In a thrilling encounter at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Nathan Lyon etched his name in cricket history by surpassing Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to become the seventh leading wicket-taker in Test cricket. This achievement came after a stellar performance during the fourth Test of the ongoing series between Australia and India, where Lyon claimed five wickets, contributing significantly to Australia’s 184-run victory on December 30.
A historic Boxing Day Test
The Boxing Day Test is a prestigious event in the cricket calendar, and Lyon made it memorable by delivering an exceptional performance. He recorded figures of 3 for 96 in the first innings and followed it up with 2 for 37 in the second, ultimately sealing the match by dismissing Mohammed Siraj with a perfectly executed delivery that trapped him in front of the stumps. This pivotal wicket not only secured victory for the Australian team but also marked a significant milestone in Lyon’s career.
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The numbers game: Nathan Lyon vs Ravichandran Ashwin
With this match, Lyon now boasts a total of 538 Test wickets from 133 matches, surpassing Ashwin’s tally of 537 wickets from 106 matches. Ashwin, who announced his retirement just days prior on December 18, had been a formidable opponent throughout his career, establishing himself as one of the best spinners in modern cricket. The competition between these two spinners has been intense, with both players pushing each other to greater heights over the years.
All-time leading wicket-takers
Lyon’s achievement places him among an elite group of bowlers. The list of the top wicket-takers in Test history is as follows:
| Rank | Bowler | Wickets |
| 1 | Muttiah Muralitharan | 800 |
| 2 | Shane Warne | 708 |
| 3 | James Anderson | 704 |
| 4 | Anil Kumble | 619 |
| 5 | Stuart Broad | 604 |
| 6 | Glenn McGrath | 563 |
| 7 | Nathan Lyon | 538 |
| 8 | Ravichandran Ashwin | 537 |
| 9 | Courtney Walsh | 519 |
Equaling Ashwin’s World Test Championship record
Additionally, with his five-wicket haul in this match, Lyon has equalled Ashwin’s record for the most wickets taken in the World Test Championship (WTC), with both spinners now sitting at 195 wickets. The race to break this record is heating up as both Lyon and Australian captain Pat Cummins have an opportunity to surpass Ashwin’s mark in the upcoming fifth Test scheduled to start on January 3, 2025.
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