Australian Test spinner Nathan Lyon says young left-arm orthodox spinner Ashton Agar and Pakistani refugee Fawad Ahmed are his two tips to get a late call up into the Ashes squad if selectors decide to add a second specialist spinner.
Just 16 players have been selected for the Ashes series in England throughout July and August.
However with Lyon the only specialist spinner in the smaller-than-usual squad, it has raised questions on whether selectors are waiting for a later bolter to emerge from the spinner’s pack.
Lyon on Wednesday told reporters that if selectors were to add another specialist spinner to bring the squad up to 17, his guess would be 19-year-old Agar.
West Australian Agar was overlooked for the squad despite taking 22 wickets in six matches for the Warriors at an average of 29.40 in his debut Sheffield Shield season.
“(Agar’s) very talented and he’s bowling quite well and he’s over in England at the moment,” Lyon said.
However Lyon’s other tip, 31-year-old leg-spinner Ahmed, is currently training with the Ashes squad in Brisbane every Monday and Tuesday, but is still waiting to see if he can get his Australian citizenship fast tracked.
“I’ve only really known Fawad for the last twelve months and he’s an exceptional bowler,” Lyon said.
“He’s very talented and he’s working as hard as everyone is up in Brissie but it’s up to the selectors.”
Lyon said he didn’t feel any extra pressure being the only specialist spinner currently in the squad.
“There’s always pressure playing for Australia full stop,” Lyon said.
“I’ve spoken to (captain Michael Clarke) up in Brissie and what his expectations of me are in the side.
“So if I do my role well hopefully I’ll keep my spot.”
However the 25-year-old admits he was fortunate to snare nine wickets in the fourth Test against India in March to hold his place in the squad in what was a series clean sweep for their opponents.
“It was an extremely tough tour for all the players over there,” he said.
“Having said that we’ve learnt and we saw that from the first Test to the last.
“Personally I grew a lot.”
Lyon is making the move from Adelaide to Sydney on Friday to join the NSW cricket side.
It was a big blow for South Australia Cricket, who were the primary driver behind turning the former Adelaide Oval groundskeeper into the 22-Test player he is today.
However Lyon said the decision to leave the Redbacks for the state where he was born was a family based decision and not a cricketing one.
jameswm
Roar Guru
What if Lyon rolls his ankle in the warm up? You need a backup there for injury.
Disco
Roar Guru
Or else O'Keefe voices cricketing opinions, which is a no-no... because the brains trust knows all.
lolly
Guest
You really get the feeling that just about ANYONE could end up playing in the Ashes, especially if the team gets slaughtered in the first two matches. And I mean anyone. Pat Cummins, Punter, Marcus North, Adam Voges, Nic Maddinson, Mitch Marsh, anyone at all... regardless of how deserving or useful.
Silver_Sovereign
Guest
Lyon himself should not even be there. Never performs when it counts. Only in dead rubbers or draws. Hasn't learnt from his mistakes, and in fact keeps doing the same things wrong. My spinners would be O'Keefe and Ahmed. Agar needs at least one more season at the domestic level. Poor old Steve obviously doesn't suck up enough or kiss the rings of captain/coach/selectors
Ash Lemson
Roar Rookie
Agar and Fawad should go and we should leave Lyon behind, poor old okeefe doesn't get a look in
Disco
Roar Guru
+1 Not in the boys' club.
Nick
Guest
Poor old Steve O'Keefe... He needs to buy Lyon a case of something good. Cough up and buy Clarke a new diamond cok ring too. O'Keefe would work better against Petersen and co than these other debutants who have no big game experience. Yes they're exciting but they're sight unseen and years away from being sufficiently developed.
twodogs
Guest
Why? An extra spinner to me sounds like excess baggage. If Lyon is the incumbent and basically an average spinner, why include some one therefore perceived as not as good as him? Anyway, the poms done India in India and can obviously play average spinners very well since they overcame quality spinners. The dude'll just get pasted all over the park and never be heard of again. Full on pace is what is required. This sandhu guy is big,strong and goes hard. We need to put fear in the poms eyes. Then Lyon can help clean up the tail.
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
Even Warne got found out in India.
Disco
Roar Guru
Bryce McGain was once being liberally touted as an exceptional bowler. Less so after he was eviscerated in his lone Test appearance.
josh
Roar Rookie
Most Australian spinners get found out in India.
Max Weber
Roar Pro
I'd really like to see more or Ahmed, but I don't see how he'll be picked if he doesn't go on the A tour. There's just not enough cricket for him to push his case. If Agar does well on said tour, he should be added to the squad. Having said that, he seemed to get found out a bit in the tour games in India, hopefully the occasion doesn't overwhelm him.