After being the third Australian and eighth bowler to ever reach 500 Test wickets, Nathan Lyon has made history. At Perth’s Optus Stadium, during the first Test match against Pakistan, on the fourth day, Lyon dismissed Faheem Ashraf.
Lyon demonstrated his unwavering brilliance at Optus Stadium. Following the Ashes series, a calf injury briefly halted Nathan Lyon quest to reach 500 wickets. By eliminating Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, and Aamer Jamal, he accomplished this remarkable feat and helped Pakistan reach 499 wickets in their opening innings.
Nathan Lyon was on the verge of reaching the elusive milestone as the Australian speed attack decimated Pakistan’s second inning. However, Ashraf’s much-anticipated wicket came in the seventh over when the DRS confirmed that he was leg before wicket.
With this achievement, Lyon joins the elite ranks of Australian bowlers Shane Warne (708) and Glenn McGrath (563) in the 500-wicket club, joining a distinguished group. He joins the distinguished ranks of Anil Kumble and Muthiah Muralidaran among spinners.
Looking back on his feat, Nathan Lyon modestly realized how important it was to attain the 500-wicket threshold.
“I just keep mentioning how great it is to my friends, family, and close acquaintances. You are getting closer to two of Australia’s greatest players, McGrath and Warne. It’s quite amazing that there are just two Australians who are over 500. It’s something with which I am pleased. ESPN Cricinfo quoted him as saying, “A lot of hard work has gone into it.”
With 489 wickets ahead of India’s next Test series in South Africa and a home series against England, fellow offspinner R. Ashwin is the closest competitor to Lyon’s achievement. Lyon conveyed mutual respect and acknowledged his friendship with Ashwin by saying,
“Throughout the world, we have faced off against each other numerous times under various circumstances. Regarding Ashwin and his methodology, I have nothing but admiration. He’s taught me a lot, for sure. Unknowingly, he has been one of my biggest coaches in a way. You can learn a lot from the individuals you play against.
“It’s pretty amazing to see that we’re both creeping up to that 500 mark and we’ll see where we end up and hopefully at the end of our careers we’ll be able to sit down and have a nice feed and beer and talk about it.”
This is how ‘X’ on Twitter responded to Lyon’s accomplishment.
2010 – part of groundstaff.
2023 – picking 500 Test wickets.
– Inspirational stuff from Nathan Lyon…!!! #AUSvsPAK #TilakVerma #SanjuSamson #Prabhas #KareenaKapoorKhan #KLRahul #ShahRukhKhan𓀠 #SAvsIND #INDvsSA #SAvIND #INDvSA #PAKvsAUS #Dunki pic.twitter.com/eHej9eSxIk
— Raj Paladi (@IamRajPaladi) December 17, 2023
Nathan Lyon’s career is one of the most remarkable stories in the history of cricket.
There were a number of times during his career were the odds of him taking 500 Test wickets would have been astronomical.
To sit alongside Warne and McGrath is the rarest of air.
— Tom Hackett (@ResidentRainman) December 17, 2023
500 wickets is a great achievement but what about doing it without overstepping ever in your Test career. Nathan Lyon has 501 wickets, bowled 31,608 balls and never bowled a line no-ball! #AusvPak
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) December 17, 2023
He’s gone from country pubs and “$10 schnittys” to Aussie legend status. 🐐@walshcee‘s exclusive chat with Nathan Lyon takes you inside the GOAT’s rise to the 500 club: https://t.co/c6twiU10ny pic.twitter.com/UDILQYAghq
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 17, 2023
Nathan Lyon joins 500 test Wicket club
The journey from ground staff to one of the all time greats in test cricket is spectacular👏👏🔥🔥#AUSvsPAK #NathanLyon pic.twitter.com/SdaitQQ2Ng
— Zunx (@Zunx11) December 17, 2023
India
