Former Australian seam-bowling legend Glenn McGrath recently said that he hopes Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon can surpass him in the Test wicket-taking charts for the country. With 563 wickets in 124 Tests, the speedster remains Australia’s highest wicket-taker among fast bowlers as well. Lyon, Australia’s most successful off-spinner, joined the 500-wicket milestone against Pakistan in Perth as well.
Speaking ahead of the McGrath Foundation’s 16th annual Pink Test fundraising initiative, the veteran observed that Lyon is bowling extremely well. He also said that Lyon could even surpass Shane Warne’s tally of 708 Test wickets if he stays in the game for a long time.
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McGrath said (via Yahoo Sport): “To me, records are there for people to break. If ‘Lyono’ goes past (me), credit to him. He’s had an incredible career. I wish him all the best, I hope he goes past me. That’s what it’s about. I’ll still be the most wickets by a fast bowler, so at least I’ve got something up my sleeve. Whether he gets to ‘Shano’, that might be a different kettle of fish. It’s up to him. He’s obviously bowling well, he knows the game so well. It’s totally up to him.”
On the other hand, after the Perth Test, Australia captain Pat Cummins also challenged Nathan Lyon to go past Warne. Cummins also added that Lyon can play for four more years, taking another 200 scalps. With David Warner set to play his final Test against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground, McGrath hopes to see him come out and play fearlessly as well.
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“Go out, be positive. We saw him come out and get a good hundred over in Perth, just going back to the way he plays. Hopefully, he can go out on a high. It’d be great to see him get a hundred here in front of his home crowd. You’re a long time retired, and I guess I only had one fear when I played, and that was if I walked off the field at the end of the day and didn’t back myself on the field. I love seeing sportspeople go out and play without fear and I think he does that,” he concluded.
