‘I’m never overtaking Shane Warne’
Nathan Lyon carved out two pieces of Australian history on the first day of the first Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur today, but as a late bloomer and someone who was not necessarily seen as an Australian all-timer, he seemed pretty aware of his place in Australia's cricket pantheon.
The off-spinner became Australia's second-most successful spinner when he went past the late great Richie Benaud's haul of 248 Test wickets by dismissing Mehedi Hasan Miraz. Soon, he became the eighth Australian to take 250 Test wickets by getting Taijul Islam out.
"I've always said that I am not about personal success," Lyon said after the day's play. "I woke up to a message from my Mom and Dad. They said 'go out and do us proud'. You get those sorts of messages and you reflect on your career and where you're standing in the game. It's pretty special, Richie Benaud is an unbelievable legend in Australian cricket and cricket in general. To overtake him in the wickets column is something pretty special."
Special it may have been, but Lyon was under no illusions about how far he is going to get in Australia's spin charts.
"I will tell you here right now, I am never taking over Shane Warne," said Lyon with a laugh when a local reporter asked whether overtaking Shane Warne at the top of Australia's wicket ladder was a possibility. His mirth was echoed around the room, and the questioner asked a follow-up which proved that he was in on the joke.
"But Shane is only 458 wickets ahead of you..." the reporter floated that one over.
"Yes, and I'm 30 in November," came the dead batted defence.
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