Nathan Lyon Creates History, Becomes First Spinner In The World To...
Nathan Lyon has 200 wickets to his name in 49 World Test Championship (WTC) matches played so far. He is the second bowler after Pat Cummins to dismiss 200 batters in WTC.
Star Australian spinner Nathan Lyon entered his name in the history books on Saturday (February 1) by becoming the first spinner and second bowler overall in the world to take 200 wickets in the World Test Championship (WTC). Lyon achieved the feat during the first session of the fourth day’s play of the ongoing first Test between Australia and Sri Lanka at Galle International Stadium.
Lyon dismissed former Sri Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal on the last ball before lunch to pick up his first wicket in the second innings and overall 200th in WTC. Chandimal was caught by Travis Head after making 31 runs from 49 balls.
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Australia’s Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins was the first bowler to take 200 wickets in WTC. Cummins achieved the feat during the third day’s play of the fifth India-Australia Test at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 5, 2025.
Most wickets in WTC
- Pat Cummins (Australia) – 200
- Nathan Lyon (Australia) – 200*
- Ravichandran Ashwin (India) – 195
- Mitchell Starc (Australia) – 168
- Jasprit Bumrah (India) – 156
Most wickets in WTC (by spinners)
- Nathan Lyon (Australia) – 200*
- Ravichandran Ashwin (India) – 200
- Ravindra Jadeja (India) – 131
- Jack Leach (England) – 106
- Keshav Maharaj (South Africa) – 104
- Taijul Islam (Bangladesh) – 95
- Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Bangladesh) – 87
- Prabath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) – 85
- Noman Ali (Pakistan) – 75
- Axar Patel (India) – 68
If Lyon, who is playing his 49th WTC match for the Baggy Greens in Galle these days, manages to take one more wicket in Sri Lanka’s second innings, then he will break Cummins record and become the most successful bowler in WTC history.
Lyon, who is Australia’s third leading wicket-taker in Test cricket, had dismissed three Sri Lankan batters in the first innings to help the Steve Smith-led side bowl out the hosts for 165 runs and enforce the follow-on.
In the list of leading wicket-takers in WTC, Lyon and Cummins are followed by former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc, and Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah.
While Ashwin finished his career with 195 wickets in 41 WTC matches, Starc has so far dismissed 168 batters in 44 matches. Bumrah, on the other hand, has 156 wickets to his name in 35 matches. The 31-year-old fast bowler, who sits at the No. 1 position in the ICC Test bowler’s ranking, will next be seen playing Test cricket for India in June 2025 against England.
India is set to travel to England for a five-match Test series in June. The series opener will be played from June 20 to 24 at Headingley in Leeds, and the next four matches are scheduled to take place in Birmingham, Lord’s, Manchester, and The Oval, respectively.
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