Nathan Lyon Retained as Australia Confirm XI for Bangladesh Test; Matt Renshaw Set for Comeback

Nathan Lyon has retained his place in Australia’s playing XI for the second Test against Bangladesh in Mackay, with Matt Renshaw confirmed to make his Test return at the top of the order.

The decision came shortly after Australia captain Pat Cummins revealed that the team had been considering an all-pace attack. However, after further discussions and another assessment of the pitch at Great Barrier Reef Arena, Australia opted to retain Lyon as their frontline spinner.

The selection means Scott Boland remains on the sidelines, despite Cummins acknowledging the quality of the experienced fast bowler.

“We wanted to give them another day really to see whether it’s four quicks or a spin,” Cummins said before the XI was confirmed.

Lyon’s selection maintains his remarkable record in traditional home Tests. He has not missed a home red-ball Test since 2012 and has not been left out of a traditional Test anywhere since 2013. His recent omissions have come in pink-ball matches, including Tests in Jamaica and at the Gabba last season.

The pitch at Great Barrier Reef Arena is expected to offer plenty of pace and bounce early in the match. Curator Peter Kazakoff said the surface should have similarities to the Gabba, with assistance for fast bowlers initially before becoming more favourable to batters and spinners as the match progresses.

Australia also reviewed footage from the Australia A-India A match played at the venue in October 2024. In that game, neither team managed 200 in the first innings, with Brendan Doggett and Mukesh Kumar claiming six-wicket hauls.

Spin has also played a role at the ground previously. Mitchell Swepson took five wickets in a Sheffield Shield match there in 2023, although that game was played later in the season under different conditions.

Lyon endured a difficult first Test in Darwin, taking 1 for 102 in Bangladesh’s first innings. The Bangladesh batters attacked him effectively, at times scoring at more than four runs an over.

Cummins said the decision to retain Lyon was largely based on the conditions and the likelihood of spin becoming increasingly important as the Test progresses.

“If you think there’s a good chance that first or second innings you’re going to take ten with mainly the quicks relatively quickly, and perhaps the fourth innings isn’t going to break up, that’s a lot of the decision,” Cummins said.

Renshaw returns after three years

Renshaw will play his 15th Test and his first since February 2023 after being recalled to replace Jake Weatherald at the top of the order.

Weatherald made 23 and 0 in the opening Test in Darwin, falling to Bangladesh seamer Hasan Mahmud in both innings. Cummins praised Weatherald’s contribution to the squad but said the opener now needed to return to domestic cricket and force his way back into contention.

“I thought he was awesome around the group,” Cummins said. “But over the course of six Test matches, he just didn’t quite score the runs that he or we would have liked.”

Renshaw earned his recall after a productive Sheffield Shield campaign last season, averaging 49.90 and scoring three centuries. He has also impressed in Australia’s white-ball setup and was added to the T20 World Cup squad earlier this year as a replacement for Matt Short.

The 30-year-old has played 14 Tests, averaging 29.31, with his highest score of 184 coming against Pakistan in 2017.

Cummins said Renshaw had impressed during recent tours and looked in good form heading into his Test comeback.

“He’s been really impressive,” Cummins said. “He had some great off-season tours to Pakistan and Bangladesh recently with the white ball, looks in good nick, and had a really good Shield season last season.”

Renshaw’s return continues the revolving door at the top of Australia’s Test batting order since David Warner’s retirement in early 2024. Travis Head has continued as an opener following his success during the Ashes, while Usman Khawaja remains the established option at the other end.

Australia XI for second Test vs Bangladesh

Travis Head, Matt Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

Australia will enter the second Test looking to level the series after Bangladesh won the opening match in Darwin.