Lyon - who was named by Mike Hussey to be the player to lead the team song in the change rooms after Test victories - was dumped for left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty for the second Test against India on Saturday.

Off-spinning all-rounder Glenn Maxwell will share slow-bowling duties with Doherty, the Victorian receiving his maiden baggy green at the expense of left-arm quick Mitchell Starc.

But it was Lyon's axing that caused the most surprise.

The ACT Comets product has taken 65 wickets at 33.93 in 20 consecutive Tests since being a left-field choice for the tour of Sri Lanka in August 2011.

Selectors made the switch after Lyon had little impact in the Chennai massacre, taking three wickets for more than 200 runs in the first innings while India's spinners wreaked havoc.

Matthews said that performance should have been seen as an aberration and Lyon's previous record should have been taken into account.

''I'm hurting for him,'' Matthews said. ''He's done a good job - 65 wickets in 20 Tests at around 35.

''We would've got down on our knees and said thank you very much if someone had told us that 18 months ago.

''I would've loved to have seen him have the opportunity here, but selectors have gone with two other options.

''Best of luck to the two other boys who have been picked.''

Doherty has taken two wickets at an average of 80 in Shield cricket for Tasmania this season, although the Hobart pitch has hardly been a spin-friendly deck.

His Test average from two matches against England is 102.

But after Lyon returned figures of 3-215 and 1-29 in Chennai, the selectors felt something had to give.

''The great thing about Nathan is he's just starting,'' Matthews said. ''Even though he's played 20 Tests, he's not even anywhere near halfway near his maximum.''