Nathan Lyon
Nathan Lyon had his placed questioned during the English summer when new coach Darren Lehmann pulled a rabbit out of a hat and handed teenager Ashton Agar his Test debut in the first match of the series.
While history will show Agar’s heroics with the bat in that game, his lack of bowling strike-power showed through, and the decision could be argued as the Australian’s first mistake of the series.
Australia has made a habit of not giving spin bowlers long of enough time in the Test side to establish themselves, but Lyon has to step up and show why he must play in every Test this series.
Brisbane, in the past, has been a happy hunting ground for the slow men, with the extra bounce from the pitch making close in catches more likely.
And while Lyon will never hold the duel title of wicket-taking threat and run-restricting bowler held by England’s Graeme Swann, he must do enough to show he is the country’s top tweaker or risk being cast aside for another unknown in the form of leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed.