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

PSL: Fakhar Zaman denies ball-tampering after Lahore Qalandars penalised in defeat to Karachi Kings

PSL: Fakhar Zaman denies ball-tampering after Lahore Qalandars penalised in defeat to Karachi Kings

Fakhar Zaman has denied a charge of ball-tampering after his Pakistan Super League side Lahore Qalandars were handed a five-run penalty during a defea...

England men cricket fixtures and results 2026: T20 World Cup, plus games vs India, Pakistan, New Zealand and more

England men cricket fixtures and results 2026: T20 World Cup, plus games vs India, Pakistan, New Zealand and more

Full fixtures for England's men's side in 2026, including the T20 World Cup, home white-ball series against India and away Test tour of South Africa....

Ben Stokes: England captain to miss first month of county season as he continues to recover from gruesome cheek injury

Ben Stokes: England captain to miss first month of county season as he continues to recover from gruesome cheek injury

England Test captain Ben Stokes is poised to miss the first month of the County Championship season with Durham as he continues to recover from facial...

England vow to re-engage with county cricket as new season offers hope to Haseeb Hameed, Sam Cook and more

England vow to re-engage with county cricket as new season offers hope to Haseeb Hameed, Sam Cook and more

"I think the gap is as wide as it has ever been."Sussex head coach and former England assistant Paul Farbrace could have been talking about where is...

England to tour Australia for three one-day internationals and five T20 internationals in November and December 2026

England to tour Australia for three one-day internationals and five T20 internationals in November and December 2026

England will tour Australia for three one-day internationals and five T20 internationals across November and December.The eight-match trip begins with...

England say no 'big bust-up' between Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes as coach keeps job after Ashes drubbing

England say no 'big bust-up' between Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes as coach keeps job after Ashes drubbing

England MD Rob Key said there has been no "big bust-up" between coach Brendon McCullum and Test captain Ben Stokes after the Ashes drubbing as he and...