BRISBANE, Australia, Jan 13, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Australia’s Nathan Lyon is
eyeing twin milestones in the fourth Test at Brisbane this week — 400
wickets in his 100th appearance — and promised Wednesday he was “far from
done”.
The veteran will become only the 13th Australian to become a Test
centurion, joining the likes of Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, current Australia
coach Justin Langer and fellow spin king Shane Warne.
“I look at the other 12 guys who have played more than 100 Test matches of
cricket for Australia and they’re pure legends,” Lyon said.
“Not just for Australia but (other 100-Test players from) all around the
world, I’m going to pinch myself each and every day to see my name up against
those fellows.” “I’m pretty excited about this… just the thought of playing
100 Test matches for Australia is very humbling,” he added.
A classical off-spinner, the 33-year-old has been virtually a constant
fixture since making his debut almost a decade ago and is now on the cusp of
400 wickets.
He goes into the fourth Test against India from Friday needing four more to
become just the 16th player worldwide to achieve the feat, and the third
Australian after Warne and Glenn McGrath.
“I’m far from being done,” Lyon said. “I’m still hungrier than ever. I want
to go out there and play as much cricket for Australia as I can… win a lot
of Test series for Australia.”
Lyon’s best haul was the 8-50 he took against India at Bengaluru in 2017.
Sri Lankan great Muttiah Muralitharan tops the all-time Test wicket-takers
with 800, followed by Warne on 708 with the Australian legend recently
predicting Lyon could overtake them both.
“If he keeps himself injury free, I think he could easily go on and play
for another five years,” Warne said in a column for the Sydney Daily
Telegraph last week.
“That’s approximately another 50 Tests, and if he continues to take four
wickets per game, then that is another 200 — or maybe 250 if he has a golden
five years — Test wickets.
“You put that on top of his 400 and he’s in the 600-650 wicket club at 38
years of age. And if he’s still going well then he might have a crack at me
and Murali, which would be awesome to see.”