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Nathan Lyon Rocks NZ With Four-Wicket Haul; Surpasses West Indian Great In This Elite List

Nathan Lyon is now the seventh highest Test wicket-taker [X.com]Nathan Lyon is now the seventh highest Test wicket-taker [X.com]

Nathan Lyon continued to enrich his reputation and legacy on Day 2 of the Wellington Test against New Zealand as the great off-spinner contributed a fantastic burst of 4 for 43 towards Australia's cause in the opening game of the two-match Test series. 

The relentless bowler helped Australia take a massive first-innings lead 204 runs after posting a daunting score of 383 all out, thanks to his crafty off-spin bowling which nearly resulted in yet another five-wicket haul for the modern-day legend. 

The 36-year-old dismissed two well-set batters in Tom Blundell (33) and Matt Henry (42) before feasting on the tailend players Tim Southee and William O'Rourke to not just close out the innings but also achieve another spectacular feat in his illustrious career for Australia.


Nathan Lyon Becomes 7th Highest Test Wicket-Taker 

With the wicket of Southee late in the New Zealand first-innings, Lyon managed to surpass the Test match tally of West Indies' legendary fast-bowler Courtney Walsh and became the seventh highest wicket-taker in the format's history. 

Walsh, who ended his rich career with a tremendous 519 scalps in 132 Tests, was pipped to the seventh slot by Lyon as the Australian finished off the innings with 521 wickets next to his name in his 128th Test at the highest level. 

Lyon is part of an elite club of only nine bowlers that have taken 500 or more wickets in Test cricket. Remarkably, despite playing most of his cricket on hard, unresponsive pitches in Australia, the great bowler averages a decent 30.57 and has recorded 23 five-wicket hauls. 

Only numero uno Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Shane Warne (708), James Anderson (698), Anil Kumble (619), Stuart Broad (604) and Glenn McGrath (563) are above Lyon in the esteemed list of Test match legends.