As Lyon celebrates his historic feat, we take a look at other seven members of the illustrious 500-wicket club…
Nathan Lyon was stalled on 496 wickets for months. Had it not been for his first ever injury setback in his 12-year career during the Ashes series earlier this summer, Lyon would have already been already been part of the elusive club in Test history. But he recovered well in time for the Pakistan contest at home, and in the opening game itself at the Optus Stadium in Perth, where he holds an impressive record himself, Lyon gained a lifetime membership into one of the most sought after clubs in Test cricket ever. On Sunday, amid the Australian quicks racking away with the game in Pakistan’s second innings, Lyon, who was on 499 after three wickets in the first innings, managed to dismiss Faheem Ashraf, after winning the lbw review, to reach the milestone figure.
“It’s something I’m very proud about,” Lyon said after the match. “I don’t think it’s probably hit me yet. But there’s obviously been a lot of hard work go into the journey and I’ve had a lot more bad days and good days but to be out there in the middle of back after doing a calf with a special group of people, it’s pretty special to be able to take 500 in my first Test back.
.@NathLyon421 bowls his way into the ‘500 Wickets Club’ – 8th overall and the 3rd Aussie to hit the spin-tastic milestone! 🏏💫
Tune-in to Day 1 of the 2nd #AUSvPAK Test
DEC 26, 5.00 AM | Star Sports Network#Cricket pic.twitter.com/z4F78TvGcG— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) December 17, 2023
He became the eighth bowler in Test history to claim 500 Test wickets, third from Australia after the legendary Shane Warne (708) and Glenn McGrath (563) and fourth spinner overall, with the list also including Muttiah Muralidaran and Anil Kumble.
Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) – 800 wickets: The Sri Lankan spin wizard remains the fastest ever bowler to reach the milestone of 500 Test wickets, having achieved it in just 87 innings, as he beat his long-time rival Shane Warne. Over the course of his 18-year career, where several times his bowling action came under the scanner, Muralitharan continued strongly to pick 800 wickets (most ever in history) in 133 appearances with 67 fi-fers and 22 ten-wicket hauls.
Shane Warne (Australia) – 708 wickets: The Aussie spin king was the second bowler to reach the milestone and first among spinners. Incidentally, it was part of the same series in Sri Lanka where Muralitharan had reached the 500-wickets mark as well, adding more spice to the contest between two legendary bowlers. Warne eventually ended his career with 708 wickets in 145 matches, laced with 37 five-wicket hauls.
James Anderson (England) – 690 wickets: The evergreen England fast bowler has grown tremendously through his career and now sits atop among the fast bowlers in the wicket-taking list. In 183 appearances, Anderson has picked 690 wickets already with 32 five-wickets hauls, and with the five-match contest coming up in India in late January, the 41-year-old looks set to reach the milestone of 700 wickets.