Indian cricket group spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was all reward for Nathan Lyon after the Australia cricketer accomplished 500 wickets in Test cricket. Lyon achieved the feat in the course of the first Test match towards Pakistan which Australia went on to win by 360 runs. Lyon took two wickets within the second innings as Pakistan have been bundled out for simply 89. Ashwin took to social media to congratulate Lyon on his sensational achievement and even went to name him a ‘GOAT’ after finishing 500 wickets.

“8th bowler and only the 2nd off spinner in history to pick 500 test wickets. @NathLyon421 congrats mate #AUSvsPAK,” Ashwin posted on X (previously Twitter) together with two goat emojis.

eighth bowler and solely the 2nd off spinner in historical past to select 500 check wickets.@NathLyon421 congrats mate#AUSvsPAK

— Ashwin (@ashwinravi99) December 17, 2023

Lyon claimed his five hundredth Test wicket on Sunday to hitch an unique membership of simply seven others to realize the feat, with skipper Pat Cummins believing he has one other 200 in him.

The 36-year-old veteran, whose longevity is partly as a consequence of having not performed worldwide white-ball cricket since 2019, reached the milestone in his 123rd match.

He started the primary Test towards Pakistan in Perth on 496 and was left stranded on 499 after their first innings.

But he lastly reached 500 on day 4 by dismissing Faheem Ashraf lbw on overview, together with his teammates mobbing him in celebration. Lyon then bowled Aamer Jamal in the identical over for his 501st.

“It’s something I’m very proud about, I don’t think it’s hit me yet,” mentioned Lyon.

“There’s obviously been a lot of hard work gone into the journey and I’ve had a lot more bad days than good days, but to be back out there in the middle … it’s pretty special.

“I nonetheless pinch myself once I see my identify subsequent to these guys,” he mentioned of the exalted firm he has joined, together with fellow spin kings Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne.

Affectionately often called “Garry” after former Australian rules football player Garry Lyon, he made his debut in 2011 and has best figures of 8-50, collecting 23 five-wicket hauls and 10 wickets four times so far.

He told reporters before the Perth match that he wanted to continue playing at international level until Australia’s next Ashes sojourn to England in 2027.

Lyon would not say how many more wickets he could get, but Cummins suggested he had another 200 in him.

“I nonetheless assume he is obtained 40-50 Test matches,” he said.

“That’s 4 or 5 years at 10 a 12 months, in all probability common what 4 (wickets) a sport, that is one other couple of hundred (wickets) and that is 700.”

That would move him close to fellow Australian Warne, who has 708 and is second on the all-time list behind Sri Lanka great Muralitharan on 800.

A classical spinner who flights the ball, the right-armer could feasibly catch West Indian great Courtney Walsh (519) during the current three-Test series.

(With AFP inputs)