Nathan Lyon has admitted he is ‘absolutely filthy’ after being dropped by Australia for the first time in 13 years of home Tests, as Joe Root plundered an unbeaten 135 on the opening day of the second Ashes Test at the Gabba. The spinner was left out in favour of an all-pace attack, a decision that left him ‘pretty gutted’.
Root’s 40th Test century, and his first on Australian soil, came after England were reduced to five for two in the third over. He combined with Zak Crawley in a 117-run partnership and was unbeaten at stumps with England 325 for nine. Crawley described Root’s knock as ‘one of his best’.
Australia’s chair of selectors, George Bailey, attempted to assuage Lyon’s fury by guaranteeing him a place in the XI for the third Test, describing the move as a ‘one-Test decision’. Mitchell Starc, who took six first-innings wickets, said Lyon’s omission was ‘not a reflection of his skills’.
After England lost three wickets for 13 runs and five for 54, Root and Jofra Archer added a quickfire 61-run last-wicket stand to leave the tourists happy with their position. ‘We definitely won that last hour,’ Crawley said.
