'Everything's an option': Nathan Lyon could be omitted for third Test of West Indies tour, Pat Cummins reveals
Australia's selectors could be on the verge of dropping champion off-spinner Nathan Lyon for the third Test of the West Indies tour so four main-line quicks can play on a greenish wicket in Jamaica.
Captain Pat Cummins is yet to reveal the team for the final Test of the tour, a day-night match beginning at 4.30am on Sunday (AEST), and told media at Sabina Park in Kingston that "all options" were on the selection table.
That could mean selectors omit the third-highest Test wicket-taker in Australian history, Cummins confirmed.
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"I think everything's an option," the skipper said.
"We honestly haven't settled on it, the selectors. We all kind of left yesterday and thought we'll just sleep on it and come and have another look and make up our mind today."
Only Shane Warne (708) and Glenn McGrath (563) have taken more wickets than Lyon (562) in Australian Test history.
Nathan Lyon looks on at Lord's during last month's World Test Championship final. ICC via Getty Images
Lyon, 37, hasn't been left out when fit since the 2013 UK Ashes tour, when a young Ashton Agar took his place for the first match of the series.
But not only does the Sabina Park wicket have a green tinge, Lyon was virtually unused in Australia's most recent pink-ball Test, bowling just one over in last summer's clash with India at Adelaide Oval.
If Australia's selectors drop Lyon they will likely replace the finger spinner with ever-reliable paceman Scott Boland.
Regardless, Cummins will have at his disposal the pace and off spin of all-rounder Beau Webster.
Pat Cummins speaks to media in Kingston, Jamaica. Cricket Australia
It wouldn't only be a huge call to leave out Lyon in light of his phenomenal Test record, but given Mitchell Starc, with whom he's played so much in the baggy green, will play his 100th Test in the Kingston match.
Cummins was asked how Lyon would take it if he was left out.
"It's all hypothetical here, but I think everyone here has a pretty good track good of doing whatever the team needs and being really excited for the guys that play," Cummins said.
"Even someone like a Josh Inglis got a go in the first Test, and he's been out [since] but he's been fantastic.
"So I'd imagine if there's an experienced guy that misses out that'd be the same."
Cummins' men won the first Test by 159 runs and the second by 133 runs to retain the Frank Worrell Trophy, which Australia has held since 1995.
