MELBOURNE, Aug 26 (Reuters) - With Nathan Lyon ⁠almost as iconic in Australian cricket as the baggy green cap worn by the nation's test players, selectors ⁠face a delicate task in managing a proud spinner whose role may be curtailed amid changing priorities.

Australia's second-highest ‌test wicket-taker of all time was an automatic selection for over a decade but his place is under pressure as conditions tempt selectors to go with an all-pace assault in upcoming series against South Africa and New Zealand.

Having missed the last two Ashes tests with injury over the home summer, Lyon ​was recalled for the Bangladesh series, returning as a foil for the vaunted ⁠pace unit of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and ⁠Josh Hazlewood in Darwin.

But after taking 1-125 in the opening defeat and being out-bowled by spin-bowling all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz, his ⁠place ‌for the second match was far from assured.

Captain Cummins said Scott Boland and an all-pace attack were initially under consideration for Mackay but the condition of the pitch worked in Lyon's favour.

Lyon took 3-25, including two tail-end wickets, in ⁠Bangladesh's second innings but it was ultimately nothing more than a cameo role.

He ​was scarcely needed as Bangladesh were ‌bowled out for 64 in the first innings before crumbling for 95 in the second.

"I guess the quicks were ⁠getting the job done ​and we probably saw less overs from Nathan this test match, on probably a wicket that suited a little bit as well with that bounce and spin," said wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

"Nathan's a high-class bowler, has been for a number of years."

Turning 39 in November, Lyon remains convinced ⁠he belongs in the side and that he has lost none of ​the art and guile that brought him 571 wickets in 143 tests.

A hamstring injury derailed Lyon's Ashes but he would be the last to agree that his workload should be carefully managed, or that Australia can afford to go without a specialist spinner.

Pity the ⁠selector that makes such a suggestion.

After being dropped for the Gabba test during the Ashes, his first omission in 13 years of home tests, a furious Lyon described his mood as "absolutely filthy" in a TV interview.

"I’m not the first player to miss a test match and I won’t be the last," he said. "But I’m obviously pretty gutted because I know the role that I ​can play, and especially at a venue like this."

More difficult conversations may loom for the ⁠October tour of South Africa, where pace is expected to dominate and Boland, who took 20 wickets during the Ashes, awaits another ​chance.

In all-rounders Cameron Green and Beau Webster, Australia have bowlers to share the ‌workload, while Travis Head offers handy part-time spin.

"You could easily say ​Nathan can play every test match, (if) it just lines up well," said Carey

"But I think for the selectors to be really flexible on different surfaces is great options for us."

(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Peter Rutherford)