A fortnight after being left ‘filthy’ at being snubbed, Nathan Lyon has become Australia’s second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket.
The spinner snared two wickets in four balls in his first over of the third Test at Adelaide Oval, a venue where he was once a groundsman.
The fresh victims moved Lyon’s career tally to 564 Test wickets, one more than paceman Glenn McGrath.
Only leg-spinner Shane Warne (708) has claimed more Test scalps for Australia.
Lyon’s double delight on Thursday came after he was overlooked for selection for the second Test in Brisbane.
The 38-year-old admitted being ‘filthy’ at the decision, which Australian hierarchy put down to the pink-ball, day-night nature of the Gabba Test match.
That decision was justified when Lyon’s replacement, paceman Michael Neser, captured five wickets in the second innings of Australia’s eight-wicket triumph.
Lyon bowled only two overs in the series-opener in Perth, which finished inside two days with an Australian eight-wicket victory.
Nathan Lyon (pictured) has reached second place on Australia’s all-time Test wicket-takers list
The popular off-spinner (pictured with wife Emma) has also taken the most Test wickets at Adelaide Oval
The veteran (pictured) made his Test debut for Australia in 2011 against Sri Lanka
On Thursday, Lyon was tossed the ball for the 10th over of England’s innings.
In a city where a hardcore band Where’s The Pope? have dominated the local rock scene for decades, England’s fans were likely asking the same question.
Ollie Pope was Lyon’s first victim, caught at midwicket by a diving Josh Inglis from a half-hearted driving attempt.
Pope now averages a paltry 15.90 in six Tests in Australia, where he’s yet to score a half-century.
Lyon struck again just three balls later when he bowled Ben Duckett, the left-handed opener beaten in flight by a ball which spun into his off-stump.
