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Nathan Lyon's 'crazy' stat comes to light after 31,614 balls bowled in Test career

Australia's greatest ever off-spinner has not bowled a single no-ball in his Test career,

ben talintyre
Sports Reporter
·4-min read
Nathan Lyon pictured
Nathan Lyon just made history by capturing his 500th Test wicket for Australia but almost more staggeringly has bowled 31,614 balls at Test level and never overstepped the mark. Image: Getty

Nathan Lyon created history over the weekend by bringing up his 500th Test wicket for Australia, but another feat of his is blowing fans' minds. Lyon claimed match figures of 5-80 to help Australia to a dominant 360-run victory over Pakistan in the first Test in Perth.

The achievement was made even more impressive as it was his Test return from a calf injury suffered in the Ashes series earlier this year which sidelined him for months. He is the most decorated off-spinner in Australia's cricket history but the 36-year-old also has an incredible record that spans more than a decade.

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Lyon has played 123 Test matches for Australia and delivered a whopping 31,614 balls, claiming 501 wickets. But despite all of those deliveries, the Aussie spinner has not once bowled a front-foot no-ball, with the record spanning back to his Test debut in July 2011.

The off-spinner is the first bowler in Australian Test history to play more than 100 Test matches without a no-ball for overstepping. He is also the only player to take 500 wickets and never overstep the mark. The absurd record was shared by cricket statistician Mazher Arshad on X and left fans absolutely gobsmacked.

Pat Cummins backs Nathan Lyon to join 700-club

Pat Cummins believes Lyon can join the late Shane Warne in surpassing 700 Test wickets. Lyon joined legendary Australians, Warne (703) and Glenn McGrath (563), in the exclusive 500-club when he took the wicket of allrounder Faheem Ashraf in the second innings of Australia's first Test against Pakistan.

The 36-year-old previously stated his intent to win an Ashes series in England, with the next series in the UK taking place in 2027 when he will be 39. Lyon appears a strong chance of surpassing McGrath in the coming years but his captain is confident that he can go even further and reach the 700 mark, a milestone only reached by Warne and Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 17: Nathan Lyon of Australia celebrates dismissing Faheem Ashraf of Pakistan following a DRS review and taking his 500th test wicket during day four of the Men's First Test match between Australia and Pakistan at Optus Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Perth, Australia (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Nathan Lyon celebrates dismissing Faheem Ashraf of Pakistan following a DRS review and taking his 500th test wicket during day four of the Men's First Test match between Australia and Pakistan at Optus Stadium. Image: Getty

"I still think you've got, say 40, 50 Test matches (left)," Cummins told Lyon at a joint post-match press conference. "That's four or five years, 10 (Tests) a year. You probably average what? Four a game? That's another couple hundred; 700."

Lyon currently sits eighth in the all-time standings for most Test wickets with West Indies quick Courtney Walsh (519) the next in his sights. He made his Test debut in Sri Lanka in 2011 and has since become Australia's greatest off-spinner across 123 matches.

Most wickets in Test cricket history (as of December 18):

  1. Muttiah Muralitharan (SL) - 800

  2. Shane Warne (AUS) - 708

  3. Jimmy Anderson (ENG) - 690 (still playing)

  4. Anil Kumble (IND) - 619

  5. Stuart Broad (ENG) - 604

  6. Glenn McGrath (AUS) - 563

  7. Courtney Walsh (WI) - 516

  8. Nathan Lyon (AUS) - 501 (still playing)

  9. Ravi Ashwin (IND) - 489 (still playing)

  10. Dale Steyn (SA) - 439

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