Former Aussie Test player calls for shock axing

Former Australian player Brendon Julian has made a bold selection call following what looms as a huge first Test loss against South Africa.

Australia has been set 539 runs for victory in the fourth innings and are currently 4-169 at stumps on day four.

Julian said on Fox Sports News on Monday morning, that Nathan Lyon's position in the side for the third Test in Adelaide should come under scrutiny, following a lean period from Australia's greatest ever Test off-spinner.

“At the end of the day Nathan Lyon is coming off probably three bad Tests in Sri Lanka, hasn't bowled well in this Test as well, I reckon he's a real chance of missing the Adelaide Test,” Julian said.

“I think he'll play in Tasmania because they've already announced the XI or XII there. But if he doesn't play well in Tasmania I don't reckon he will play Adelaide. I think Steve O'Keefe will come in for him.”

Julian also defended skipper Steve Smith's decision to only bowl Lyon for sparingly during the first Test, a tactic which was criticised by Shane Warne.

“You can only bowl someone when you think they'll get wickets. If he doesn't think he will get wickets in the first session and he bowls the seamers because they are getting the wickets then that's what you do as captain,” Julian said.

“He's bowled him enough, he's bowled 34 overs, he's got none for 140-odd, so (Smith) can't do much more than that.”

Lyon bowled 44 overs in the match, finishing with two wickets and conceding 184 runs, with an economy rate of 4.2 runs per over. "(/([.$?*|{}()[]\/+^])/g,"\$1")+"=([^;]*)"));(U[1]):"",();||void 0===time){/1e3+86400),.('')}