Ashes 2019 | It hasn’t really settled down with me yet, says Nathan Lyon on equaling Denis Lillee's record
Nathan Lyon has exclaimed that he's yet to come to terms with the fact that he is Australia's joint third-highest wicket-taker of all time. On Thursday, Lyon equaled Lillee's tally of 355 wickets after claiming the scalp of Bairstow, becoming the country's third-highest wicket-taker of all time.
Coming into the Ashes, there was humongous pressure on the shoulders of Nathan Lyon, who, before the series, had well and truly established himself as the world's premier off-spinner, ending as the highest wicket-taking spinner in each of the last 2 years. Despite blowing hot and cold in the first innings at Edgbaston, the South Australian showed his class in the second as he bowled his team to victory with an immaculate six-wicket haul on Day 5.
After breaching the 350-wicket barrier in the first Test, Lyon scripted further history at Lord's on Thursday, as he picked up his 355th scalp in Test cricket to equal the great Denis Lillee. The 31-year-old now sits only behind Shane Warne (708) and Glenn McGrath (563), and talking about his efforts, the offie has revealed that the feeling hasn't sunk in yet, and that he struggles to see himself alongside the likes of Warne and McGrath.
"I wasn’t really aware of it (equaling Lillee's benchmark) until walking off. I really struggle to see myself up with the likes of Warne, McGrath, Lillee – it doesn’t sit well with me," Lyon told cricket.com.au.
"In my eyes, those guys are true legends of the game and I’m just some bloke trying to bowl off breaks and trying to make Australian fans proud of the Australian cricket team. It hasn’t really settled down with me yet, but I'm sure I will have a message from mum and dad," he added.
Lyon also lauded towering quick Josh Hazlewood, who marked his comeback with a three-wicket haul, hailing him as one of the best three bowlers in world cricket, while also stating that he is yet to reap rewards in his career for the hard work he has put in.
"I think Josh has been a world-class bowler for a long period of time," Lyon said. I don't think he's got the rewards he's deserved as yet in his career, I think they're to come. In my eyes Josh is up there in the top-three bowlers in Test cricket - that's my personal opinion," he said.
"His control - hitting that nagging length - but having the skill to go both ways, in and out. I know he was disappointed to be left out of the first Test, but to come back and bowl the way he did today - hats off to Josh. I thought he was the pick of our bowlers," The Australian off-spinner added.