Nathan Lyon is more than capable of prolonging his career and surpassing legendary spinner Shane Warne to become the leading Test wicket-taker for Australia, according to captain Pat Cummins.
Lyon secured his 500th scalp in the Test when he bowled Pakistan all-rounder Faheem Ashraf out LBD on the fourth day of Australia’s resounding ICC World Test Championship triumph in Perth. As he approaches the latter stages of his career, the off-spinner now has Warne (708 wickets) and Glenn McGrath (563 wickets) in his sights.
Although Lyon declined to engage in debates regarding his potential to surpass McGrath and subsequently Warne as the all-time leader in wicket-taking for Australia, Cummins issued a challenge to the 36-year-old shortly after he achieved the feat on Sunday.
“Still got another four or five years at least, with 10 games a year,” Cummins hinted as Lyon watched on.
“I still think you’ve got 40 or 50 Test matches, that’s four or five years with 10 (matches) a year.
“Averaging four or five a game, so a couple of hundred (wickets) – that’s 700.”
With five wickets in two innings, Lyon demonstrated his significance to Australia as the defending World Test Championship champions regained control of their campaign with a resolute 360-run triumph over Pakistan in Perth.
The seasoned off-spinner will be looking to add to his already impressive 501 Test scalps tally in the following six weeks, when Australia hosts the West Indies for a two-game series in Adelaide and Brisbane prior to the end of January, following their final two Test matches against Pakistan.
Australia will then embark on a two-match series against their trans-Tasman rival in New Zealand at the end of February. Beginning the following summer, they will face India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in five matches, which is likely to be a deciding factor in their attempt to qualify for a second consecutive World Test Championship final.
“I don’t think it’s any secret that he (Lyon) is probably the most important cog in our bowling line-up,” Cummins said of the durable spinner.
“This game is probably a little bit different. But most games where he’s bowling 30 overs a day, basically just put him down one end and he’s not going to go for many runs. He’s going to take a few wickets and then us quick bowlers can just rotate through the other end.
“No doubt he was missed over there in England (during this year’s Ashes series) for sure. As a captain, it makes it a lot easier knowing that bloke who has played 100-odd Test matches that knows his craft and can bowl pretty much in any conditions, you just let him get to work so it’s great having him back. Yeah, another 500 to go.”
