Nathan Lyon's Defines Permanence with a Decade of Endurance

Playing a hundred Tests is a rare feat, and to play a hundred Tests without missing a single game in between is even more uncommon. While the last week has been a good one for Nathan Lyon, with the bat as he drove and flicked Stuart Broad on Australia’s way to a very famous win the upcoming Test will see Nathan Lyon reach a landmark that required a lot more hard work. There is a very small group of cricketers who have played a hundred Tests without missing a Test in between and Nathan Lyon in all likelihood is set to join that list.

Two Australians have done this before him and Nathan Lyon is set to be the first specialist bowler to do the same. The record is proof of his consistency as he carried Australia’s spin attack for the best part of the last decade, allowing Australia to consistently field a player who turned out to be a constant in their line-up. Regardless of the conditions, Nathan Lyon with his accuracy and consistency has ensured he is a part of the side to hold one end up and exploit on the wearing pitches as the Test progresses.

He has played a total of 122 Tests and with how he is going, Lyon could well target the record held by Ponting and Waugh who have 168 Test caps. His run began back in 2013 at Lords, where he is to complete his 100th consecutive Test. Before the run, Lyon took part in 22 Test matches but with early consistency issues, Lyon had a brief spell out of the side.

Since then though, Lyon has not looked back. He has forged a career as one of the greatest spinners in his era, and probably Australia’s best spinner after Shane Warne. His success helped Australia big time as they struggled to find a spinner after Shane Warne retired in 2006-2007. In the interim, Australia tried Nathan Hauritz, Jason Krejza, Cameron White, Ashton Agar, Michael Beer and Steve Smith as well. Neither managed to impress and that led to Australia struggling for control for a good four years as they lost an Ashes at home and a series to South Africa.

Australia though will be hoping they don’t find themselves in a similar situation when Lyon hangs up his boots as they would be looking to bring the likes of Todd Murphy in as seamlessly as possible. Lyon is on the cusp of another milestone coming to Lords. With 495 wickets, another 5 wickets would see him join Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and four other bowlers on five hundred wickets.

Lyon’s run though has not been straightforward. There was a brief period in 2020-2021 where his ability to be the lead spinner was questioned as Nathan Lyon struggled against India at home. In the next WTC Cycle though Lyon went through a dream period finishing as the leading wicket-taker and is off to a really good start in the current cycle as well.

His bowling in the subcontinent too has consistently increased with Lyon getting some significant hauls on his last tours to India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. He was particularly impressive in India, a place where he tends to struggle with a lot more turn than he is used to on offer. His improvement has been instrumental to his milestone with Nathan Lyon consistently churning out balls that can drift and keep batters questioning their style of play. Throughout a long career which has seen Nathan Lyon turn his shoulder more thant 30000 times, Nathan Lyon has carved a story on his endurance as a spin bowler.