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Nathan Lyon makes cricket history in never-before-seen feat against India

The Australian spinner broke all manner of records with his eight-wicket haul in the second innings of the third Test.

Nathan Lyon, pictured here taking eight wickets in the second innings against India in the third Test.
Nathan Lyon took eight wickets in the second innings against India in the third Test. Image: Getty

Nathan Lyon has become the highest wicket-taker of all time in Test matches between Australia and India, helping put the Aussies on the cusp of victory in Indore. The off-spinner claimed 8-64 on Thursday, destroying India to bowl them out for 163 in their second innings.

Australia will now chase 76 for victory to reduce the series scoreline to 2-1 in India's favour. His stunning spell helped Lyon become the leading wicket-taker in Border Gavaskar trophy history.

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The 35-year-old added to his 3-35 in the first innings to make it his fourth 10-wicket match haul in Tests. His seventh wicket of the innings - the dismissal of fast bowler Umesh Yadav - was the Australian great's 112th against India to break the record held by Anil Kumble for most wickets in Tests between the two nations.

Lyon earlier became the most successful spinner (from any country) to play against India, going past the record held by Sri Lanka legend Muttiah Muralitharan - who is also the all-time leading Test wicket-taker. He also become the first bowler in history to take multiple eight-wicket hauls in India.

Lyon now has 479 Test wickets - eighth on the all-time list - with seemingly many more to come. The Aussie star said the 23rd five-wicket haul of his Test career would go down as one of the finest days of his 118-match career.

"Certainly, it's up there as one of my career highlights. But I'm more proud about our group," he said after stumps on day two.

"I think at the start of my career I probably felt more the weight of trying to win games in the last couple of innings. But it was actually my dad who sat me down and said there's three or four other bowlers who you're able to bowl with in partnerships and if you do your role then some days you're going to have success and some days your mates are.

"My dad just simplified it for me and made sure I wasn't over-complicating things and putting too much pressure on myself. They can be high pressure environments, and if we can stay nice and calm and collected, enjoy the battle."

Nathan Lyon, pictured here holding up the ball after taking eight wickets against India in the third Test.
Nathan Lyon holds up the ball after taking eight wickets against India in the third Test. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Lyon was underwhelming when he took 1-126 in the first Test in Nagpur as Australia lost by an innings and 132 runs. Todd Murphy was the star for Australia in that match, taking 7-124 on Test.

"I was pretty happy with how I bowled in Nagpur, to be honest," Lyon admitted. "I understood who we're playing against and the quality of cricketers we're coming up against and what challenge that (presents) for myself.

"But I was pretty happy with how I bowled and I was really pumped to see Murph go out there and take seven-for. Nothing's really changed for me, it's about doing the basics really well."

Cricket world in awe of record-breaking Nathan Lyon feat

Victory in the third Test would mark a stunning turnaround for the Aussies after they were thrashed in the opening two matches to go 0-2 down in the series. The Border Gavaskar trophy is lost, but Australia needs one victory to secure their spot in June's World Test Championship final.

"I'm just really proud of the way we've gone about it," Lyon said. "Personal success is great to have but after Delhi we had a couple of really good days off as a team, and really good conversations at training.

"I'm more really proud of the way we've gone about it as a collective group. Certainly it's up there as one of my career highlights, but I'm more proud about our group."

Most wickets in Tests between Australia and India:

  • Nathan Lyon - 113

  • Anil Kumble - 111

  • Ravichandran Ashwin - 106

  • Harbhajan Singh - 95

  • Ravindra Jadeja - 84

with AAP

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