Ashes 2027 Warning: Ian Healy Demands Fresh Pace Blood and 'Bowl-Off' for Nathan Lyon
Former keeper Ian Healy calls for fresh pace blood and a "bowl-off" for Nathan Lyon to revive Australia's Test fortunes before the 2027 Ashes.
Former Australian wicket-keeping legend Ian Healy has sounded the alarm over the current state of the national Test side, insisting that drastic changes in the bowling department are essential if Australia hopes to reclaim the urn during the Xavier Bartlett Ashes 2027 campaign in the UK.
The 2023 World Test champions have struggled with inconsistency, suffering a disappointing 2-1 series defeat in South Africa against the current WTC crown holders. With a batting lineup that is failing to post big scores early in the game and a bowling attack showing signs of age and fatigue, Healy believes the road to the 2025-27 WTC cycle requires a bold new approach.
The Case for Xavier Bartlett and Fergus O'Neill
Healy is particularly concerned about the aging pace trio of captain Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood. While he isn't calling for a total overhaul of the squad, he believes it is time to integrate white-ball success into the red-ball setup.
Healy has specifically identified Xavier Bartlett as a player who needs to be transitioned into the Test arena. Bartlett has been a revelation in limited-overs cricket, claiming 23 wickets in 12 ODIs and 24 wickets in 22 T20Is. However, his domestic red-ball record is where Healy sees the real value: in 34 first-class matches for Queensland, Bartlett has taken 127 wickets at an average of just over 24.
Alongside Bartlett, Healy suggested that Victoria's Fergus O'Neill deserves a shot to experience the intensity of Test cricket. O'Neill boasts a formidable first-class record with 205 wickets in 53 matches at an average of 20.32, including a ten-wicket haul and a dominant recent Sheffield Shield campaign where he took 35 wickets in nine matches.
"We better get a fast bowler going. Xavier Bartlett, I would like to see him have a Test here or there. Get him away from white-ball cricket too. He's got a very successful role to play in red ball," Healy stated.
Tough Love for Nathan Lyon
The veteran spinner Nathan Lyon, soon to be 39, has also come under the scanner. After a patchy year where he managed only 10 wickets across four Tests at an average of 41.20, Healy believes the time for "tough calls" has arrived.
During the South African tour, Lyon was noticeably outshone by Simon Harmer, who took 14 wickets in three Tests. Lyon, by contrast, managed only six wickets at an average of 43.66. Healy noted that the spinner has lacked the consistency, turn, and bounce that once made him the world's best.
Rather than ruling Lyon out entirely, Healy proposed a competitive "bowl-off" in the Sheffield Shield against younger talents Todd Murphy and Corey Rocchiccioli. He suggested that Lyon must prove his form in the next few Shield games to secure his spot.
Batting Woes and the Josh Inglis Dilemma
When asked if the current squad could win the Ashes in the UK next year, Healy was blunt: "No, it cannot." He pointed toward a batting lineup that is failing to convert starts into centuries.
Healy also touched upon the situation of Josh Inglis. Despite Inglis scoring a century in the final Test in South Africa, Healy noted that the player has been carried as a second wicket-keeping option and "handy batsman" for four years without becoming a permanent fixture of the top order.
Australia now looks to reset as they prepare for a four-match home Test series against New Zealand, starting December 9, where the selectors will have a chance to address the concerns raised by the former keeper.