Cricket Dec 07, 2025

The Ashes 2025/26: Australia's Nathan Lyon 'filthy' and 'gutted' at being dropped in Brisbane for second Test

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
The Ashes 2025/26: Australia's Nathan Lyon 'filthy' and 'gutted' at being dropped in Brisbane for second Test

Australia spinner Nathan Lyon made no secret of his disappointment at being dropped for the second Ashes Test in Brisbane, saying he felt "filthy" and was "gutted" at the decision.

Lyon has 562 Test wickets, putting him seventh all-time in the format, while he's third among Australians, trailing only the legendary Shane Warne (708) and Glenn McGrath (563), who he is only one wicket behind.

Yet, the off-spinner was dropped for his first home Test since 2012, with Michael Neser picked ahead of him in an all-pace attack for the day-night contest at The Gabba.

"Absolutely filthy," Lyon said in an interview with Australia's host broadcaster Seven Network during day one.

"But yeah, I can't do anything about it, so I hope I can play my role in making sure I get the guys ready and do whatever I can to make sure that we get the right result here."

Lyon, who has a stellar record in pink-ball Tests, with 43 wickets from 13 matches at an average of 25.62, and who averages 28.82 in Tests at The Gabba, said he had yet to discuss the decision to drop him with selectors.

"I just hadn't had it in me to sit down with the coach [Andrew McDonald] and George [Bailey - selectors' chair] at the moment," he added.

"That will happen. I'm not the first player to miss a Test match and I won't be the last.

"But, yeah, I'm obviously pretty gutted because I know the role that I can play within Australian cricket and especially at a venue like this."

England went on to close day one in Brisbane on 325-9, an innings dominated by Joe Root (135no), who remained unbeaten at stumps after notching his first Test century in Australia.

Mitchell Starc again impressed for Australia, claiming 6-71 to take his series tally to a staggering 16 wickets already, but the other four seamers - Scott Boland (1-87), Neser (1-43), Brendan Doggett (0-76) and Cameron Green (0-43) - added only two wickets from their 55 overs combined.

"I was amazed they left out Nathan Lyon today," Michael Atherton said on SportNews Cricket's 'Ashes Daily' Podcast.

"He's got 562 [Test] wickets, and it's a pitch that everybody said looked much drier and less green than it had yesterday.

"It's a pitch where England thought, 'well, we need a spinner', and yet Australia are leaving Lyon out.

"I thought there were times when it looked just an okay Australian attack plus Mitchell Starc."

All times UK and Ireland

Tags:

cricket news id:13479373

Share this article

Related Posts

England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt in Women's T20 World Cup fitness race after being ruled out of series vs New Zealand, India

England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt in Women's T20 World Cup fitness race after being ruled out of series vs New Zealand, India

England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt is in a fitness race against time for next month's T20 World Cup, having been ruled out of series against New Zealand...

Women's T20 World Cup 2026: Free live cricket stream of all England, Scotland, Ireland games and final on Sky Sports App

Women's T20 World Cup 2026: Free live cricket stream of all England, Scotland, Ireland games and final on Sky Sports App

Your Site will make all 12 group matches involving England, Scotland and Ireland, as well as the semi-finals and final of the 2026 ICC Women's T20 Wor...

England 'settling nicely' ahead of Women's T20 World Cup - but bigger test to come in India series

England 'settling nicely' ahead of Women's T20 World Cup - but bigger test to come in India series

First job done for England as they work through their pre-T20 World Cup checklist.secured a seventh straight bilateral T20 series victory over New Zea...

Ben Stokes: Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton say England captain's lack of matches leads to 'too much tinkering'

Ben Stokes: Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton say England captain's lack of matches leads to 'too much tinkering'

Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton have called for England captain Ben Stokes to avoid 'too much tinkering' in the nets by playing more competitive m...

County Championship: Yorkshire inflict Surrey's first defeat of the season with dominant victory

County Championship: Yorkshire inflict Surrey's first defeat of the season with dominant victory

Yorkshire wrapped up an impressive win by an innings and 127 runs at Headingley as Surrey slumped to their first defeat of the season in Division One...

England roll New Zealand for 80 in third T20 at Hove as Charlie Dean's side secure 2-1 series win with T20 World Cup looming

England roll New Zealand for 80 in third T20 at Hove as Charlie Dean's side secure 2-1 series win with T20 World Cup looming

England eased to a T20 series win over New Zealand with a seven-wicket victory in Monday's Hove decider after a ruthless bowling display rolled their...