Australia drop Lyon for Neser in big selection call for second Ashes test

New Delhi: Australia dropped veteran spinner Nathan Lyon and picked Michael Neser in a surprise call for the second Ashes Test that began in Brisbane on Thursday.

The hosts opted for a four-pronged pace attack before England skipper Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bat first.

Australia made another change as Josh Inglis replaced the injured Usman Khawaja. Inglis and Neser are local boys.

It will be Inglis' fourth Test and first in an Ashes series, while Neser makes a return for the first time in three years.

Travis Head will continue to open after his blistering ton fetched a 1-0 lead for Australia in the series opener in Perth, freeing up space for Inglis to bat in the middle order.

"I think they (the fans) will get what they want if that's what they want. It looks like I'll pretty obviously open the batting, so I've prepared that way,” Head told Fox Cricket.

Regular skipper Pat Cummins was not risked as he is still on the recovery path from his lower-back injury after missing the first match.

Australia are 1-0 up in the five-match series and ill again be led by Steve Smith.

"He was close. He's done everything right the last little bit. We just thought it would be a little bit risky this game but he's certainly tracking well for the next one," Smith said at the toss of Cummins.

Keeping in mind the pink ball to be used in the day-night Test, Australia made a big call of dropping off-spinner Lyon.

The 38-year-old, who bowled only two overs in Perth, has now been dropped for two pink-ball Tests in a row, with Neser preferred as for the match under lights.

All three of Neser’s Test caps now have been in pink-ball Tests.

"Pink ball, we think it's going to offer quite a bit, particularly later on under lights," said Smith.

"With no daylight savings here, you play in the night a lot. We think that's going to be the best (team) for this particular fixture."

Australia XI: Jake Weatherald, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (c), Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Josh Inglis, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett

England XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer