In a stunning move that has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world, former Australian all-rounder Tom Moody has publicly called for the dropping of veteran spinner Nathan Lyon ahead of the crucial second Ashes Test in Brisbane.
A Controversial Selection Dilemma
The call comes at a particularly poignant moment for Nathan Lyon, the decorated 38-year-old off-spin bowler who stands on the brink of history. He requires just a single wicket to equal the legendary fast bowler Glenn McGrath's monumental career haul of 563 Test dismissals.
Speaking candidly on Wide World of Sports, Tom Moody, a two-time ODI World Cup winner, did not mince his words. He urged national selectors to make the tough decision, citing the expected seamer-friendly conditions at the Gabba for the day-night encounter.
"A few hard decisions need to be made...and my personal view is I wouldn't play Lyon," Moody stated. "I never thought I'd see the day where you don't play a specialist spinner in a Test match in Australia, but with day-night cricket, it's hard to get the spinner into the contest."
England's Batting and a Proposed Replacement
Moody elaborated on his reasoning, pointing a finger at England's fragile batting lineup. "The second part to that is, the way England play, it's very hard to get the spinner into the game...because they don't tend to bat for long periods of time."
His radical solution involves a reshuffle of the team's balance. He suggested that Australia would be better served by bringing in an all-rounder like Beau Webster to take Lyon's spot, thereby lengthening the batting order and offering additional bowling options suited to the conditions.
Khawaja's Fitness Under Scrutiny
The scrutiny wasn't reserved for Lyon alone. Moody also turned his attention to batsman Usman Khawaja, insisting he must urgently address both his fitness and his form if he is to feature for the remainder of the Ashes series.
Khawaja's preparation came under the microscope during the first Test in Perth. He was notably absent from opening the batting in the first innings. While Cricket Australia initially attributed this to 'toilet breaks and stretching', it later emerged the 38-year-old was managing back stiffness.
This issue was reportedly exacerbated by him playing multiple rounds of golf in the lead-up to the high-stakes match. Forced to bat at number four, Khawaja's time at the crease was brief and unproductive. He managed a mere two runs from just six balls before being dismissed by Brydon Carse.
Travis Head's brilliant century in the run chase meant Khawaja was not required to bat again, leaving questions over his spot in the side unanswered. One certainty is that Khawaja will be desperate to finish his Test career on his own terms, but whether the selectors grant him that opportunity is now a major point of discussion.
