In a moment of profound personal and sporting history, Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon has climbed to second place on the nation's all-time Test wicket-taking list, surpassing the legendary fast bowler Glenn McGrath.
From Manuka Groundsman to Australian Great
The historic moment unfolded during the third Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday, December 19, 2025. Lyon, who once worked as a groundsman at Canberra's Manuka Oval, was introduced into the attack in the 10th over of England's innings and made an immediate impact.
In a devastating four-ball spell, Lyon removed Ollie Pope, caught at midwicket by Josh Inglis for 5, and then bowled opener Ben Duckett for 18. Those two scalps took his career tally to 564 Test wickets, moving him one clear of McGrath's 563. Only the late, great leg-spinner Shane Warne, with 708, now sits above him for Australia.
"It's pretty humbling, to be honest with you," Lyon told reporters after the day's play. "It's something that I'll look back at the end of my career, or even tonight, and sit back and try and have a moment, because it is an extremely special moment for myself."
Redemption After Brisbane Snub
The milestone carried extra significance for the 38-year-old, coming just a fortnight after he was controversially omitted from the Australian side for the day-night second Test in Brisbane. Lyon admitted to being "filthy" at the selection decision, which was justified by his replacement, Michael Neser, who took a five-wicket haul in Australia's victory.
Lyon had bowled only two overs in the series-opening Perth Test, which ended inside two days. His return to the side in Adelaide proved decisive, as he finished the first day with figures of 2-51 from 22 overs, helping to put England under significant pressure.
Snicko Controversy Overshadows On-Field Action
While Lyon's achievement was the headline, the Test match continued to be dogged by controversy surrounding the decision review technology. The Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) has demanded an urgent review into the Snicko technology being used by host broadcaster Fox Sports, calling the situation "nonsensical."
ACA chief executive Paul Marsh stated that "careers are on the line" due to the inconsistent technology, which differs from the more accurate UltraEdge system used in other parts of the world. The issue came to a head again on day one in Adelaide when Australia's Alex Carey survived a caught-behind appeal despite a Snicko spike appearing before the ball reached his bat—an error later attributed to human mistake by the technology provider, BBG Sports.
Australian paceman Mitchell Starc's frustration was caught on the stump microphone, declaring, "Snicko needs to be sacked. That's the worst technology there is." Marsh argued that the cost and responsibility for the technology should lie with the International Cricket Council (ICC) or home boards, not broadcasters, to ensure decisions are correct.
As the Ashes battle intensifies, Nathan Lyon's remarkable career milestone stands as a testament to his longevity, skill, and resilience, securing his place among the pantheon of Australian cricket greats.
