Nathan Lyon became the third Australian man to 500 Test wickets on Sunday. He could well be the last.
A humble champion, Lyon would find it uncomfortable if great mates Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood did not join him in the exclusive group, but if age does not stop them the market forces of the global cricket economy likely will.
Nathan Lyon celebrates his 500th Test wicket on Sunday.Credit: Getty
It took 134 years for Courtney Walsh to become the first player to reach the milestone, but five years later in 2006 he had Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan, Glenn McGrath and Anil Kumble for company.
Back then, Twenty20 was a term better associated with optometry than cricket. In the past 17 years, only England pair James Anderson and Stuart Broad have been inducted in the 500-club – until now.
What Lyon, Anderson and Broad all have in common, apart from plenty of Ashes yarns for the lucrative after-dinner speaking circuit, is their focus on the red ball over the white.
From nations where Test cricket is cherished, the trio had their minds shaped at a time when international cricket was king. But future generations will hone their skills knowing the considerable riches on offer in global T20 leagues.
“There’s some pretty incredible names around world cricket have taken over 500 wickets,” Lyon told Channel Seven on Sunday.
“The Australians for me to edge up closer to … obviously for me to edge up closer to obviously Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne. In my eyes Shane Warne is the GOAT (greatest of all time) of cricket around the world. To be alongside them is nice. It’s pretty special to be honest.”
Why Lyon could be the last Australian to 500 Test wickets
6
1
17.12.2023
Nathan Lyon became the third Australian man to 500 Test wickets on Sunday. He could well be the last.
A humble champion, Lyon would find it uncomfortable if great mates Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood did not join him in the exclusive group, but if age does not stop them the market forces of the global cricket economy likely will.
Nathan Lyon celebrates his 500th Test wicket on Sunday.Credit:........
© The Sydney Morning Herald
visit website
login
who are we?
contact us
qosheapp
Toi Staff
Gideon Levy
Belen Fernandez
Andrew Mitrovica
Mort Laitner
Nikkei Editorial
Rami G Khouri
Ali Fathollah-Nejad
