New Delhi: Steve Smith didn’t want the story to drift any further than it already had after Australia wrapped up an eight-wicket win over England in Brisbane. The stand-in captain addressed the noise around Nathan Lyon’s unexpected exclusion, insisting the call had nothing to do with form, favouritism or any personal slight. In his words, it was simply a strategic decision for the pink-ball Test.

Lyon, who has been a constant in the Aussies’ home attack for more than a decade, admitted he was “absolutely filthy” when he learned he would be missing a home Test for the first time in 13 years. That emotion only added fuel to the debate especially with Australia already leading the series but selector George Bailey had described the move as a one-off, making it clear Lyon remained firmly i

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