Lyon feels 'filthy' after rare Test omission

Spinner Nathan Lyon says he felt "absolutely filthy" after being left out of an Australia side for the first time in a home Test since 2012.

The hosts are also still without captain Pat Cummins for the second Ashes Test in Brisbane as he continues to recover from a back problem.

But the shock came through the omission of Lyon - Australia's third-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket - with the hosts opting for an all-seam attack for the day-night Test at the Gabba.

Cricket Australia's own website called the decision a "bombshell".

Speaking to Australian TV Channel 7, Lyon said a conversation with selector George Bailey and head coach Andrew McDonald was "short".

"Absolutely filthy," said Lyon when he was asked how he felt.

"To be honest I haven't really sat down with 'Ronnie' [McDonald] or George yet. I'm letting things settle down in my own head and trying to make sure that I'm doing whatever I can to make sure the guys out in the middle representing Australia do the right thing and get the right result for us.

"I'm not the first player to miss a Test match and I won't be the last. I'm obviously pretty gutted because I know the role that I can play within Australian cricket and especially at a venue like this.

"Extremely disappointed, but I'll do whatever I have to do to make sure these guys get up."

Bailey said Lyon, who was also left out of Australia's previous day-night Test against West Indies in July, disagreed with the decision.

"Nathan will disagree with the decision, and that's perfectly OK," Bailey said. "I think he disagreed with the decision in Jamaica, and that was perfectly OK.

"There's no qualms about players feeling like they can impact the game and the fact of the matter is he could have."

It meant a third cap for seamer Michael Neser, whose two previous appearances came in pink-ball Tests.

After England won the toss and chose to bat, stand-in Australia captain Steve Smith said: "Pat was close. He's done everything right. We thought it might have been a little bit risky for this game but he's tracking well for the next one.

"With the pink ball, we think it's going to offer quite a bit, particularly later on under lights. We play in the night a lot and thought that was going to be the best attack to take 20 wickets in this fixture."

Only the great Shane Warne and legendary seamer Glenn McGrath have taken more Test wickets for Australia than Lyon. The 38-year-old needs two more to go past McGrath's 562 and into second place on the list.

The last time Lyon was left out of a home Test was against India at the Waca in January 2012. He had played 71 consecutive home Tests.

"I'm really surprised Australia left Lyon out given his record at the Gabba and also how this ball gets soft quickly," said former England spinner Alex Hartley on Test Match Special.

"You might need someone to hold up an end but maybe they're thinking they've got enough part-time spinners to do that - Labuschagne can bowl a bit."

Lyon has now been left out of the Australia XI twice in three Tests, going back to the 176-run defeat of West Indies in Jamaica.

On that decision, Lyon said: "Disappointed on a number of levels. I believe I can play a role in any conditions, and I still honestly believe that.

"I want to play every game for Australia, and I've just got that belief that I can play a role in any conditions, as every cricketer should have that belief."

Neser lengthens Australia's batting at number eight and has the experience of the Gabba being his home ground, but only Warne and McGrath have more wickets than Lyon in Brisbane.

As expected, Leeds-born Josh Inglis came into the Australia side for the injured Usman Khawaja. Travis Head continues as opener, with Inglis listed to bat at number seven.

England had already confirmed their XI, with spin-bowling all-rounder Will Jacks taking the place of injured fast bowler Mark Wood.

England have not won at the Gabba since 1986 or in any of their previous three pink-ball matches in Australia.

This is the first day-nighter in Australia in which England have batted first, as captain Ben Stokes extended his team's run of winning the toss to seven consecutive Tests.