heads around exactly what it’s going to do,” Cummins had said before the training session. “That last session [under lights] might be a little bit longer than Adelaide.