As Nathan Lyon prepares to become the 13th Australian to play 100 Test matches, we take a look at some of the most memorable achievements of a top spinner.
Australia vs Sri Lanka, first test, Galle, 2011
Few archers have named themselves on the big stage as confidently as Lyon did on the first try. He took away Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara with the first ball of his first spell, going on to record 5/34 figures from 15 pitches as Australia won by 125 runs.
Australia vs India, first test, Adelaide, 2014
Lyon brought 10 wikis in a game for the first time at Adelaide Oval, the stormy place where he was previously a member of the ground staff. It followed first-innings figures of 5/134 by 7/152 (12/286 for the game). India traveled on the final day with M Vijay and Virat Kohli at the festival, but Lyon ended their 185-run partnership to wake up a fall that won the home team a prestigious award. .
Australia vs India, second test, Bengaluru, 2017
After catching up on a follow-up loss in a home series loss in South Africa in late 2016, Lyon found a peak form in the subcontinent. He tore through India’s batting line in the first innings in Bengaluru to record the best 8/50 numbers from 22.2 overs as the home team was knocked out for 189. However, Australia is able to take advantage of the spinner’s heroes. , falling to a loss of 75 runs.
Australia vs England, first test, Edgbaston, 2019
Lyon played a key role when Australia beat Edgbaston’s ‘Fortress’ for their first Ashes win at the floor since 2001. Lyon finished with nine wickets for the game and achieved in the second innings of 6/49 – which introduced his 350th Scalp test – proven very important. Combining immensely with Pat Cummins, who took the other four wikis, Lyon led tourists to a 251-run win that put Australia on track to retain the Ashes.
Australia v New Zealand, third test, Sydney, 2020
13 is the maximum number of wickets caught by Lyon in a Test match (against Bangladesh in Chattogram in 2017), but it can be said that his 10/118 against New Zealand deserves more praise. Struggling with a bruised and bloody thumb, Lyon broke through for the first five-wicket (5/68) draw at the SCG in the first innings and took 5/50 in the second while Australia ran the cross-Tasman rivals in 3- 0 series wins.