Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith script history; surpass Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid in unique Test cricket list
Published - 27 Jan 2024, 04:16 PM
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Australia duo Nathan Lyon and Steve Smith surpassed the record of Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid during the second Test against the West Indies. Nathan Lyon and Steve Smith have become the second-most successful bowler-fielder combination in Test cricket.
The Pat Cummins-led team is currently taking on the West Indies in the final Test of the two-match series at the Gabba in Brisbane. The home team defeated the Krigg Brathwaite-led team by 10 wickets in the series opener in Adelaide to take an unassailable 1-0 lead.
Nathan Lyon and Steve Smith Create New Record
Nathan Lyon and Steve Smith achieved the record during the 42nd over of the ongoing match against the West Indies. The veteran spinner induced Windies batter Alick Athanaze’s edge with a well-flighted delivery outside off, and Smith completed the catch at slip.
Steve Smith secured his 56th catch off Lyon’s bowling for Australia in red-ball cricket. Following the dismissal, this duo surpassed the record of Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid. The former Indian cricketers were involved in 55 dismissals together for the Indian team.
The former Australia skipper completed 179 catches as a fielder in this format. Joe Root (184) is the only active cricketer who has taken more catches as a fielder than Smith. Meanwhile, Nathan Lyon has picked up 516 wickets in 127 Test matches at a decent average of 30.79.
Sri Lanka players Muttiah Muralitharan and Mahela Jayawardene currently hold the record for the most dismissals together in Tests. Jayawardene took 77 catches off Muralitharan’s bowling. Overall, Jayawardene secured 205 catches in the longer format of the game.
Most Bowler Fielder Combinations
Muttiah Muralitharan and Mahela Jayawardene – 77 catches
Nathan Lyon and Steve Smith – 56 catches
Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid – 55 catches
Shane Warne and Mark Taylor – 51 catches
Harbhajan Singh and Rahul Dravid – 51 catches
What a combination these two have formed! #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/fmfFGXd038
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 27, 2024
Steve Smith Is One Of The Best Batters In The World – Alex Carey
Alex Carey expressed confidence in Steve Smith’s ability to thrive as an opener, despite Smith’s recent dismissals in the new role. Carey acknowledged Smith as one of the world’s best batters, expressing hope for a notable innings from him in the second innings.
“He has been dismissed twice as an opener now, and he is going to be dismissed a lot more as an opener. He is one of the best batters in the world, and he will find a way to score big hundreds,” said Carey, as quoted by Perth Now.
“He has done it in really difficult situations before. … a big innings is coming up, and, hopefully, it is in the second innings,” he added.
Steve Smith took up the opening position in the Test against the West Indies. The veteran batter was dismissed for 12 runs in the first innings. The right-handed batter fell early in the first over on Day 2 in Australia’s first innings of the ongoing Test match in Brisbane.
