A shocking proposal! The former pacer is in favor of dropping Nathan Lyon from the Australian team
Former Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris has made a surprising statement about the selection of veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon for the upcoming 2025-26 Ashes series at home. Nathan Lyon could be dropped from Australia’s playing XI for the crucial series against England, Ryan Harris has said.
Nathan Lyon played a limited role in Australia’s 3-1 win over India in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series. The spinner bowled just 122.4 overs in five matches, taking nine wickets at an average of 36.89. Overall, Lyon took 539 wickets in 134 Tests at a decent bowling average of 30.4.
If we play Four Quicks and leave out Nathan Lyon – Ryan Harris
Speaking on 2GB Wide World of Sports Radio, Ryan Harris highlighted Scott Boland’s impressive form, creating a selection headache for Australia next summer for The Ashes. Harris spoke of the possibility of playing four fast bowlers by leaving out Nathan Lyon in the playing XI.
“Scotty, as we know him, is the guy who steps in when someone gets hurt. That’s been his role in the past … but he’s taken 21 wickets at 13, so that’s definitely something the selectors will have to think about with Josh Hazlewood out,” Harris told 2GB Wide World of Sports radio on Monday .
“Josh is a very good bowler and his record speaks for itself. That is definitely a question that has to be asked, and we are going into completely different conditions in Sri Lanka. The questions will be there for next summer and if we play four quick games and leave out, dare I say, maybe the GOAT (Nathan Lyon),” he added.
Scott Boland’s impressive form is putting pressure on the Australian selectors
Scott Boland made a significant impact during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, taking advantage of Josh Hazlewood’s injury absence. He is the third highest wicket taker for Australia in the recently concluded Test series. Boland took 21 wickets at an impressive average of 13.19 in just three games.
Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc will be automatically selected for the Test squad when they are fit, and the selectors now face a difficult decision regarding the third bowler. Despite Boland’s form, it is unlikely that manager George Bailey and his team would completely drop Nathan Lyon later in the year.
Australia have a busy schedule leading up to the Ashes. They will conclude the WTC cycle with two Tests against Sri Lanka starting on January 29 in Galle. He will compete in the World Test Cup final against South Africa at Lord’s in June, followed by a Test tour of the West Indies later that month.
Will try to keep it as stable as possible – Ryan Harris
Ryan Harris has advised against drastic changes to the Australian team. He pointed out that the voters are probably trying to maintain stability, despite external pressures for change. Harris said that the selectors made the right decisions and that the team’s success proves that their choices were effective.
“I think they will try to keep themselves as stable as possible. Talks are no doubt behind closed doors… but we can’t afford to lose three or four players at once. Everyone is shouting ‘this has to happen’, but deep down there would be a plan,” he continued.
“There are two Tests in Sri Lanka, there is a Test World Cup and even a tour of the West Indies, so there will be some cricket between now and then. They (the selectors) took a bit of criticism – but in the end they came through again and showed what the team can do. They make good decisions, even though it doesn’t always look like it from the outside,” Harris concluded.
Also read: Nitish Kumar Reddy dropped as Michael Vaughan picks a combination XI from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
