Nathan Lyon etched his name alongside Australian cricket royalty on Day 2 of the third Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval, equalling Glenn McGrath’s tally of 563 Test wickets.
The veteran off-spinner returned to Australia’s playing XI after missing the first two Tests of the series and wasted no time in making an impact. Lyon picked up crucial wickets to move level with McGrath on the all-time list of Australian Test wicket-takers, now trailing only Shane Warne (708) in the national standings.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, Lyon had admitted it would be a “fairytale” moment to overtake McGrath at a venue traditionally known to assist spinners. “I’ve played 140 Test matches, I don’t feel like I have a point to prove,” Lyon had said before the game. “My dream is to continue to play cricket for Australia, and if I get that opportunity, I’ll keep doing that.”
England’s decision to go without a frontline spinner, despite Lyon’s record and Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough’s comments about assistance for spin, only added context to the milestone.
With Lyon now level with McGrath on 563 wickets, the Adelaide Test presents him with a chance to move outright into second place among Australia’s greatest Test bowlers and further cement his legacy in the longest format.