Australia have gone from picking a spinner in 137 of 138 Tests to not fielding one in five of their past 10, in a startling show of how selectors are now more willing to go all-in on pace.

The tourists' call to go with Scott Boland ahead of Nathan Lyon in Gqeberha was almost immediately vindicated on Sunday, with the Victorian taking two wickets in two balls against South Africa.

And while rain dominated day one to leave South Africa 2-20 on a green St George's Park wicket with heavy cloud overhead, Lyon's omission was still significant.

It marked the first time the veteran had been left out of a red-ball Test for 13 years, with the previous two matches he missed when fit having been day-night affairs. 

More stark is how the previous 16 months have played out for Australia's spinners.

Between January 2012 and July 2025, Australia only went without spin once when Lyon was injured in the 2023 Ashes and Todd Murphy was dropped for Manchester.

Otherwise, a frontline spinner played in all 137 other Tests Australia featured in, no matter the conditions or location.

But since Lyon was left out in Jamaica last year and it was labelled a "one-off" by selector Tony Dodemaide, it has been a different story.

Lyon was left out two Tests later for the day-night Ashes Test in Brisbane, prompting the 38-year-old to admit he was "filthy".

He was then injured in Adelaide, and Australia again went without Murphy at the MCG and usually spin-friendly SCG, copping plenty of criticism along the way.

Lyon then returned against Bangladesh, and spoke at length last week in Durban about trying to "squeeze as much out of the lemon as possible" in the twilight of his career.

But the reality is that being the country's best spinner no longer appears to make Lyon or anyone a walk-up selection for every Test.

On both occasions Lyon was overlooked in Jamaica and Brisbane last year, Dodemaide or chief selector George Bailey spoke to the media to explain the call.

On Sunday, it was deemed there was no need for public comment, even when Bailey was requested by touring media.

In fairness, most times the decision has been vindicated.

Lyon is one of Australia's greatest ever bowlers, and the sixth-leading wicket-taker in Test history from any country.

But while rain ensured a draw at Manchester in 2023 and lack of spin wasn't the problem in Melbourne last year, they won easily in Jamaica, Brisbane and Sydney.

Conditions will no doubt dictate whether Lyon is selected for the third Test in Cape Town, before another home summer.

He will almost certainly play a key part of Australia's India tour, before heading to England for the fifth Ashes tour of his career.

When Lyon arrived for the 2023 Ashes, he was on his way to being the first bowler in history to play 100-straight Tests.

The reality for Lyon and Australia's spinners over the past 10 Tests has been very different.