Australia keep South Africa options open on Lyon king

Nathan Lyon is a linchpin of the bowling attack, but Australia captain Pat Cummins has stated the reasons why he may not play in every red-ball Test in future.

Australia play South Africa in a three-Test series in October and the pace- and seam-friendly conditions plus the presence of outstanding paceman Scott Boland will play a part in whether Lyon is regularly selected.

The veteran offspinner has not been left out of a red-ball Test, when fit and available for selection, since 2012 at the WACA against India when he was just starting his career.

Lyon took 3-25 in the second innings of the second Test against Bangladesh in Mackay, which the Australians won by an innings and 51 runs.

Wicketkeeper Alex Carey said Lyon "bowled quite well" given he sent down just 11.3 overs.

"There was a bit of spin and bounce in this wicket and the quicks were getting the job done, so we probably saw less overs from Nathan this Test match on probably a wicket that suited him with bounce and spin," Carey said.

Lyon famously said he was "absolutely filthy" when omitted from the pink-ball Test at the Gabba during last summer's Ashes series.

During Cummins' pre-Test press conference in Mackay, he said playing four specialists quicks was an option. He qualified that by saying he hadn't taken a look at the pitch with selectors.

There was a sense at the ground among the media that Lyon could be left out of the side and Boland included, but within an hour Australia had confirmed their team with the veteran spinner in it.

Cummins was asked after the Mackay Test finished inside two days whether Lyon was becoming a match-by-match proposition.

"I would say conditions is one (factor) and also Scotty Boland's class is the other one," Cummins said.

"That's why it becomes a conversation. It does seem like a lot of Test matches are accelerated.

"But we know how valuable Nath is and we think he is fit enough to play as many as he needs to.

"We did five minutes of looking and thought we probably did need him out there. With Scotty Boland's class you always assess every option."