Australia’s stand-in captain, Steve Smith, sought to quell the controversy surrounding Nathan Lyon’s exclusion from the second Ashes Test in Brisbane. Smith explained that the decision was made to bolster the pace-bowling department and was not personal against the veteran spin bowler.

Lyon expressed his frustration as being “absolutely filthy" after being dropped by Australia for the first time in 13 years in a home Test. George Bailey, Australia’s chairman of selectors, described the exclusion as a “one-Test decision" and assured the 38-year-old spinner a spot in the XI for the third Test in Adelaide.

“It could have gone a few different ways, and it’s certainly nothing against Nathan. He’s a freak," Smith was quoted by Fox Sports after the match.

Australia triumphed over the Ben Stoke

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