It was in August 2011 that Australian selectors threw
in another spinner to fill the gap left by Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill in
2008. What looked like just another experiment turned out to be a masterstroke,
as the 24-year-old went on to become one of the greatest off-spinners of all
time, leaving behind a career-defining legacy for future generations.
Nathan Lyon is playing his 142nd
Test at Melbourne. The off-spinner has 567 Test wickets, the sixth-highest
tally of all time in Test cricket, the second-highest for an off-spinner behind
Muttiah Muralitharan, and the second-highest for Australia behind Shane Warne.
These numbers are extraordinary, but Lyon’s legacy over the last 15 years goes
far beyond statistics. This article analyses how important Nathan Lyon has been
to Australian cricket during this period.
2011-2015- A
Promising Start
When Lyon began his career as a
23-year-old against Sri Lanka in August 2011, the Australian team was
undergoing a phase of transition. Several greats had retired starting in 2007
with Shane Warne, while others such as Ricky Ponting were nearing the end of
their careers. The biggest challenge was finding a spinner who could
consistently support Australia’s formidable pace attack. With Nathan Hauritz
injured, Jason Krejza overlooked, and Michael Beer unavailable due to injury,
selectors were forced to look elsewhere.
In this context, Nathan Lyon—an
unknown entity with just one domestic season (2010–11) behind him—was selected.
He was part of the Australia A and development setup and was already in Sri
Lanka as a net bowler, making him a convenient and available choice. History
now recognises this decision as one of the greatest selection calls in modern
cricket, not only for Australia but globally. It also ended Australia’s long
and difficult search—lasting over four and a half years—for a spinner after
Warne’s retirement.
In his early years, Lyon became
Australia’s first-choice spinner. His performances were solid without being
spectacular. He managed only seven wickets against India in three Tests during
the 2011–12 home series at an average of 41.57 and struggled in home series
against South Africa (12 wickets at 40.50) and Sri Lanka (seven wickets at
43.85) in 2012–13. However, he was effective overseas, particularly in the West
Indies (2011–12) and India (2012–13).
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| Adelaide 2014- Lyon spun Australia to a remarkable win over India |
Two series where Lyon truly surged
ahead of his contemporaries were the 2013–14 Ashes, where he took 19 wickets in
five Tests, and the subsequent India series at home, where he claimed 23
wickets in four matches. He was also impressive during the 2015 Ashes in
England, despite Australia losing the series. By the end of 2015, Lyon had firmly
established himself as one of the leading spinners in international cricket and
had surpassed Hugh Trumble’s record of 141 Test wickets for Australia.
2016–2020:
From Promise to Mastery
This phase marked Lyon’s
transformation from a reliable spinner into one of the best in the world. He
consciously worked on expanding his skill set. While earlier he relied
primarily on overspin, bounce, and accuracy, he now added greater drift,
sharper dip, and enhanced side-spin to his repertoire.
The results were evident. During
Australia’s 2016 tour of Sri Lanka, Lyon emerged as a confident strike bowler
in spin-friendly conditions, taking 16 wickets in three Tests at 31.93,
although Australia lost the series 0–3. After modest returns at home against
South Africa and Pakistan, he bounced back strongly against India, taking 19
wickets in four Tests at an exceptional average of 25.46. Australia lost the
series 2–1, but Lyon’s career-best 8/50 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru
in the second Test nearly turned the series in Australia’s favour.
Later that year, he took 22 wickets
in two Tests against Bangladesh at an outstanding average of 14.31. These Asian
tours demonstrated that Lyon had become the leader of Australia’s spin
attack—mentally tougher, capable of bowling long spells in exhausting
conditions, and armed with clear plans for every batter. His consistency
continued at home, with 21 wickets in the 2017–18 Ashes and another 21 wickets
against India the following summer.
By this time, Lyon was widely regarded
as one of the two best off-spinners in the world alongside Ravichandran Ashwin.
By the end of 2020, he had played 98 Tests and taken 394 wickets at an average
of 31.63.
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| Between 2016-2020 Lyon mastered his craft |
2021–2025:
The Making of a Legend
This phase elevated Lyon to
legendary status. Despite advancing age, he displayed remarkable stamina,
strength, and hunger for success. With over a decade of experience, his bowling
became increasingly cerebral. Between 2021 and 2025, Lyon played 43 Tests and
took 173 wickets at an average of 26.78—the best phase of his career.
He was outstanding in India in
2022–23, taking 22 wickets in four Tests at 22.36. His contributions played a
key role in Australia winning in Pakistan, drawing in Sri Lanka, and competing
strongly in India. In June 2023, Australia won the World Test Championship,
with Lyon taking 88 wickets in 20 Tests during the 2021–23 cycle—an
instrumental contribution to the title.
Lyon continued to excel despite
injury setbacks. After his 2023 Ashes campaign was cut short by a calf injury,
he returned strongly, taking 34 wickets in his next seven Tests. While his
performance in the 3–1 home series loss to India was modest, he regained form
in Sri Lanka and the West Indies.
Another serious injury during the
Ashes has raised questions about his Test future, particularly with Lyon now
38. However, Lyon has expressed a desire to continue playing and hopes to
finish his career in England in 2027. Australia’s next Test is scheduled for
July 2026, followed by a heavy Test calendar leading up to September 2027. A
successful return could see Lyon touring India and England—two countries where
Australia have not won a Test series for 21 and 24 years respectively.
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| At 38 Lyon has become a legend |
Only time will tell whether Lyon can
return to peak form after injury. Regardless of what lies ahead, Nathan Lyon
has already left an indelible mark on the game—one defined by perseverance,
skill, and an enduring legacy that will inspire generations to come.
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