Farewell to the smallest and greatest Cowboy
You don’t get many jumping on the North Queensland Cowboys bandwagon. A provincial town with a large transient population, Townsville’s somewhere you pass through on a holiday, possibly stopping in to watch your favourite team beat the hapless locals.
Going in with an all-pace attack only works in certain conditions and/or you’re the West Indies 1975-1995. While Australia did do well in the 4th Test in 2009 with four quicks, perhaps the word of caution should come from the Test against India in Perth in 2008. Australia went in with three of the world’s fastest – and wildest – bowlers in that match (Lee, Johnson & Tait) but still lost with Kumble and Sewag taking four wickets in the final innings to help India to an unexpected win.
To use another example, the 1989 Ashes team included Trevor Hohns for five of the six Tests. While he didn’t set the world on fire, he nipped in with handy wickets and gave Australia a different option from Alderman, Lawson & Hughes. Lyon can do that and then some – just have to stick with the man.
Australia needs to bench Nathan Lyon for Ashes success