Australian cricket legends Ian Chappell, Mark Taylor urge Test selectors to unleash Dunsborough’s Lance Morris

Australian cricket great Ian Chappell believes Dunsborough’s Lance Morris should have been unleashed earlier in the summer after the fast bowler missed out on making his Test debut at the SCG.

Appearing on Channel 9 program Outside the Rope, Chappell labelled the Australian selection panel as “conservative” and said they should have picked ‘The Wild Thing’ earlier in the summer.

“ We’re talking about some innovative selections? Well I don’t see where they’re going to come from,” he said.

“I don’t think they’re going to come from this panel, they’re a very conservative panel.

“If they weren’t, surely they would have given (Lance) Morris a game in Adelaide.

“That was the time.”

It comes after Morris missed out once again on making his Test debut in Australia’s Test series against South Africa, with Ashton Agar making his return to the Test squad at the start of the third Test at the SCG.

Morris was brought into the extended squad during the second Test in Adelaide to provide back-up for the absent Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, but Michael Neser and Scott Boland were ultimately picked.

The Australians will be looking to wrap up the series 3-0, having already won the series 2-0.

With tours of India and England coming up, fellow former captain Mark Taylor agreed the selection panel should look at Morris but said it was crucial Morris was analysed before the squads were named.

“You don’t want to be handing out baggy greens, that’s what people get scared of — but I agree with Chaps ... they’ve got to get a look at someone like Lance Morris,” he said.

“They’ve got India coming up and then they’ve got a five-Test series of England, and they’re going to have a lot of quick bowlers to choose from: Boland, Neser, the incumbent three, Lance Morris.

“There’s six already — that doesn’t include Jhye Richardson, so there’s seven.

“They’ve got to find their best five for England. If you’re not going to play someone like Lance Morris now, he’s not going to get an opportunity prior to that Ashes side being picked.”