This is an archive article published on January 7, 2025
Ryan Harris on Australia’s bowling line-up for Ashes: ‘Play four quicks and leave out the GOAT’
Former Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris feels the bowling attack could be tinkered with over the next 12 months at Nathan Lyon’s expense.
Australia's Nathan Lyon, left, and Scott Boland walk off the field on the end of the day four of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia. (AP)
Scott Boland’s exceptional performance in the recently-concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy has put Australian team management in cricket dilemma for the future series including the much-awaited Ashes, which will be played later this year.
Scott Boland filled in for Josh Hazlewood for three Tests against India. Boland finished the series with 21 wickets at an average of 13.19.
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Scott Boland’s performance has sparked the discussion on whether Boland should be a regular in Australia’s playing XI.
Former Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris, who is currently the coach of South Australia, feels the bowling attack could be tinkered with over the next 12 months at Nathan Lyon’s expense.
“Scotty, as we know him, is the guy that comes in when someone gets injured,” Harris told 2GB’s Wide World of Sports.
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“That’s his role in the past … but he took 21 wickets at 13, so that’s definitely something the selectors are gonna have to think about with Josh Hazlewood not being in there.
“Josh is a very good bowler and his record speaks for itself. It’s definitely a question that has got to be asked and we are going to completely different conditions in Sri Lanka.”
Australia’s Nathan Lyon chews gum as he walks to his fielding position during the day one of the second cricket test match between Australia and India at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Australia. (AP)
37-year-old Nathan Lyon has played 130 Tests and is seventh on the all-time list of wicket takers with 539 wickets.
“Questions will be there for next summer and whether we play four quicks and leave out, dare I say it, maybe the GOAT (Nathan Lyon),” Harris said.
“I think they will try and keep it as stable as possible.
“The conversations are no doubt being had behind closed doors … but we can’t afford to lose three or four players at a time. Everyone is screaming that ‘this has got to happen’, but in the inner sanctum, there would be a plan in place.
“There’s two Tests in Sri Lanka, there’s a World Test Championship and even a West Indies tour, so there’s gonna be a little bit of cricket between now and then.
“They (selectors) have copped a bit of criticism – but ultimately they have come through again and showed what the team can do. They are making good decisions, even if from the outside it might not always look like it.”
Australia's Nathan Lyon, left, and Scott Boland walk off the field on the end of the day four of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia. (AP) 
Australia’s Nathan Lyon chews gum as he walks to his fielding position during the day one of the second cricket test match between Australia and India at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Australia. (AP)
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