- Veteran off-spinner is dropped for the final West Indies Test
- Nathan Lyon is the seventh highest wicket-taker in Test history
The questions around Sam Konstas ahead of the Ashes are set to linger, with the teenage opener out for 17 on the first day of the third Test against West Indies.
After winning the toss and making the bold call to overlook a fit Nathan Lyon for the first time in 12 years on Saturday, Australia went to the first break at 1-50 in Jamaica.
Usman Khawaja fought through 71 balls at Kingston’s Sabina Park to remain unbeaten on 16, after a tough session for Australia’s top order where the pink ball regularly went past the edge.
Cameron Green was alongside Khawaja at the break on six, having overturned an lbw decision on review.
Konstas fought hard for his 17, but it ultimately leaves the 19-year-old with a return of 50 runs at an average of 10 for the first five innings of the three-Test series.
Taking up more of an off-stump guard, Konstas survived an edge to third slip on one after narrowly avoiding being run out the previous ball.
Nathan Lyon (pictured) has been axed for the third and final Test of the Windies tour
The questions around Sam Konstas (pictured) ahead of the Ashes are set to linger, with the teenage opener out for 17
Konstas threatened to find a rhythm when he hooked Alzarri Joseph’s first ball for four, and later punched the first-change quick to the point boundary off the back foot.
But the right-hander’s reconfigured guard ultimately left him trapped lbw, hit on the pad from the first ball of Justin Greaves’ spell.
Australia are desperately searching for answers at the top ahead of this summer’s Ashes, with neither Konstas nor Khawaja firing in the first two Tests in the Caribbean.
The other chief talking point of the morning session was the omission of Lyon, with Scott Boland coming in for the third and final Test.
Lyon has played every Test he has been fit for since the second Test of the 2013 Ashes, racking up 100 consecutive matches after that.
The spinner then suffered a calf tear at Lord’s in 2023 and missed the final three Tests of that Ashes, before returning to the side for the start of the next summer.
While the day-night Tests are generally thought to suit the quicks under lights, Lyon has a better record with pink balls than red.
But pace has dominated this series, with seamers accounting for 67 of 78 wickets across the first two Tests.
Lyon has played every Test he has been fit for since the second Test of the 2013 Ashes
Lyon has had strong returns of nine wickets at 18.33, but has bowled only 32.3 overs. Australia can also use Travis Head and Beau Webster’s spin if needed.
West Indies also made a big call, dropping out-of-form ex-captain Kraigg Brathwaite among three changes.
