Ashes 2023: Nathan Lyon becomes first bowler to play 100 consecutive Test matches

Australia’s veteran spinner Nathan Lyon has become the first bowler to play 100 consecutive Test matches when he was named in the playing XI for the second Ashes Test against England at the Lord’s on Wednesday. In fact, Lyon has become only the sixth player to achieve the landmark.

The Australian off-spinner has joined the elite club of players including Alastair Cook (159), Allan Border (153), Mark Waugh (107), Sunil Gavaskar (106), and Brendon McCullum (101).

Playing 100 successive Test matches is no mean feat as a bowler and Lyon deserves a lot of credit for keeping his fitness at the top level.

Meanwhile, Lyon played an instrumental role in the opening Test success as he scalped a total of eight wickets. Lyon returned with figures of 4-149 in the first innings and then took 4-80 in the second essay.

In the last two years, Lyon has scalped 53 wickets in 10 Test matches at an average of 29.71. The veteran off-spinner is also on the cusp of reaching 500 Test wickets as he needs another five more wickets to get to the landmark.

Furthermore, Lyon scored a crucial unbeaten knock of 16 runs in the second dig in the opening Test and added 55 runs with skipper Pat Cummins to help Australia get over the line.

“That’s something I’m really proud of. To be able to tick off 100 consecutive Test matches, that’s a proper stat in my head,” Lyon told Cricket Australia after getting to the record. “That’s a lot of Test cricket, a lot of ups and downs. No wonder I’ve got no hair.”

Lyon gave credit to his family for all the support and also to his personal trainer Tom Carter for helping him stay fit as a fiddle.

“For any athlete to be successful over a long period of time, you’ve got to have really good people around you, and I’m not talking within the Australian cricket team,” he added.

“I feel like my family has been absolutely amazing, with their support and love and care. Then there is Tom Carter, who is arguably one of my best mates but also my PT who I do a lot of work with behind the scenes,” he added.

Australia ended the opening day of the Lord’s Test in a dominating position at 339-5 with an unbeaten Steve Smith (85*) at the crease.