Nathan Lyon's sledge for Pat Cummins as cricket fans call out detail in 500th wicket
The Aussie off-spinner was made to wait to find out he'd joined the 500-wicket club in Test cricket.
Nathan Lyon has cheekily quipped that Pat Cummins "didn't want to review" the decision that led to his 500th Test wicket, amid debate around the on-field umpire's actions at the time. Lyon took five wickets in the first Test between Australia and Pakistan in Perth - taking his career tally to 501.
He dismissed Faheem Ashraf lbw for the 500th wicket of his career, becoming just the eighth player and third Australian to achieve the momentous feat in Test cricket history. But the historic moment only came after the Aussies were forced to review the on-field decision of not out from umpire Richard Illingworth.
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Illingworth pondered over the decision for a number of seconds before eventually turning it down, but ball-tracking showed the ball was crashing into leg stump. Speaking in his post-match press conference, Lyon sent a cheeky sledge in the direction of his captain when he said: "Pat didn't want to review it."
Cummins shot back that Lyon should have been more vocal that he wanted it reviewed. "Nath was mumbling away and wasn't saying anything," the captain replied with a grin.
Lyon continued: "I was quietly confident that it would hit leg". Cummins then interjected: "Very quietly confident" as laughter broke out in the press room.
Despite the funny scenario that unfolded, cricket fans were left bemoaning the fact that a DRS review proved a massive anti-climax to such a momentous achievement. One fan compared it to when Roger Federer won the Australian Open in 2017 but had to wait to celebrate because Rafa Nadal reviewed the final call on the line.
But Lyon said he wasn't fussed. “I don’t care mate. I don’t care how it comes,” he said. “As I said, if I can play my role and enjoy it. It’s a pretty special moment, I have some family here which is even more special.”
What a shame that wood duck of an umpire Richard Illingworth didn’t just raise his finger for Nathan Lyon’s 500th.
Such an anti climax when it goes upstairs. #AllTimeGreat#Goat— The Oracle (@BigOtrivia) December 17, 2023
Richard Illingworth missed his chance to be part of history #AUSvPAK
— Corbin Middlemas (@CorbinMiddlemas) December 17, 2023
Rude of Illingworth to not give it tbh 🤣pic.twitter.com/vSywI3qRXs
— Ruby (@RubyMJx) December 17, 2023
Reminds me of @rogerfederer waiting for HawkEye in the Final against @RafaelNadal in #AusOpen. Those anxious moments of waiting to see if you have achieved Greatness
— Vignesh (@visumurugan) December 17, 2023
Another howler from the standing umpire. Lyon shouldn’t have needed the review to get his 500th test wicket. That was plumb. #AusVPak
— Rory Burnside (@RoryBurnside) December 17, 2023
I bet Englishman Richard Illingworth would like his time over. Saying no to plumb lbw, for a 500th wicket...
Thank you DRS.
But a moment was robbed by a poor decision#AUSvPAK #cricket #Lyon— Michael (@MarksmanWaugh) December 17, 2023
Ahhh if only Lyon’s 500th was that next wicket! DRS kinda put a downer on it. But hell yeah! What a moment! #AUSvPAK
— Jess (@jeffparis_) December 17, 2023
It is fitting in a way that Lyon has got his 500th Test wicket with an overturned lbw verdict against a left-hander. In the era he has played, the presence of DRS has afforded many off spinners more success on that line than their forebears might ever have dreamed of #AUSvPAK
— Daniel Brettig 🏏 (@danbrettig) December 17, 2023
Can Nathan Lyon join Shane Warne in 700-wicket club?
Lyon has joined Shane Warne (708) and Glenn McGrath (563) as the only other Australians in the 500-club in Test cricket. "(The milestone) is something I'm very proud about," he said.
"I don't think it's properly hit me yet. There's been a lot of hard work go into the journey. I've had a lot more bad days than good days. It was pretty special to be able to take 500 in the first Test back (from a calf injury in the Ashes)."
The 36-year-old has flagged his intentions to keep playing until at least the next Ashes series in England in 2027. If that eventuates he is odds-on to overtake McGrath, and could join Warne in the 700-club.
Cummins said: "I still think you've got, say 40, 50 Test matches. That's four or five years, 10 (Tests) a year. You probably average what? Four a game? That's another couple hundred - 700."
Most wickets in Test cricket history (as of December 18):
Muttiah Muralitharan (SL) - 800
Shane Warne (AUS) - 708
Jimmy Anderson (ENG) - 690 (still playing)
Anil Kumble (IND) - 619
Stuart Broad (ENG) - 604
Glenn McGrath (AUS) - 563
Courtney Walsh (WI) - 516
Nathan Lyon (AUS) - 501 (still playing)
Ravi Ashwin (IND) - 489 (still playing)
Dale Steyn (SA) - 439
Most Test wickets by Australians:
Shane Warne - 708
Glenn McGrath - 563
Nathan Lyon - 501 (still playing)
Dennis Lillee - 355
Mitchell Starc - 338
Mitchell Johnson - 313
Brett Lee - 310
Craig McDermott - 291
Jason Gillespie - 259
Richie Benaud - 248
with AAP
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