Nathan Lyon was humming a sad, solo tune on Wednesday, one far different to the Australian victory song the Test offspinner is yet to belt out.

The maligned 25-year-old was dumped from the Ashes opener at Trent Bridge, with new coach Darren Lehmann instead dropping a selection shock with 19-year-old left-armer Ashton Agar.

The work experience kid who was brought on tour initially as a project player was indelibly linked to Peter “Who” Taylor and Michael Beer as the biggest bolters in Ashes history.

The move, a direct attack on England strike weapon Kevin Pietersen’s perceived weakness against left-arm spin, is as bold as they come.

There is a belief Australia need to take risks to challenge England this series, and there could be no more surprising selection – short of dragging Shane Warne back for a swan song.

On the other side of the selection is Lyon, who just four Tests after being handed the honour of singing Australia’s team song, owns a future which has never looked less secure. In the seven years since champion legspinner Warne retired, Australia have called on nine tweakers.

The likes of Beau Casson, Bryce McGain (both one Test) and Michael Beer (two Tests) disappeared as mysteriously as they arrived.

But Lyon was the survivor, taking 65 wickets at just under 34 in his 20 Tests.

Despite that, his place in the side has always been under review and he faced criticism for an inability to bowl Australia to victory on wearing wickets.

And how does he come back from here?

At the start of an Ashes series, selectors have shown more faith in a fresh-faced debutant with just 10 first-class games to his name.