“But if you don’t have a spinner, that’s one more thing you can’t do. Even if it doesn’t change, it’s just a change and you have to have balance in your attack.”
Taylor’s words were to be duly backed up by the way Webster made the most of that loose area outside off stump that Head had uncovered earlier. First he got one which he grabbed and ripped straight to flummox Harry Brook, breaking up a dangerous partnership. Two balls later, he induced Will Jacks to flick unwisely into the outfield where Cameron Green bent down to take the catch and tip the game back to Australia.
It will never be known if the earlier use of Webster or Head caused the wickets to fall more quickly, or if the inclusion of Todd Murphy could have done the same.
But what was interesting about the proceedings on day four was the strong evidence that right now Australia are not only reluctant to pick full-time bowlers on any but the most obviously useful terms, but are also reluctant to use the spin options they have until the pace is exhausted.
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Earlier in the game, assistant coach Dan Vettori alluded to the team’s view that in recent years, home conditions have meant that Nathan Lyon’s role has become increasingly marginal.
“Seamers have been so effective, it’s hard to go away from them,” Vettori said. “I just feel like they’re going to be in the game most of the time and the spinners haven’t come into play on those types of surfaces.
“At some stage it might go back to the way it was the last couple of years, but at this point it’s all about the fast bowlers.”
One Sydney Test that sticks in the team’s memory is the drawn match against South Africa in January 2023. Ashton Agar was selected alongside Lyon and batted poorly as the game wound down. However, it is also important to note that the rain took significant chunks of play out of the game, not only reducing the time available but also affecting the deterioration of the pitch.
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The overall numbers for Lyon over the past four summers in Australia do not suggest he is surplus to requirements – far from it. In the 22 Tests in Australia since then, Lyon has taken 73 wickets at 25.91, striking every 58 balls. These figures rank favorably with any spin player in Australia at any time. And while he didn’t take wickets, conceding 2.67 runs gave the pacemen valuable respite.
The cameras looked at Murphy in the final session and his fluorescent bib was brilliant. No doubt he saw enough to suggest that this was a wicket-taking pitch.
Something that also became apparent in the last hour of play at the SCG was that Webster and Head, while skilful, do not have the full-time ability to maintain their lines and lengths for long periods. Australia were grateful to have been bowled out for England’s sixth wicket before the limping Ben Stokes drove a Webster short ball into Smith’s hands.
Webster’s contribution was remarkable. Left on the bench until the final Test, he delivered runs, wickets and exuberance and deserves a more regular place in the group.
But with the help of Brydon Cars, Bethell and England wriggled into the stumps with some faint hope of playing it out on day five: the day when specialist spinners generally have the most fun.
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