The time is now for untried spinner: Border

Former Australia captain Allan Border wants Justin Langer to try Nathan Lyon in the World Cup, with the offspinner the only squad member not to play a game.

Lyon has been confined to the bench for Australia's first six games, as the defending champions sit first with three games to play.

Having worked in unison with Adam Zampa on the turning wickets of India and Dubai, Australia have backed their quicks to get the job done in England.

Zampa entered the World Cup in form but has only played the four games - left out while Marcus Stoinis was injured for team balance - with tournament figures of 5-236.

"I've just got a little voice at the back of my head saying 'try Nathan Lyon' in a couple of these games," Border said in a column for the ICC.

Image Id: EE82F642A6AD4809A5A4D656C864AFE1 Image Caption: Nathan Lyon celebrates the wicket of Ben Stokes in a World Cup warm-up game // Getty

"He's a wicket-taker and knows how to get people out. Test bowling is obviously different, but Lyon is a good attacking bowler and gets lots of revs on the ball.

"The mindset of players now is to really attack the opposition spinner, and it can go two ways.

"But the other side of the coin is that to win this tournament you're probably going to need to have more of an attacking mindset so that you can limit the opposition."

Image Id: 801E753494D24B2CB614B16537654E2B Image Caption: Australian great Allan Border believes the time is now for Nathan Lyon // Getty

Border's comments come after former England spinner Graeme Swann called for Lyon to play, arguing that it would also improve Zampa's game by building pressure at the other end.

Zampa returned to the Australian side against Bangladesh and produced a bowling performance teammate Glenn Maxwell believed was more impressive than figures of 1-68 (nine overs) suggested.

“I thought he bowled beautifully today and if he keeps putting the ball in the right areas he’s going to keep getting wickets for us,” Maxwell said.

“Unfortunately, (there were a) couple of big hits off his good balls, which you expect as a spinner. It cost him towards the end of his spell.

“It’s just the nature of leg-spin bowling in one-day cricket that some days your best ball goes for six.”

Zampa has previously pushed the case for Australia to play two spinners at the World Cup, given the way the pair combined on the sub-continent.

Langer indicated last week Australia's best chance of going with a dual-spin attack could be in the last round match against South Africa at Old Trafford.

Another chance could also come if they play on a used wicket in either of their next two matches at Lord's against England and New Zealand.

"It's been pace that's dominated the tournament. Over the last few years it's been spin that's dominated one-day cricket," Langer said before the Bangladesh clash.

"It might change when we get to Old Trafford for example. We might look at playing two spinners if it's a dry wicket. It's good to have those options." 

2019 World Cup

Australia's squad: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

June 1: Australia beat Afghanistan by seven wickets

June 6: Australia beat West Indies by 15 runs

June 9: Australia lost to India by 36 runs

June 12: Australia beat Pakistan by 41 runs

June 15: Australia beat Sri Lanka by 87 runs

June 20: Australia beat Bangladesh by 48 runs

June 25: England v Australia, Lord's

June 29: New Zealand v Australia, Lord's (D/N)

July 6: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford (D/N)

July 9: Semi-Final 1, Old Trafford

July 11: Semi-Final 2, Edgbaston

July 14: Final, Lord's

Sync Australia's World Cup schedule to your calendar HERE

For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE