Nathan Lyon is under growing pressure to save his spot and has been told he must change his line of attack if he is to have success against a Pakistan side playing him off a break.
Lyon's status as Australia's No.1 spinner is under threat after Australia expected more from him in the losing winter tour of Sri Lanka (16 wickets at 31.93), while his returns so far this summer against South Africa (six at 57.66) and Pakistan (three at 84.66) have been underwhelming.
That continued at the MCG on Wednesday when he finished with 1-115 off 23 overs, including having the indignity of being crunched for four sixes by tailender Sohail Khan on Wednesday when Pakistan upped the tempo after a short rain break through the morning.
His propensity to bowl too straight has been highlighted by coach Darren Lehmann as an issue, for he is not encouraging the batsmen to hit against his off-spin through the covers. His pie graph in the first innings highlighted this, conceding 84 runs on the side and 30 on the off side.
As has been the case in recent months, Lehmann said Lyon's challenge was to threaten for longer periods of time.
"I think he is bowling well in patches and that's the thing, get him bowling well and more consistent over a longer period of time. That's his challenge," he said.
"He has taken over 200 Test wickets so he knows what he is doing. He just has to get it in the rights area and hitting the top of off stump, or spinning back into the stumps, as we know. When he gets its right, he looks dangerous."
Speaking on Channel Nine, former Test gloveman Ian Healy pointed out to Lehmann that Pakistan had been scoring easily off Lyon on the leg side.
"They traditionally do that, the sub-continent teams, they always go leg side with the spin. That's a challenge for Nathan and us as a group to give up a better plan that is going to work," Lehmann said.
These comments are particularly pertinent with a Test tour of India from February. Indian great Sunil Gavaskar said during the recent Test series against England that visiting spinners must be prepared to adopt an Indian line, meaning they need to pitch the ball up and encourage batsmen to drive through the off-side to have a chance of toppling the imposing local line-up.
Brad Hogg, the former Australian Test spinner and cult hero in the Big Bash League, has suggested Lyon change his field and encourage batsmen to sweep him more, or spend more time going around the wicket to encourage drives through the covers.
With fears Australia's frontline quicks are being overloaded, the Australians have needed more from Lyon in an attack missing the help of a fast-bowling allrounder. But he was unable to deliver in the first innings in Melbourne.
Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur said on Wednesday his team had spoken "long and hard" about the need to bunt Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, forcing the Australians to turn to Lyon more.
Lyon began this Test well, beating opener Sami Aslam with spin and bounce with his third ball of the match. It sparked a rousing response from the crowd, who have embraced the "nice Garry" chant - Garry being Lyon's now well-known nickname.
A rain-marred clash hasn't helped him grip the ball but Steve Smith's faith in him was questioned when Lyon was given only six of 51 overs bowled on Tuesday.
Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle, recovering from a back injury, said Lyon had been disadvantaged because of the rain delays, as the pacemen had been given time to rest between breaks.
"The quicks can get off the field, they're able to rest up, they're not out there bowling … so they can come out and have another crack after the break so that does sort of ruin his (Lyon's) chances of bowling more overs," he said.
"That's what's affected him here. But he is going to play a big part in the rest of this game, especially in the second innings whenever that is."
Lyon is likely to retain his spot for next week's third Test in Sydney, where he is expected to have left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe as his partner. But whether he retains the No.1 role come India remains a major point of debate.