Lyon Strikes Twice in Opening Over to Move Past McGrath

Nathan Lyon marked a memorable return to Australia’s Test XI with two wickets in his first over at Adelaide Oval, climbing past Glenn McGrath to become Australia’s second-highest Test wicket-taker, behind only Shane Warne.

The offspinner, who had been stuck on 562 Test wickets for the past five months, wasted little time making an impact. Lyon had missed two of Australia’s last three Tests as selectors opted for all-pace attacks in pink-ball day-night matches, and he bowled just two overs in the opening Test of the series in Perth. In Adelaide, however, he struck twice in six deliveries.

His first wicket came when Ollie Pope miscued a shot and offered a straightforward catch to midwicket, drawing Lyon level with McGrath’s tally. The second dismissal was vintage Lyon: bowling from around the wicket, he drifted the ball into off stump on a good length, beating Ben Duckett’s defensive push and spinning past the outside edge to clip the top of off. The delivery underlined Lyon’s enduring skill as an offspinner, particularly against left-handers.

The two wickets took Lyon to 564 Test scalps. Shane Warne remains Australia’s leading wicket-taker with 708 wickets from 145 matches, while Lyon now sits sixth on the global all-time Test wicket-takers’ list, with the next major milestone being 600 wickets.

Lyon has previously stated his desire to continue playing Test cricket until at least the 2027 Ashes series in England. Australia’s schedule provides ample opportunity, with a heavy program of Test matches beginning from August next year.

Earlier this week, Lyon’s achievements were further recognised when he was added to Adelaide Oval’s Avenue of Honour, commemorating his 12-wicket haul against India at the ground in 2014.