Chief selector George Bailey has admitted Australia may have to be realistic about Nathan Lyon's ability to play every Test once the veteran spinner returns from hamstring surgery. Included in that stretch is a 12-week burst between December and March when Australia will play nine Tests, before the five-Test Ashes series in England next year. After leaving Murphy out following Lyon's injury last summer and going without a slow man in three of five Tests, spin is clearly back on Australia's agenda for the next year. England, we know we're going to need some spin depth. And then the Top End (against Bangladesh) is probably a little bit of an unknown.'

Source: Daily Mail April 02, 2026 21:22 UTC