Include Lyon ahead of Agar, says McGrath

Jul 24, 2013 |

Reuters

Australia have hit rock bottom with their defeat to England in the second Ashes Test and spinner Nathan Lyon must be recalled at the expense of Ashton Agar if they are to turn things around, according to fast bowling great Glenn McGrath.

The 43-year-old believes Australia’s situation is salvageable if the top six batsmen can put a higher price on their wickets and off-spinner Lyon is in the team when the third test begins at Old Trafford on August 1.
“They say that you have to hit the bottom before you can start to get back up. And that is where this Australia team are right now, rock bottom,” he wrote in a column in the Guardian.
“If these players have not heard the wake-up call by now, then they do not deserve to be in the Australia team. They have to turn this series around right now.
“Nathan Lyon, between his debut in 2011 and the start of this series, took as many wickets in test cricket as any other Australian bowler, 76 at an average of 33. He should start the next test,” McGrath wrote.
“I like Ashton Agar and admire his energy but on these dry pitches, we need a spinner who can make more of an impact on a match than he is able to at this early stage in his career.”

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