Nathan Lyon Surpasses Idol McGrath in Test Wicket Milestone

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon expressed his gratitude on Thursday after securing his 564th Test wicket, surpassing fellow Australian legend Glenn McGrath to claim the sixth spot on the all-time Test wicket-taking list.

The 38-year-old Lyon reached this landmark by dismissing England’s Ben Duckett on the second day of the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, marking his 141st Test appearance. His remarkable opening over also saw the dismissal of Ollie Pope.

Reflecting on the achievement, Lyon said, “Growing up, I idolized Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath. They were my heroes during my childhood. To now surpass Glenn is truly humbling. This is a moment I’ll cherish at the end of my career or perhaps even tonight. It’s incredibly special for me, and I owe it to my teammates at the other end.”

Lyon aims to catch up with England’s Stuart Broad, who has 604 wickets, and then set his sights on the Indian legend Anil Kumble’s 619 wickets. The all-time leading wicket-taker is Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan with 800 wickets, followed by Shane Warne (708) and England’s Jimmy Anderson (704).

Lyon recently mentioned that he is in some of the best form of his career and has no intention of retiring, partly because he hasn’t played international white-ball cricket since 2019. Despite being controversially omitted from the day-night second Ashes Test in Brisbane, which left him “absolutely filthy,” he bounced back in Adelaide.

Speaking about his journey, Lyon said, “I’ve been part of this team long enough to understand my role, and it’s an incredible group to be with. I intend to continue enjoying this experience for as long as I can. It’s a special group, and I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity. As always, I feel the same emotions, nervousness, but that’s just who I am.”

Published on December 18, 2025.