Nathan Lyon overtakes Glenn McGrath to become Australia's second-highest Test wicket-taker after legendary Shane Warne; Check off-spinner's country-by-country breakdown; McGrath's priceless reaction goes viral

Australia veteran spinner Nathan Lyon reached a major career milestone on Thursday by overtaking former fast-bowling great Glenn McGrath to become the country’s second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket. Lyon moved into second place during the first session of the third Ashes Test against England at the Adelaide Oval, trailing only Shane Warne on Australia’s all-time list. After missing out on selection for the second Test in Brisbane, Lyon responded strongly in Adelaide. He first dismissed Ollie Pope for 3 to draw level with McGrath on 563 wickets. Soon after, he bowled a classic off-spinner from around the wicket to beat Ben Duckett, claiming his 564th Test wicket and moving past McGrath.



TV cameras caught McGrath in the commentary box jokingly pretending to throw a chair in mock frustration. The milestone came at the Adelaide Oval, a special venue for Lyon, who once worked there as a curator before becoming a professional cricketer. Lyon has taken 65 wickets at the venue, which is the most by any bowler, reported BBC. Only Warne, with 708 wickets, sits above Lyon among Australian bowlers. Lyon now stands sixth on the all-time Test wicket-takers list overall. Muttiah Muralitharan (800), James Anderson (704), Anil Kumble (619), and Stuart Broad (604) are the only other bowlers ahead of him.

NATHAN LYON'S COUNTRY-BY-COUNTRY BREAKDOWN (TEST WICKETS)

• Australia - 270
• England - 59
• India - 56
• Sri Lanka - 49
• West Indies - 30
• South Africa - 28
• New Zealand - 23
• Bangladesh - 22
• UAE - 15
• Pakistan - 12

Lyon’s Test wicket tally shows his remarkable impact both in Australia and overseas. Home conditions have been his biggest strength, with the off-spinner claiming 270 wickets on Australian soil. Away from home, England stands out as his most productive country, where he has taken 59 wickets, followed closely by India with 56 scalps.

Lyon has also been highly effective in spin-friendly conditions in Sri Lanka, picking up 49 wickets. His success extends to the West Indies (30 wickets) and South Africa (28), proving his adaptability in different environments.

In New Zealand, Lyon has collected 23 wickets, while he has taken 22 in Bangladesh. He has also made contributions in the UAE with 15 wickets and in Pakistan with 12. Overall, these numbers reflect Lyon’s consistency, skill, and ability to succeed across continents and varying pitch conditions.