Pat Cummins throws Shane Warne challenge at Nathan Lyon

Nathan Lyon became third Australian bowler to complete 500 test wickets.

Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon scripted history after breaching 500 test wickets in test cricket and became only the second off-spinner to reach the special red-ball milestone. Lyon required 4 wickets to complete the milestone ahead of Perth test against Pakistan. Faheem Ashraf became the 500th test wicket. Apart from Lyon, only two Australian bowlers Shane Warner (708) and Glenn Mcgrath (563) have taken more than 500 test wickets.

Former Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne is the second leading wicket-taker in test cricket with 708 wickets. Warne was the first ever bowler to go past 700 test wickets and later on, Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralidaran overtook him to become number one with 800 test scalps. Nathan Lyon’s consistency has reaped huge rewards in the red-ball format. Australian skipper Pat Cummins has thrown the next challenge for Nathan Lyon. 

Pat Cummins throws Shane Warne challenge at Nathan Lyon

Australian skipper Pat Cummins has thrown a new challenge at Nathan Lyon to go past Shane Warne’s 708 test wickets number. Cummins said, “Still got another four or five years at least, with 10 games a year,” Cummins was speaking as Lyon watched on. “I still think you’ve got 40 or 50 Test matches, that’s four or five years with 10 (matches) a year. Averaging four or five a game, so a couple of hundred (wickets) – that’s 700.” 

Australian skipper heaped huge praises for off-spinner Nathan Lyon. Pat Cummins added, “I don’t think it’s any secret that he (Lyon) is probably the most important cog in our bowling line-up… In most games where he’s bowling 30 overs a day, basically just put him down one end and he’s not going to go for many runs. He’s going to take a few wickets and then us quick bowlers can just rotate through the other end.” 

Nathan Lyon missed the Ashes series this year due to an injury. Cummins believed that Lyon was missed during the Ashes where Australia ended the series in a 2-2 draw. Australia defeated Pakistan by a huge 360-run margin. Lyon picked up 5 wickets in the game. Opener David Warner also had a terrific game with a mammoth 164 runs knock in the first innings. 

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