By Nathan Lyon has officially the most wickets of any Australian cricketer against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, surpassing the late-great Shane Warne’s record as Australia continue to dominate the hosts in the first Test.
After rain washed out the final two sessions on day three, Australia knew they had to topple Sri Lanka and fast on Saturday and that is exactly what they did.
The Sri Lankans, who started the day at 5-136, lost 5-9 in an almighty collapse in just 45 minutes on day four, to finish the first innings 489 runs ahead, and unsurprisingly Australia enforced the follow-on.
It marked Australia’s biggest first-innings lead since 2003, in a match where former Aussie opener Matthew Hayden scored a then world-record 380 against Zimbabwe in Perth.
And while Aussie spinner Matt Kuhnemann’s five-wicket haul stole the show, Lyon quietly broke an iconic record.
His three-wicket first innings haul moved his total wickets against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka to 38 wickets, the most by an Australian, surpassing Warne.
Nathan Lyon is an Australian cricketer widely regarded as one of the greatest off-spin bowlers in Test cricket history. Born on November 20, 1987, in Young, New South Wales, Lyon initially worked as a ground staff member at the Adelaide Oval before breaking into professional cricket. He made his Test debut for Australia in 2011 against Sri Lanka, famously taking a wicket with his very first delivery.
Career Highlights:
Most successful Australian off-spinner: Lyon has over 500 Test wickets, making him Australia’s highest wicket-taking off-spinner.
Key Ashes performer: Has played a vital role in multiple Ashes series, delivering match-winning performances.
Nickname – “Garry”: Fans and teammates call him “Garry”, a reference to AFL legend Garry Lyon.
Longest-serving spinner: Unlike past Australian teams that relied on leg-spinners like Shane Warne, Lyon has been Australia’s frontline spinner for over a decade.
Recent milestone: In February 2025, Lyon surpassed Shane Warne’s record for the most wickets by an Australian bowler against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka.
Despite starting as a curator, Lyon’s rise to become Australia’s premier spinner showcases his skill, resilience, and dedication to the game.
Shane Warne
Nathan Lyon and Shane Warne are two of Australia’s greatest spin bowlers, but they are quite different in style, impact, and legacy. Here’s how they compare:
1. Bowling Style & Skills
Shane Warne: A leg-spinner, Warne was known for his incredible turn, drift, and variations, especially his devastating leg-breaks, flippers, and googlies.
Nathan Lyon: An off-spinner, Lyon relies more on bounce, accuracy, and subtle variations rather than extreme spin. His over spin allows him to extract bounce, making him highly effective, especially on turning pitches.
