Clarke says recent lack of success for Lyon, Ahmed not cause of concern

Sydney: Australian Test captain Michael Clarke has said that he is not disheartened about the lack of success for spin contenders Nathan Lyon and Fawad Ahmed in their last match before the selection of the Ashes team, and said that conditions were to blame.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the main difference in the performance between the two related to economy. Off-spinner Nathan Lyon conceded an average of 2.6 runs across his 64.2 overs whereas leg-spinner Ahmed, who is uncapped for Tests, conceded 4.75 across his 24 overs, the report said. Clarke, who will almost certainly be given one of those two spinners to deploy at the Gabba against England, said the pitch that produced two 350-plus scores was not easily conducive to spin, according to the report. Ahmed surged into Test contention with a stunning entry to Australian domestic cricket at the tail end of last season, the report added. He has since toured with Australia A in Britain and southern Africa and also debuted for Australia in a one-day series in England, the report further said.