Even after becoming one of Australia’s most successful Test bowlers, Nathan Lyon remains as humble as ever.
With three wickets in the first innings at Lord’s as England were bowled out for 258, Lyon has drawn level with Australian fast bowling great Dennis Lillee on 355 Test wickets.
Only Glenn McGrath (563) and Shane Warne (708) have picked up more wickets for Australia in Test history.
However, Lyon told reporters after the day’s play it’s still odd for him to be associated with such greats.
With the ball already turning for the man often referred to as the GOAT, the Aussies will be looking to build a large first-innings lead at Lord’s in the hopes of giving Lyon plenty to work with in the second dig.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Not to mention you or your namesake, Mr Mallett, who had a better average than Lyon, but over a lot fewer matches!
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I rate Lyon as a good offie however he can go defensive too early, too easily. He has the physical skills but his tactical nous deserts him at times.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
And Trumble was first to collect two test hat tricks. In fact his last three balls were a hat trick. Also he held the longest record for an Australian in an individual disciplne in test cricket.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
There some pretty good rose coloured glasses you've got going there Ken. You might want to check how Lillee faired in the subcontinent (he never played a test in India or South Africa) he bowled brilliantly in England, New Zealand and Australia. Elsewhere? Lyon has bowled against some brilliant batsmen both home and away and it is both a testament to his adaptability and how difficult it is to bowl spin in Australia that he averages better away. Lillee was a phenomenal bowler who sadly lost many good years to injury but to denigrate Lyon by saying he has bowled to lower order bunnies is just not right.
Ken
Roar Rookie
DK was bowling to some of the best top order batsmen the game has seen; Lyon is bowling to lower order bunnies. No comparison whatsoever.
HiKa
Roar Rookie
In Feb 2014 when Aust beat Sth Africa in the 3rd test at Cape Town to win the series 2-1, it was a big deal. The match was heading to a draw with Philander holding on with Duminy. In the last session after tea on day 5, Mitchell Johnson came on for what seemed a last throw of the dice. Clarke brought Lyon in to leg gully. Duminy flicked a ball off his legs and Lyon took a diving catch a foot off the ground: Not the greatest catch I've ever seen, but I've never seen a catch that good on day 5, after tea, when it meant the difference between winning and not winning (Steyn and Morkel couldn't survive). What a lot of people don't understand about Lyon is his place in the Aust XI isn't just about his excellent off-spinners. It's about mental toughness to hang in the contest and keep competing when things aren't going his team's way. In that regard he is very like Dennis Lillee. That competitiveness is why so many rate Lillee as the best fast bowler they ever saw. Lyon really has earned every bit of success he is now enjoying, and may it keep coming.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Great effort, but it just highlights the silliness of the fixation with wicket and run aggregates. Alistair Cook scored about 4000 runs more than Bradman but his average was less than half. They just play more games these days. Is Lyon even the best off spinner? Hugh Trumble averaged 22 (10 better than Lyon per wicket) across 14 years, taking 141 wickets in 32 Tests. The pitches were dodgier then, but how do you compare?
badmanners
Roar Rookie
Not a bad effort from a player who so many said wasn't good enough to represent his country. You have to pick players who will continue to improve not who already are the best they will be.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Plus Lillee had 70 odd wickets from WSC that isn't counted. Lillee and Warne were great matchwinners. Lyon is a more attritional bowler. ---- He is too nice, bowls without menace, and lacks the 'evil-eye' of Dennis.
Omnitrader
Roar Rookie
I guess it shows that if you back a guy in, he will reward you.
TJ
Guest
Yeah it's been a remarkable turnaround for Gaz. From only just holding his spot in the test side to being arguably the best spinner in the world.
Paul
Roar Guru
In fairness he has a point for a few reasons. Clearly he's a talented bowler otherwise he wouldn't have achieved what he has in the game, but is he at the same level as DK? In light of his great success in the past 12 - 18 months, it's easy to forget he was very nearly dropped from the Test side not that long ago. That certainly never happened in Lillee's career.