Overview

• Australia’s Nathan Lyon said every Test XI should include a spinner because variation changes the game’s tempo and can work in Australian conditions.
• England’s 16-player touring squad features Shoaib Bashir as the lone specialist spinner, with allrounder Will Jacks named as cover.
• Lyon will captain New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield opener in Perth and plans to play three of the next four Shield matches before the first Test on November 21.
• Pat Cummins remains in back-injury rehabilitation and is unlikely to play competitive cricket before the Perth opener, though Lyon described him as upbeat and doing the right work.
• Lyon highlighted early Shield fixtures as selection auditions and told young NSW opener Sam Konstas his expectation is simply runs.