Legendary Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath expressed his desire for Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon to surpass him in the country’s Test wicket-taking records.
McGrath, holding the record for Australia’s highest wicket-taker among fast bowlers with 563 wickets in 124 Tests, hopes Lyon, Australia’s most accomplished off-spinner, can achieve this feat. Lyon recently crossed the significant milestone of 500 wickets against Pakistan in Perth.
In anticipation of the McGrath Foundation’s 16th annual Pink Test fundraising initiative, the 53-year-old remarked that Nathan Lyon is performing exceptionally well.
He suggested that Lyon has the potential to exceed Shane Warne’s count of 708 Test wickets if he continues playing for an extended period. McGrath conveyed (as reported by Yahoo Sport):
“To me, records are there for people to break. If ‘Lyono’ goes past (me), credit to him. He’s had an incredible career. I wish him all the best, I hope he goes past me. That’s what it’s about.”
“I’ll still be the most wickets by a fast bowler, so at least I’ve got something up my sleeve. Whether he gets to ‘Shano’, that might be a different kettle of fish. It’s up to him. He’s obviously bowling well, he knows the game so well. It’s totally up to him.”
Following the Perth Test, Australian captain Pat Cummins issued a challenge to Nathan Lyon, urging him to surpass Shane Warne’s record. Cummins believes Lyon, with four more years in the game, could secure an additional 200 wickets.
“It’d be great to see him get a hundred here” – Glenn McGrath views on David Warner
As David Warner prepares for his last Test against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground, McGrath expresses the desire to witness the dynamic left-handed batsman play with fearless intent in his farewell match. McGrath elaborated:
“Go out, be positive. We saw him come out and get a good hundred over in Perth, just going back to the way he plays. Hopefully, he can go out on a high. It’d be great to see him get a hundred here in front of his home crowd.”
“You’re a long time retired, and I guess I only had one fear when I played, and that was if I walked off the field at the end of the day and didn’t back myself on the field. I love seeing sportspeople go out and play without fear and I think he does that.”
Australia has won two out of three matches in the series, making it impossible for the other team to catch up.
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