New Delhi: Off-spinner Nathan Lyon has overtaken Glenn Mcgrath in Australia’s top Test wicket-taker’s list during the third Ashes Test in Adelaide and
is placed only behind the late Shane Warne.
He dismissed Ollie Pope and then Ben Duckett in the morning session of day two at Adelaide Oval to surpass McGrath’s 563 scalps and move into outright sixth place on the all-time list.
Only Shane Warne (708) is ahead of Lyon, who was brought back into the team after being benched for the second Test in Brisbane.
The 38-year-old was brought into the attack after Australia were bowled out for 371 runs in their first innings on the morning session on Thursday.
Pope tried to flick Lyon through the leg-side but hit straight into the hands of Josh Inglis for a low catch at midwicket.
Lyon then cleaned up Duckett for his 564th wicket, who tried to defend but couldn’t protect his off stump.
Sri Lanka’s Muthiah Muralidaran (800), England’s James Anderson (704) and Stuart Broad (604) and India’s Anil Kumble (619) are the only other bowlers in Tests with more wickets than Lyon.
Glenn McGrath’s reaction to Nathan Lyon passing him on the all-time Test wickets list was absolutely hilarious 🤣 #Ashes pic.twitter.com/1jTM06M8me
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 18, 2025
Fitting venue
Lyon’s feat took place at a ground where he was a curator before becoming a full-time cricketer. It is also the ground where he played his first professional match.
Before the ongoing match, Lyon’s plaque was unveiled at the Oval’s ‘Avenue of Honour’, commemorating his 12-wicket performance here during the 2014 Test against India.
Lyon’s 65 wickets in 15 matches are the most at the ground, ahead of Warne (56) and Mitchell Starc (55).
“Maybe it would be like a fairy tale, When you look at my history here, with working here, dreaming of playing Test cricket,” Lyon had said on his impending milestone.
“My first ever Test here was on the roller, back in 2010 and funnily enough, against England. So for me to potentially overtake McGrath would be pretty incredible.”
Top 10 wicket-takers in Tests
| Rank | Bowler | Team | Wickets | Matches | Period |
| 1 | Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 800 | 133 | 1992–2010 |
| 2 | Shane Warne | Australia | 708 | 145 | 1992–2007 |
| 3 | James Anderson | England | 704 | 188 | 2003–2024 |
| 4 | Anil Kumble | India | 619 | 132 | 1990–2008 |
| 5 | Stuart Broad | England | 604 | 167 | 2007–2023 |
| 6 | Nathan Lyon† | Australia | 564 | 140 | 2011–Present |
| 7 | Glenn McGrath | Australia | 563 | 124 | 1993–2007 |
| 8 | Ravichandran Ashwin† | India | 537 | 106 | 2011–Present |
| 9 | Courtney Walsh | West Indies | 519 | 132 | 1984–2001 |
| 10 | Dale Steyn | South Africa | 439 | 93 | 2004–2019 |
