Lyon's future, No. 3 and more: Healy answers Aussie cricket's burning questions

Australian cricketing great Ian Healy has answered some burning questions ahead of the 2026/27 home summer.

Healy was asked these questions on the back of the 1-2 away series defeat to South Africa.

With the sense around the nation that the fans are ready for change, Healy gave his take on several big topics on SENQ Breakfast.

Check out his answers on the hot Aussie cricket topics below.

Is Pat Cummins the right man to captain Australia still?

"Yes," healy replied.

But he hasn't got another error in him like that (winning the toss and electing to bowl in Cape Town) however.

"Temba Bavuma couldn't believe his luck, he was sort of holding himself together at the toss thinking, 'What, they're bowling?!'.

"I just love what Bavuma has done for South Africa. In two and a half years, having been bullied by Australia in Australia, they announced him as captain.

"In that time, he's won 13 games and had one draw out of 15 Tests. He has really got them together.

"They're the sorts of standards we need."

Is it time to make the tough call on Nathan Lyon?

"Yes, it's time. But not to rule him out.

"I've got him in a bowl-off in the next two Shield games.

He's got to show me some form in these two Shield games. I'm even giving him the third one off to be getting ready for the Tests, even if he is bowling very well.

"He didn't bowl consistently well enough for me. He didn't turn and bounce the ball, like he has in the past.

"I've got him in a bowl off with the likes of Todd Murphy and Corey Rocchiccioli."

Does there need to be wholesale changes with the coaching staff?

"I think if I was closer to it I'd know about availabilities more.

You're sort of interrupting now (if you made a decision before the summer), where coaches are getting dragged from state teams, etc.

"I think our batting coaching needs work. There doesn't seem to be a growth of young players coming in and going well like Ryan Rickelton from South Africa.

"We've got to get that growth out of our young selected batsmen."

Who bats at No. 3 in the home summer?

"For me, we've got a number three spot bat off between Jack Clayton, Nathan McSweeney and Kurtis Patterson.

"There's three candidates, and there'd be more, I'm sorry to any of the candidates that I've missed in that list.

"I want these men playing red ball, getting ready for New Zealand, not so much in and out of the One Day games against England."

Without wholesale change, can this team go on and win the Ashes in nine months' time in the UK?

"No, it can't, because it doesn't seem to be happening with our batters, does it?

"Our batters aren't coming in and making hundreds early doors.

"Josh Inglis did, but he's been around the squad for about four years, they've carried him as a second wicketkeeper and a handy batsman.

"Wholesale changes, not really (to everything), but we better get a fast bowler going.

"Xavier Bartlett, I'd 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.

"We'd better start getting he and Fergus O'Neill from Victoria a bit of exposure to the pressure of fast bowling in Tests."