Ashes 2021-22: Nathan Lyon Completes 400 Test Wickets

Australian spinner Nathan Lyon completed 400 Test dismissals on Saturday as Australia beat England in the first Ashes Test by nine wickets to lead 1-0 in the five-match Test series.

It took Lyon 326 days to reach his 400th Test wicket after he had picked his 399th on January 19 this year. England were looking to claw their way back into the game on the third day after skipper Joe Root and Dawid Malan’s resistance in an unbeaten 112-run stand.

Nathan Lyon dismissed Dawid Malan as his 400th Test wicket

Lyon got Australia the much-needed breakthrough as Malan stepped out to hit but got a thick inside edge on pads as Marnus Labuschagne at silly mid-off completed the catch and gave the off-spinner his 400th Test wicket.

Lyon, using turn and bounce, got Ollie Pope to nick towards Steve Smith at first slip before he cleaned England tailenders Ollie Robinson and Mark Wood to end his game-changing figures of 4/91.

England were bowled out for 297 with a minuscule lead of 19 runs, the hosts took just 5.1 overs to chase the score.

Nathan Lyon stayed tough and hung in there: Travis Head

Earlier in the game, Australia bundled up England for 147 in the first innings as Pat Cummins on his debut match as skipper scalped five wickets for 38 runs.

Riding on a breathtaking 100th century by Travis Head (152) with some great batting by David Warner (94) and Marnus Labushagne (74), Australia achieved a huge lead of 278.

“He (Nathan Lyon) came back beautifully, yesterday he would’ve been disappointed not to have the results he would’ve liked but he stayed tough and hung in there,” Australian batter Travis Head said in the post-match presentation ceremony.

“We knew the rewards were around the corner, everything he gets, he deserves. He is an excellent worker, an excellent team-man. Fantastic to see him get the results he did and come back really strong for us this morning [on Nathan Lyon],” he added.

Lyon became the third Australian bowler after Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath to reach the milestone. Lyon has amassed 403 wickets from 101 Tests at an average of 32.08.

Also Read: Ashes 2021-22: I Thought I’d Never Play Another Test Again: England’s Dawid Malan