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‘Dare I say it’: Nathan Lyon floated as potential casualty amid Australian bowling headache

Australia's bowling headache will see one big name left out next summer for The Ashes.

And according to former Test quick Ryan Harris, it could be Nathan Lyon's name on the chopping block as selectors weigh up the best make-up of the attack.

Scott Boland's continued dominance on home soil has led to plenty of question marks about the Victorian becoming a permanent, first-choice member of the XI.

Scott Boland starred in the Test series against India.  Getty

While his opportunity only came due to Josh Hazlewood's injury woes, Boland lit up the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, finishing with 21 wickets at 13.19 from three games.

Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc are both locks to be part of the Test team when they are available, which poses the dilemma surrounding the third seam option.

However, after only taking nine wickets against India and bowling an uncharacteristically low amount of overs, Lyon could be seen as surplus to requirements next summer.

"Scotty, as we know him, is the guy that comes in when someone gets injured," Harris told 2GB's Wide World of Sports radio on Monday night.

"That's his role in the past … but he took 21 wickets at 13, so that's definitely something the selectors are gonna have to think about with Josh Hazlewood not being in there.

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'Dare I say it': Nathan Lyon floated as potential casualty amid Australian bowling headache

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"Josh is a very good bowler and his record speaks for itself. It's definitely a question that has got to be asked and we are going to completely different conditions in Sri Lanka.

"Questions will be there for next summer and whether we play four quicks and leave out, dare I say it, maybe the GOAT [Lyon]."

While the veteran has taken more than 500 wickets at Test level and is the country's most successful off-spinner in history, Lyon has more cricket behind him than in front.

It's highly unlikely George Bailey and the rest of the selectors would axe Lyon completely later this year though, with Harris urging them not to shake things up too much.

'Dare I say it': Nathan Lyon floated as potential casualty amid Australian bowling headache

Nathan Lyon had a minimised role against India.  Getty

"I think they will try and keep it as stable as possible," he said.

"The conversations are no doubt being had behind closed doors … but we can't afford to lose three or four players at a time. Everyone is screaming that 'this has got to happen', but in the inner sanctum, there would be a plan in place.

"There's two Tests in Sri Lanka, there's a World Test Championship and even a West Indies tour, so there's gonna be a little bit of cricket between now and then.

"They [selectors] have copped a bit of criticism – but ultimately they have come through again and showed what the team can do. They are making good decisions, even if from the outside it might not always look like it."

Australia's tour of Sri Lanka will kick off on January 29.

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