Australia make big selection call, bat first in Jamaica
Australia's captain Pat Cummins confirmed at the toss at Kingston's Sabina Park on Saturday that the tourists would go with four quicks in the day-night Test, with Scott Boland coming in.
The Test looms as Australia's last before this summer's home Ashes, and a chance to complete a 3-0 sweep of the Frank Worrell Trophy.
Lyon has played every Test he has been fit for since the second Test of the 2013 Ashes, racking up 100 consecutive matches after that.
The spinner then suffered a calf tear at Lord's in 2023 and missed the final three Tests of that Ashes, before returning to the side for the start of the next summer.
Since Lyon's debut in 2011, he has featured in 139 of the 146 Tests Australia have played.
While the day-night Tests are generally thought to suit the quicks under lights, Lyon has a better record with pink balls than he does with the red.
But pace has dominated this series, with seamers accounting for 67 of the 78 wickets across the first two Tests.
Lyon has had strong returns of nine wickets at 18.33, but he has bowled only 32.3 overs, while Australia can also use Travis Head and Beau Webster's spin if needed.
"With the pink ball, it is a little different to a normal Test," Cummins said.
West Indies have also made a bold call, dropping former captain Kraigg Brathwaite after he scored just 15 runs across the first four Tests.
Keacy Carty has also been axed, with Kevlon Anderson to debut at No.3 and Mikyle Louis to open. Spinner Jomel Warrican has also come in for Anderson Phillip.
Australia: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Cameron Green, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wkt), Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
West Indies: Mikyle Louis, John Campbell, Kevlon Anderson, Brandon King, Shai Hope (wkt), Roston Chase (capt), Justin Greaves, Jomel Warrican, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
37 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Frenzy after AFL star's classy interview following gruesome injury
WARNING: Violent content. Footy fans have been left in awe of Andrew Brayshaw after a troubling post-game interview where blood poured from his head. The Fremantle star showed no sign of distress as he spoke to Fox Footy after the Dockers' big comeback win over Hawthorn on Saturday — except for a gruesome head wound. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Brayshaw grinned and spoke with class during his on-field chat with Fox Footy's Kath Loughnan on the Optus Stadium turf just moments after the final siren sounded on the home team's 13-point win. Loughnan appeared to have second thoughts about going through with the interview, saying she earlier asked Brayshaw if he was really up for it. You can watch the ugly incident in the video player above. 'You let me know if you feel dizzy at all during this interview as I see the blood rushing down your face,' she said. She finished the interview by saying: 'I really feel like I need to let you go to the doctor. Thanks for chatting Andrew'. Brayshaw had come from the field in the final minute of play and was escorted to have a seat on the bench by a medical official. With blood coming down his head, Brayshaw waved to the crowd to fire them up with his hand gestures as he walked off the field. Replays showed he had taken a knee to the head during a marking contest late in the game. Brayshaw was at the bottom of a pack when teammate Luke Jackson launched into the air and accidentally took Brayshaw out in a sickening collision. None of it seemed to bother Brayshaw, who was much more interested in speaking about the impact Michael Walters had on the club as the Dockers celebrated the veteran with a special farewell. Brayshaw was the player everyone wanted to hear from at the end of the game after he provided the spark his team needed with a career-high 14 tackles, to go with 29 disposals, and six clearances. Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir said Brayshaw's performances are usually a gauge for how his side plays. 'He was disappointed with his game last week as well,' Longmuir said. 'I know (midfield coach) Joel Corey asked him for more defensively, and he's a barometer for us when he's bringing his pressure, when he's bringing his trademark efforts to chase down. 'So, yeah, him leading the way, and all our leaders leading the way in an area of focus is really important.' The interview divided footy fans and there was a frenzy of social media comments made about the incident. Many fans praised Brayshaw for his bravery. Fox Footy commentator Adam Papalia said after the interview: 'Well that just typifies Andrew Brayshaw.' Footy fans on Reddit called in 'badass'. Others said it was in similar fashion to interviews UFC fighters hold inside the Octagon after fights. One footy fan posted on X: 'Brayshaw doing post game interview with more blood than a Jaws movie. 'Never seen that before haha.' The win was Fremantle's seventh in eight weeks and they are now four points ahead of the ninth-placed Western Bulldogs. Longmuir said he'll let the players enjoy the win over the Hawks before looking towards the their blockbuster against Collingwood. 'Yeah, it's the biggest challenge in footy,' he said about the Round 19 task. 'You go not only to take on Collingwood, who are the best team in the comp, but you go and take on the Magpie Army and the crowd and yeah, it's a great challenge for us. 'So, we'll enjoy this win first. Wins are hard to come by. 'Allow the players to sit in it for a few days and then we'll start prepping for Collingwood, so a great challenge.'
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘An unusual selection': Why selectors dropped Lyon for the first time since 2013
The match is being played with a pink Dukes ball, which behaves differently to the pink Kookaburra used in Australia. About 10 minutes before play, selector Tony Dodemaide explained Lyon's shock omission. Dodemaide says it was purely based on conditions and how Australia think the pink Dukes ball will behave in this match. 'Obviously, an unusual selection for us,' Dodemaide said. 'It's not something we generally want to do and it's fair to say it wasn't front of mind when we got to Sabina Park. It was a conditions-based decision to go in with four quicks. '[This ball] actually behaves a little differently to the Kookaburra one. It doesn't go as soft. The Kookaburra one tends to have a trough when it doesn't move so much in those middle overs. That's not the case with the Dukes. The history tells us that. 'Based on all of that, we thought that spin would not have a significant part in the game. 'That's been our lived experience when we've been here for the past couple of days. ... We know that's also very difficult for the batters as well. 'Based on all of that, we thought that spin would not have a significant part in the game. Certainly a difficult one.' Asked how Lyon took the news, Dodemaide said: 'He's disappointed because he wants to play every game. He's a great competitor and he believes he can be effective in any conditions. He's a team man as well and understands the right thing for the team and he'll do his best to support the guys. 'It's a one-off. It's not a reflection on performance for Nathan. It's simply the best way we think we can win this game.' However, the decision stood in contrast to the West Indies, who picked left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican in place of quick Anderson Phillip. 'They can do what they want to do,' Dodemaide said. 'It's the best information we've got.' Lyon was informed of the decision on Friday night at a team meeting at the Kingston hotel where the group is staying, just hours after captain Pat Cummins foreshadowed that changes could be forthcoming. Those who saw Lyon on Friday evening say he was in good spirits, however, there is no doubt he will be disappointed to not be playing in Mitchell Starc's 100th Test. It is the first time since the 2012 Perth Test against India – when Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, Starc and Ben Hilfenhaus were selected – that Australia has fielded four specialist quicks. Loading In the lead-up to the match, the Sabina Park curator joked to Australian players that spinners might as well spend the week at the beach. Lyon is the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the series with nine at 18.33, but his economy rate of 5.07 is the highest of any bowler. Australia's decision to omit not just any spinner, but the nation's most prolific since Shane Warne, underlines the shifting nature of Test cricket: in the modern game, pace rules. Boland took 10 wickets in his last match - against India at the SCG in January - and has been bowling with real intensity at every training session on this tour, waiting patiently for his opportunity. Lyon is a lock to play the first Test of the Ashes in November. He is only 13 days into a fresh two-year contract with Cricket Australia, which will take him through until the 2027 Ashes. But by the time the pink ball Test in Brisbane rolls around on December 4, the data might suggest otherwise.
The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
‘An unusual selection': Why selectors dropped Lyon for the first time since 2013
The match is being played with a pink Dukes ball, which behaves differently to the pink Kookaburra used in Australia. About 10 minutes before play, selector Tony Dodemaide explained Lyon's shock omission. Dodemaide says it was purely based on conditions and how Australia think the pink Dukes ball will behave in this match. 'Obviously, an unusual selection for us,' Dodemaide said. 'It's not something we generally want to do and it's fair to say it wasn't front of mind when we got to Sabina Park. It was a conditions-based decision to go in with four quicks. '[This ball] actually behaves a little differently to the Kookaburra one. It doesn't go as soft. The Kookaburra one tends to have a trough when it doesn't move so much in those middle overs. That's not the case with the Dukes. The history tells us that. 'Based on all of that, we thought that spin would not have a significant part in the game. 'That's been our lived experience when we've been here for the past couple of days. ... We know that's also very difficult for the batters as well. 'Based on all of that, we thought that spin would not have a significant part in the game. Certainly a difficult one.' Asked how Lyon took the news, Dodemaide said: 'He's disappointed because he wants to play every game. He's a great competitor and he believes he can be effective in any conditions. He's a team man as well and understands the right thing for the team and he'll do his best to support the guys. 'It's a one-off. It's not a reflection on performance for Nathan. It's simply the best way we think we can win this game.' However, the decision stood in contrast to the West Indies, who picked left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican in place of quick Anderson Phillip. 'They can do what they want to do,' Dodemaide said. 'It's the best information we've got.' Lyon was informed of the decision on Friday night at a team meeting at the Kingston hotel where the group is staying, just hours after captain Pat Cummins foreshadowed that changes could be forthcoming. Those who saw Lyon on Friday evening say he was in good spirits, however, there is no doubt he will be disappointed to not be playing in Mitchell Starc's 100th Test. It is the first time since the 2012 Perth Test against India – when Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, Starc and Ben Hilfenhaus were selected – that Australia has fielded four specialist quicks. Loading In the lead-up to the match, the Sabina Park curator joked to Australian players that spinners might as well spend the week at the beach. Lyon is the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the series with nine at 18.33, but his economy rate of 5.07 is the highest of any bowler. Australia's decision to omit not just any spinner, but the nation's most prolific since Shane Warne, underlines the shifting nature of Test cricket: in the modern game, pace rules. Boland took 10 wickets in his last match - against India at the SCG in January - and has been bowling with real intensity at every training session on this tour, waiting patiently for his opportunity. Lyon is a lock to play the first Test of the Ashes in November. He is only 13 days into a fresh two-year contract with Cricket Australia, which will take him through until the 2027 Ashes. But by the time the pink ball Test in Brisbane rolls around on December 4, the data might suggest otherwise.
