At just four wickets away from 500 Test wickets, Nathan Lyon is poised to create history. Only seven bowlers have ever accomplished this milestone to date, three of them spinners: Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan, and Anil Kumble.
One day before the first Test match between Australia and Pakistan was to take place in Perth, Australia released their playing XI on Wednesday, December 13. Following a rare calf injury sustained while fielding during the second Ashes Test earlier this year, Lyon was able to rejoin the Australian Test team. At a place where he has taken 22 wickets at an average of 18.45 in three Test matches, the seasoned off-spinner will get the opportunity to join the exclusive 500-club.
Ahead of the first Test, Lyon—who is primarily known for his red-ball skills—was questioned about his retirement plans. Before hanging up his boots, the 36-year-old stated that he wants to win Test series in India and England. However, he did not want to place a time limit on his retirement.
When questioned if he was aiming to surpass Warne’s record as Australia’s all-time greatest Test bowler, he responded, “I’m not putting a number on it.”
For as long as I can, I want to play cricket,” Nathan Lyon declared to Cricket Australia (CA).
“After suffering an injury a few months ago, I feel like there’s a drive there to keep going and keep trying to get better. I haven’t won a Test series in India or England, and those are two places that I want to go.” “I want to treat this like no one has ever treated a calf injury,” Nathan Lyon continued.
In 2027, Australia will visit England for another Ashes tour. Earlier this year, in the Ashes in England, Pat Cummins and his team seized a 2-0 lead. Nevertheless, England won two of the final three Tests to level the series, so they were unable to maintain their lead.
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