Australian spinner Nathan Lyon overtook Ravichandran Ashwin to achieve a crucial career milestone on Monday during the Boxing Day Test against India in Melbourne. Lyon is now the seventh-highest wicket-taker in the longest format with 538 wickets in 133 games at an average of 30.41, with 24 five-wicket hauls. He is now behind former Australian great Glenn McGrath, who picked up 563 wickets in 124 games.
Lyon made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in September 2011 and scalped a total of six wickets, including a fifer. He then went on to become Australia’s premier spinner in the longest format. Although, multiple spinners vied for a place in the XI, no one could match the greatness of Lyon.
The slick action, drift and the ability to generate spin and bounce from the surfaces set apart Lyon in the red-ball cricket. The 37-year-old has been preferred as a lone spinner in the XI due to his wicket-taking abilities and deliver in a high-stakes game. He finished with his best match figures of 13/154 against Bangladesh in 2017.
In his latest outing, Lyon returned with a terrific all-round performance, which helped Australia to secure a 2-1 lead over India in Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He picked five wickets and scored 54 runs in the game and effectively used the MCG surface, which offered a little assistance to the spinners.
What Nathan Lyon said after Ashwin’s retirement?
In an interview with Star Sports’ Jatin Sapru, Nathan Lyon shared his reaction to Ravichandran Ashwin bringing the curtains down to his international career after the Gabba test earlier this month. Ashwin made his debut in November 2011 and went on to pick 537 wickets in 106 games.
Lyon praised Ashwin for his remarkable test career and labeled him the “best spinner” of their era. The Australian spinner disclosed that they have always been in constant chats on how to elevate their craft on home or away pitches. He also thinks Ashwin was terrific with his control, tactics and variations to prevail over the batters. He said:
“Shocked. I think Ashwin has been someone who we all looked up to in bowling. While this fellow here (Pointing to Harbhajan) Bowling off-breaks. He has been incredible for our craft. And he has been able to do that all around the world. So bit of shock news. But all I can say is thank you to Ravi for what he has brought to the game of cricket. He has been a fierce competitor. Someone whom I loved competing against. He has been arguably the best spinner of our era.”
FAQs
How many test wickets did Ashwin take in Australia?
40 wickets in 11 games
What is the test record of Nathan Lyon in India?
56 wickets in 11 games
