Australia vs Pakistan: Nathan Lyon enters 500 Test wickets club

Nathan Lyon became the eighth bowler to take 500 Test wickets on the fourth day of the first Test between Australia and Pakistan in Perth. Lyon had come into the Test, his 123rd, needing four wickets to the milestone and got there with the wicket of Faheem Ashraf in the second innings. Before Lyon, only seven bowlers had taken 500 wickets in Test cricket history. Muttiah Muralitharan leads the list with 800 wickets followed by Shane Warne (708), James Anderson (690), Anil Kumble (619), Stuart Broad (604), Glenn McGrath (563) and Courtney Walsh (519). He began the Test in Perth on 496 wickets and was left stranded on 499 after Pakistan’s first innings. But he finally reached the 500 wickets mark by dismissing Ashraf leg before on review, with his teammates mobbing him in celebration. Lyon quickly moved along when he bowled Aamer Jamal in the same over for his 501st.

FIVE HUNDRED! #AUSvPAK #PlayOfTheDay @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/DyDC5hUdTJ

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 17, 2023

Lyon, affectionately known as “Garry” after former Australian Rules Football player Garry Lyon, made his debut in 2011 and has best figures of 8/50, collecting 23 five-wicket hauls and 10 wickets four times so far. He told reporters before the Test that he wanted to continue playing at international level until Australia’s next Ashes sojourn to England in 2027. But Lyon would not say how many more wickets he felt he could get. “I’m not putting a number on it,” he said. “I want to play cricket for as long as I can. “I’m feeling really confident, really happy with where everything is at and it’s just about going out there and performing now.” Lyon still has a long way to go to match the exploits of fellow spin kings Muttiah Muralitharan (800) of Sri Lanka and Australia’s Shane Warne (708), who head the all-time list. The Aussie spinner could catch West Indian great Courtney Walsh (519) during the current three-Test series against Pakistan. If not, the milestone should be in sight during Australia’s two-Test home showdown with the West Indies that follows in January. Long-time teammate Steve Smith praised Lyon as a hugely important member of the side. “What he brings to the attack and the control and different tempos – he can play defensive roles, he can play an attacking role and he’s got all the tricks,” he said ahead of the Test. “He’s been incredible, particularly the last three or four years. “He’s continually learning and trying to get better as well. He’s a valuable – if not the most valuable member in this team for our attack.”  (with inputs from AFP)