Aussie off-spinner Nathan Lyon has rewritten history and has broken a 130-year-old record during the 2nd Test against Bangladesh at the Zahur Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong.
After scalping his 3rd wicket during Bangladesh’s 2nd innings and his 19th of the series, the off-spinner broke the record held by JJ Ferris’ who bagged 18 wickets in the 1887 Ashes series. It has been a productive few months for the offie who bagged his 250th Test wicket in the opening Test and has gone past former Aussie greats Richie Benaud and Jason Gillespie on the all-time list of leading wicket takers for Australia in Tests.
Lyon is now on the verge of eclipsing the record held by the Sri Lankan left-arm spinner for the most wickets (23) in a two-match Test series which he claimed during the 2014 series against Pakistan.
It was also Lyon’s 2nd ten-wicket haul in Tests and the first since he scripted history during India’s tour of Australia in 2014 to register a memorable victory. It was a sweet moment, as it came aftermath the tragedy of the death of Phil Hughes.
Meanwhile, the ongoing series has been exceptional for Lyon who has led Australia’s way in both the Tests. The offie bagged a six-wicket haul in the first innings of the previous Test and has been exceptional in this game too. Australia is well on the course to complete a good win in the 2nd Test and will to level the series 1-1.
Following the end of the opening day’s play, the off-spinner said key to success on the subcontinent is bowling ugly while also saying that he has been closely watching footages of Indian spin wizard Ravichandran Ashwin who according to Lyon is the No.1 spinner in the world at the moment.
“I think it’s a lot to do with confidence,” Lyon said on Monday. “This is probably my sixth tour to the subcontinent.
“Leading an attack where I’ve played the most games, lead the wicket column with the bowling group, I’ve put enough pressure on myself to go out there and perform well.I’ve watched a lot of footage of Ashwin, who in my book is probably the No.1 spinner in the world.
“What works for me in Australia probably doesn’t work here in the subcontinent. In saying that, it’s also my strength as well, so I can’t go too far from that.I have to put my ego away and in my terms, bowl ugly.
“That might be (bowling) round arm, trying to undercut the ball a little bit more but using my stock ball as a variation.