Nathan Lyon says he will try and bowl worse in an effort to be selected in Australia’s ODI team.
The squad announced this week to play England has Ashton Agar as the preferred spinner over the in-form Test tweaker.
Lyon says he has only himself to blame for his omission.
“Rod Marsh says I would have been picked, except I’m bowling too well in Test cricket.
Although technically true, I’m disappointed that the selectors didn’t have enough faith in me to bowl worse.
I should have learnt their preferences when Xavier Doherty was selected ahead of me for the World Cup.”
Australian Chairman of selectors Rod Marsh says he understands Lyon’s disappointment, but it was all about team balance.
“We wanted to send a strong message to Nathan Lyon that taking wickets and closing out games are traits from a bygone error.”
“So too is handy number 11 batting.
“If you want to play in this side, we need more commitment to mediocrity.”
By selecting Ashton Agar, we are demonstrating that under achievement is a sacrosanct cornerstone of Australian selection policy.
“It builds on a decade of Shane Watson, Ed Cowan, Rob Quiney, Usman Khawaja and Matthew Wade.”
“It shouldn’t be too easy to make an Australian team these days as a spinner.
“Just ask Doherty, Maxwell, Fawad Ahmed or O’Keefe how many wickets they didn’t need to take before they got a shot.”
Lyon says the selectors have quickly forgotten how poor his bowling can be.
“I’m great at full tosses. I also have a long hops in my arsenal.”
“I haven’t really bowled them since 2011, but if given the chance, I know I can come through.
“I can also lob down little darts that are easily carted to the boundary.”
Chosen spinner Ashton Agar says his selection was no real surprise.
“The selectors have always been clear about this.”
“An average left armer who gets minimal turn away from right handers will always be preferred over world class offies.
“It is about which way the ball moves rather than any ability to bowl well.
“England have demonstrated this successfully over the years with James Anderson.”
Matt from Armidale
Guest
Haha, you made my day with this. Marsh commenting on picking Agar over Lyon is both comedy gold and management-speak nonsense, looks like the mainstream media aren't allowed to criticise the words of wisdom coming out of HQ. http://www.cricket.com.au/news/ahston-agar-left-arm-nathan-lyon-off-spin-odi-selection-australia-england-series-rod-marsh/2015-08-12 Agar should be nowhere near the team until either his batting or his bowling are up to international standard. This will just play with his mind and he could well waste his talent and just develop into yet another bit-part allrounder. As for Lyon, he's one of the best spinners in the world right now, he's 27 and has 10 years ahead of him. You'll see him playing ODIs and T20 once the selectors have enough of playing crapacadabra roulette with the spin bowling slot.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
True, though they should have beaten the West Indies a couple of years back. Only inexperience cost them in the final session, and they lost. Australia should win, but whatever the batting line-up looks like it is going to be extremely brittle. I can see a sub-150 score or two across the two Tests, if Australia bats four times. There could also easily be two 500+ scores, made in under four sessions.
Bert
Roar Rookie
Maxwell is our ODI slow bowler. No room for another finger spinner.
Rob JM
Guest
Clearly lyon isn't up to the strenuous task of one day bowling. Especially if you consider this ashes series where he once again failed to bowl his side to victory on a fifth day of a test!
Amith
Guest
The unluckiest guy was Khawaja, he has been the best domestic one day batsman for last 2 years and also in the Aus A tour, but I am guessing they are giving him time to come back from injury and be ready for the test tour of Bangladesh
Disco
Guest
Really? Why, because it doesn't count unless it's in conditions you like? Besides, he hasn't had any other chances to judge him on. Point is, O'Keefe has the domestic record to have justified a 'shot', unlike some others.
Dennis Freedman
Roar Guru
Judging anyone on the basis of their results of that UAE tour would be a mistake....
Disco
Guest
I think mentioning O'Keefe is a bit much. He's one spinner who has excelled in state cricket. And his only 'shot' was a single Test in which he (typically) took more wickets than Lyon.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Bangladesh have won only 3 of their past 18 Tests at home, and all 3 of those wins came against Zimbabwe. They have improved a bit but not to any dramatic extent.
Targa
Guest
Some funny (and true) points there. However, Lyon is going to be a key player if Australia can push for a win in Bangladesh - the most improved side in world cricket (apparently they've only lost 2 of their last 12 tests at home). It is better for him to be practising in the nets/high performance centre etc and look at how to bowl over there against the likes of Tamim Iqbal, Mominul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan and co.
Gav
Guest
Hehe, nice Dennis. Argar is R Marsh's project, so it doesn't surprise me that he'd probably get agar back into the side as soon as he could. To Agars credit, I was amazed how well he went in the second half of the domestic season ly.
Camo McD
Roar Guru
It's true on merit he should probably be in the team. However these bi-lateral ODI series are really just 'friendly' matches anyway. Nice to win but it doesn't really matter. In my mind the addition of a third or fourth team into the mix makes it a bit more interesting and a 'tournament' that needs to be won. Happy enough for Lyon to continue to develop his game and concentrate primarily in the test arena at international level really. Have seen a few spinners test performances effected by playing too much short form cricket. Harbhajan Singh for example.
scottyridge
Guest
Classic!!!