Is Lyon’s snub a sign of a dying art? No chance, according to a Test ally

2 months ago 15

Fringe Test spinner Matthew Kuhnemann has dismissed the notion spin bowlers in Australia were becoming a fading luxury, as he cast his eye towards a gruelling international calendar.

As the men in the Baggy Green took a 2-0 Ashes series lead following their emphatic triumph at the Gabba, questions were raised regarding the long-term future of Nathan Lyon after the 38-year-old was axed for the day-night clash, having bowled just two overs in the first Test in Perth.

Lyon is expected to reclaim his place for the third clash in Adelaide, where spin bowling has typically been well favoured deeper into the contest, but his axing marked the second time in three encounters – both pink ball games – in which selectors have opted for an all-pace attack.

Nathan Lyon was a surprise selection casualty once again.

In Lyon’s absence, Queensland veteran medium-fast bowler Michael Neser starred with a second innings five-wicket haul, with wicketkeeper Alex Carey moving up to the stumps in a ploy to keep England’s batsmen pinned on the crease.

But Kuhnemann, speaking as he prepared to launch his Big Bash League campaign with the Brisbane Heat, insists the craft is not dead and buried on home soil.

The 29-year-old, who has become Lyon’s deputy having managed five Tests and 25 wickets in spin-friendly subcontinent conditions, said Australia’s hectic Test schedule on the horizon – 20 Tests plus a potential World Championship final between October 2026 and July 2027 – would ensure spinners were a hot commodity.

“We have a great stock of fast bowlers and conditions are definitely favouring the fast bowlers,” Kuhnemann said.

“But in saying that, we’ve got 20-odd Test matches coming up – they’re overseas, they’re up in Mackay and Darwin, where spinners will come into it.

“It’s just a conditions thing, and I think we’re lucky we do have that option to hold the spinner and then go hard with our quicks, and then vice versa we can play two or three spinners.”

While selectors have declared Lyon was a sure thing to be included in Adelaide, former Australian paceman Andy Bichel said the way Neser was used could be a blueprint moving forward.

Bichel, whose career included 19 Tests and 67 one-day internationals, marvelled at the way Carey and Neser complemented each other to strip England of their ‘Bazball’ methodology.

Much like Neser has been forced to bide his time, Bichel endured the same in a dominant Australian era as he contended with Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie for opportunities. Now the Heat’s bowling coach, he said Neser had earned the right to be considered for selection more regularly.

“It’s hard, there’s a lot of people stacking up in the front office, and we’ve got some good quality quicks in Australia, but I like the tactic where they can have someone up over the stumps like Alex Carey and do the job there,” Bichel said.

“It really keeps the Pommies at bay because they want to attack, they want to get out of their crease, they want to be down the wicket and trying to take bowled and LBW out of the game and attack the bowler. When Carey’s up there doing such a good job, as he’s done, it’s a real tactic in our bowling strengths.

“I felt sorry for Nathan, he’s done nothing wrong, but it’s a real tactic of the Australian team, so maybe they might keep using it.”

Among the 20 Tests in Australia jam-packed calendar is a five-game series in India, where Kuhnemann is expected to come into play, along with Victoria’s Todd Murphy.

“You don’t look too far into the future. I think for me, I’m really keen and excited for this Big Bash series and then hopefully I’ll put some good performances together and contribute to some good wins,” Kuhnemann said.

“The with the [T20] World Cup in February in Sri Lanka and India, I hope to be a part of that, [but] obviously, in the back of your mind you always think about that India series.

“That’s probably, as a spinner, the pinnacle of Test cricket, an away Indian series - and it’s something we haven’t won in a long time.”