Lyon joins the elite in 500-wicket club
Written by I Dig SportsLyon had been stalled on 496 wickets after his Ashes-ended calf injury earlier this year, but continued his fine record at the Optus Stadium. He moved to 499 wickets in Pakistan's first innings when he claimed Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq and Aamer Jamal.
For a little while it appeared he may run out of wickets as Australia's quicks ran through Pakistan's second innings, but in his seventh over he won an lbw decision against Ashraf via the DRS.
Lyon joined Shane Warne (708) and Glenn McGrath (563) as Australia players in the 500 club while he is the fourth spinner in the list which also includes Muthiah Muralidaran and Anil Kumble.
Before the Test, Lyon had said he had not dwelled much on the looming landmark but rather his excitement at returning to the game after injury, although he knew the significance it held.
"I just keep talking to my family, friends and close ones about how special it is," he said. "You keep edging your way closer to two Australian greats in McGrath and Warne. For only two Australians to be over that 500 mark is pretty remarkable. It's something that I'm proud about. A lot of hard work has gone into it."
"We've gone head-to-head many, many times in different conditions around the world," Lyon said before the Perth Test. "I've got nothing but respect for Ashwin and the way he's gone about it. I've definitely learnt off him. There's an opportunity to learn off the people you play against and without knowing it, he's probably been one of my biggest coaches in a way.
"It's pretty amazing to see that we're both creeping up to that 500 mark and we'll see where we end up and hopefully at the end of our careers we'll be able to sit down and have a nice feed and beer and talk about it."