Under-fire Australian spinner Nathan Lyon has again missed a chance to show he can deliver when his country needs him most.
Captain Michael Clarke turned to Lyon, rightly thinking his spinner could play a match-winning role on day three against Sri Lanka at the SCG.
Lyon took one wicket, the beneficiary of a deplorable shot from Thilan Samaraweera, to finish with figures of 1-63 from 13 overs.
But it was the self-destructing of Sri Lanka and the hard toil of the fast bowlers in searing heat which lifted Australia from a dicey position to complete control.
Spinning counterpart Rangana Herath took four first-innings wickets as the pitch started to look the goods for spinners the previous day.
Speaking after play on Friday, Australia batsman Phil Hughes predicted big things for Lyon.
“I think Nathan Lyon will come into the game in the second innings,” Hughes said.
“Look, it’s going to turn. It’s day two and already it’s turning. Day three and four, five, it will be turning a fair bit, I’d say.”
Lyon had a couple of unlucky moments on Saturday with a drop catch and lbw referral going against him and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade defended his performance.
“Nathan bowled really well, he took a bit of pace off from the first innings and came back really well,” Wade said.
“Hopefully he can get the last three wickets for us (on Sunday).”
However, it was the third notable time this summer Lyon had been unable to shine when the conditions and match situation called.
On a final day pitch in Adelaide he couldn’t trouble the resilient South Africans who held on for a series-turning draw.
And on the fifth day against Sri Lanka in Hobart, Lyon went wicketless before Mitchell Starc and Peter Siddle got the job done for Australia.
Against a weak Sri Lanka side, Australia got away with Lyon’s failure to penetrate.
But Indian conditions are unlikely to be so forgiving.
The problem for selectors is there isn’t another tweaker in Australia who is demanding to go on that spin-friendly tour and put pressure on Lyon.
However, the coming ODI series against Sri Lanka and the West Indies presents a huge opportunity for challengers to announce themselves ahead of February’s four Test-tour to India.
Glenn Maxwell, Xavier Doherty, Cameron Boyce, Michael Beer and the Sheffield Shield’s leading spinner Steve Smith could all come into contention.
Throughout his 19-Test career Lyon has been unable to take a match by the horns and tear through an opposition.
When selected for his debut tours to Sri Lanka and South Africa in 2011, Lyon earned brownie points for steady performances and reliable temperament.
But when you’re preparing for a watershed year that involves India and back-to-back Ashes campaigns, selectors need more.