Nathan Lyon emphatically ended a long wait to secure his place in Australian cricket history, surging into second on the nation's all-time Test wicket-takers list during a dominant display that laid bare England's vulnerabilities in the third Ashes Test in Adelaide.
A Historic Wait Finally Ends
The off-spinner's journey to this milestone was punctuated by unexpected delays. His last wicket before this Test came on 6 July against the West Indies in Grenada, leaving him stranded on 562, just one behind the legendary Glenn McGrath's tally of 563. A surprise omission from the following Test in Jamaica, followed by England's rapid capitulations in Perth and Brisbane, forced Lyon to bide his time for over four months.
The stage was finally set in Adelaide, but even then, the brutal conditions on day two—where temperatures soared past 40 degrees Celsius—postponed his moment. A ruthless England could have extended his frustration, grinding him down on a punishing day. Instead, they offered a swift capitulation.
England's Collapse and Lyon's Masterclass
Introduced in the 10th over of England's first innings, Lyon needed just six balls to etch his name deeper into the record books. His third delivery accounted for Ollie Pope, who prodded a confused shot straight to midwicket. Three balls later, he produced a classic off-spinner's dismissal, drawing Ben Duckett into a defensive stroke only to turn the ball past the bat and clip the left-hander's off stump.
Those two wickets, numbers 563 and 564, propelled him clear of McGrath, leaving only the incomparable Shane Warne (708 wickets) ahead. It allowed Lyon to relax into a commanding performance, underlining his value to the Australian attack.
Cummins Returns with Immediate Impact
Lyon was not alone in making a seamless return. Captain Pat Cummins, back after a layoff with a back injury, looked as if he had never been away. Operating at full pace with his characteristic accuracy, he made immediate inroads.
He achieved the notable feat of dismissing Zak Crawley with a defensively sound shot, finding the edge regardless. Later, he reinforced his dominance over Joe Root, claiming the England batter for a record 12th time in Test cricket. He later added the wicket of Jamie Smith to his tally, showcasing a ruthless efficiency.
The ease of both bowlers' success served as a stark contrast to England's struggles. While questions swirled about the tourists' preparation and acclimatisation, Cummins delivered an immaculate performance after five months without a first-class match.
The difference in quality was glaring. While Jofra Archer toiled manfully for his five-wicket haul for England, he was forced to return to bat in the final hour of the day, outscoring seven of his specialist batting teammates by stumps. Australia's attack, led by Lyon and Cummins, demonstrated the chasm between consistent, high-quality bowling and mere effort.
As the Adelaide sun beat down, it illuminated not just the field but the fundamental gap between the two sides. With two English wickets remaining overnight, Australia's position, fortified by Lyon's historic achievement, appears overwhelmingly strong.
