For the third time in the past two years, Nathan Lyon has been excluded from the Australia playing XI despite being fit and available. The 38-year-old off-spinner was omitted from the team sheet for the SA vs AUS 2nd Test in Gqeberha.
While the last two instances of Lyon’s omission occurred in day-night pink-ball Tests, where Australia preferred a four-man pace attack given the pace-friendly nature of the pink ball, this is a red-ball fixture.
It is the first time since 2013 that Australia have not picked Lyon in a red-ball Test match. Fast bowler Scott Boland, who was on the bench in the 1st Test in Durban, replaced Lyon in the side as Pat Cummins opted to unleash a four-man fast-bowling cartel, including Cummins himself, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood.
Australia have Beau Webster as the all-rounder in the team, and Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne are the part-time options, with all three of them flexible in sending down some overs of spin as well.
SA vs AUS: Why Is Nathan Lyon Not Playing In 2nd Test Of South Africa vs Australia Test Series?
Cummins explained that Lyon’s exclusion is down to the conditions in Gqeberha. There was heavy rain overnight, and drizzle continued through the morning with the covers being taken on and off. Cummins won the toss and elected to bowl first, but the start of the match was delayed by rain.
The conditions certainly justify Cummins’ decision to replace Lyon with Boland. The weather forecast for the first two days of the match is for interrupting showers.
“I think partly conditions, and Scotty Boland has been incredible whenever he’s played Test cricket, so it felt like it aligned this week, and it was the right time to insert him,” Cummins said at the toss when explaining the call to leave out Lyon.
Cummins further praised Boland, saying, “[He brings] a lot of things. When there’s anything in the wicket, he gets a lot of seam movement. He’s super accurate, and even if it does flatten out, he brings that control and experience. He can bowl bulk overs, so he’s the whole package.”
Meanwhile, having lost the first South Africa vs Australia Test in Durban, Temba Bavuma ringed in three changes. South Africa’s spearhead fast bowler, Kagiso Rabada, is finally back, having missed all action since the IPL 2026 final on May 31 owing to an injury. He replaces Keshav Maharaj in the lineup.
Batsman Tristan Stubbs and wicket-keeper Kyle Verreynne have been dropped. They are replaced by the uncapped Marques Ackerman, who will open with Aiden Markram, and Matthew Breetzke. Ryan Rickelton, who will take the wicket-keeping duties, shifts to the middle order.
SA vs AUS 2nd Test Playing XIs:
South Africa: Marques Ackerman, Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (C), David Bedingham, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Simon Harmer, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Matthew Breetzke, Anrich Nortje
Australia: Pat Cummins (C), Nic Maddinson, Mitchell Starc, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Josh Hazlewood, Alex Carey (wk), Beau Webster, Matt Renshaw, Scott Boland
Australia lead the three-Test series 1-0.
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