Skipper Michael Clarke says spinner Nathan Lyon need not look over his shoulder in England in the coming months despite the looming presence of Fawad Ahmed in the Australian team set-up.
Lyon was the only spin bowler named in the 16-man squad for the five-Test Ashes series starting on July 10, but there is mounting speculation Pakistan-born leg-spinner Ahmed will be drafted into the side at his expense.
Former refugee Ahmed, 31, will be eligible if minor changes to Australia’s citizenship legislation pass through parliament in the next few weeks.
Chief selector John Inverarity has left open the possibility that Ahmed could be added to the initial 16-strong squad, announced in April.
However, Clarke denied he would automatically leapfrog Lyon, who was dropped and then recalled during Australia’s 4-0 Test series loss in India in March, saying it was all speculation.