A Look At Members Of '500 Club' In Test Cricket Bowling Following Nathan Lyon's Achievement

Iconic Australian spinner Nathan Lyon achieved the significant milestone of 500 wickets in Test cricket during the first Test between Australia and Pakistan in Perth on Sunday. Lyon became the eighth bowler to reach this elite feat, joining the distinguished company of legendary players in the long-format cricket. During the match, Lyon claimed his 500th wicket by dismissing Faheem Ashraf leg-before-wicket for a mere five runs while Australia defended a target of 450. This accomplishment places Lyon alongside his compatriots, the late spin maestro Shane Warne and pace legend Glenn McGrath, who have also achieved the milestone of 500 Test wickets. Australia emerged victorious in the match by 360 runs, and Lyon concluded with combined bowling figures of 5/80 across both innings.

Now, in 123 Tests, Lyon has taken 501 wickets at an average of 30.85 and a strike rate of 63.10. His best bowling figures are 8/50. He has 23 five-wicket hauls and four ten-wicket hauls in the longer format. He is the eighth-highest wicket-taker in the game.

Lyon is a fourth-most successful spinner of all time in Tests and the third-most successful Aussie bowler in whites.

As cricket celebrates Lyon's beautiful journey from a pitch curator to the eighth entrant to the '500 Club' within a span of 12 years, let us look at other members of this club:

Muttiah Muralitharan

In 133 Tests, Muralitharan has taken 800 wickets at an average of 22.72 and a strike rate of 55.04. His best bowling figures are 9/51 in white clothing. With 67 fifers and 22 ten-wicket hauls, Murali is the most successful Test bowler ever.

Shane Warne

In second place in Aussie spin wizard Shane Warne, who played 145 Tests for the Aussies. In these matches, he took 708 wickets at