As he fights for his Test future, Nathan Lyon is expected to be confronted with a turning MCG deck that could unexpectedly work against him in the second Test against Pakistan.
While he is Australia's most successful finger spinner, Lyon's role as the frontline slow bowler is under threat after a tough tour of Sri Lanka (16 wickets at 31.9), an underwhelming home series against South Africa (six wickets at 57) and two wickets at 69 in the series opener against Pakistan in Brisbane.
![Australia's Nathan Lyon has not captured five wickets or more in a Test innings for more than two years.](/web/20161225220245im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/g/p/z/s/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtgl7k.png/1482386789771.jpg)
He was given only 11 overs in the first innings at the Gabba as the tourists were fired out for 142 but finished with 2-108 in the second, having both No.3 batsman Babar Azam and veteran Younis Khan caught by Steve Smith at slip, the latter off a mistimed reverse sweep.
Lyon will be keen for strong performances in Melbourne and when the series shifts to Sydney, for he is no guarantee of securing his spot for what would be a career-defining tour of India from February. Left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe, leg-spinner Adam Zampa and Victorian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell are also set to be in contention for that trip.
Pakistan batting coach Grant Flower, the former Zimbabwe international cricketer, said he expected the drop-in MCG wicket to offer spin as the match unfolds, resembling the conditions his team has prospered on when playing at their surrogate home in the United Arab Emirates. Lyon had a rugged tour of the UAE in 2014, claiming three wickets at 140 in two Tests.
"Generally, we played him well in the UAE but one of the things is, he gets a bit more bounce here and also the ball is skidding on and the guys are a bit wary of covering their edge running down the wicket which they usually do a lot," Flower said on Thursday.
"But the guys are very good players of the spin, some of the best in the world, so I am sure this one will turn a bit more, so this Melbourne pitch and the conditions will be a bit more like what we are used to. I am sure the guys will deal with Nathan all right."
Lyon was an almost last-minute selection in Brisbane as the selectors considered handing Chadd Sayers his debut.
He has not captured five wickets or more in a Test innings for more than two years, when he took 12 wickets for the match against India in Adelaide. But he will head into Melbourne with good memories from last year, taking seven wickets for the match against the West Indies. In five Tests at the MCG, he has 19 wickets at 28.5, including 5-50 against England in 2013.
His on-field relationship with Smith has also become an issue among close observers, with Smith's confidence in his spinner first appearing to slip in Sri Lanka when he was unable to deliver the same skidding deliveries that had Australia's batsmen befuddled.
Younis, having struggled to adjust the Gabba bounce in the first innings, found form in the second, nudging his way to 65 before his mistimed sweep.
Flower suggested Younis may be more circumspect about sweeping Lyon when the series resumes.
"Obviously, the shot he got out to, maybe at that stage wasn't the best. But, having said that, he does score quite a few runs with the reverse sweep as well," he said.
"You have got to find a balance regarding how you go about things. He is getting into better positions and today I think he had his best net practice for ages and he looked brilliant."
Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah took three wickets in Brisbane but his defensive leg-stump line with a 6-3 on-side field was questioned by Shane Warne, who has been a mentor for Shah.
Flower suggested Shah, the world's best active leg-spinner, would adopt a more attacking approach in Melbourne if conditions favoured him.
"I can't really comment too much because that is regarding the bowling coach … but I am sure if the ball is turning a bit more, there will be more attacking lines bowled," he said.
"They didn't want to give too much room to the lefties [left-handers], especially [David] Warner, freeing his arms up, but, obviously, it's a balance."