‘Very proud’: Lyon King crowns imposing victory with 500th Test wicket

It took modern technology to award Nathan Lyon his 500th wicket after long minutes of tension as Australia trounced Pakistan by 360 runs in the first Test on a difficult Perth Stadium pitch.

Pakistan were bowled out for just 89 in 30.2 overs on day four as Australia followed their World Cup triumph by going 1-0 up in the three-Test series.

The disappointing crowd of 9244 hidden in the 60,000 seat stadium clapped and cheered every Lyon delivery, but it wasn’t until Pakistan had already lost six wickets that the moment finally arrived.

Even then, it took a review by captain Pat Cummins to overturn a not out lbw decision against Faheem Ashraf by umpire Richard Illingworth which finally sparked the celebrations. And after three days of striving for the four wickets he needed for the remarkable milestone, Lyon claimed two wickets in one over when he bowled Aamer Jamal.

“It’s something I’m very proud about,” Lyon said after play. “I don’t think it’s probably hit me yet. But there’s obviously been a lot of hard work go into the journey.

“I’ve had a lot more bad days than good days but to be out there in the middle, back after doing my calf, with the special group of people, that’s pretty special to be able to take 500 in Tests.”

Nathan Lyon’s Australian teammates salute the spinner after his 500th Test scalp.Credit: Getty

Lyon joked that captain Pat Cummins, who was sitting beside him at the press conference, did not want to review the decision. A smiling Cummins accused Lyon of “mumbling.”

“I was quietly confident that it would hit leg,” said Lyon. “But no, it’s one of those things with reviews, you’re always nervous no matter what, so all in all pretty happy.”

Lyon began this Test on 496 wickets and was Australia’s leading wicket-taker in the first innings with 3/66, needing only one more to become just the eighth player in Test history, and third Australian behind Shane Warne (708) and Glenn McGrath (563), to reach 500.

He is a greatly underestimated member of Australia’s attack, which was highlighted during the Ashes when he suffered a serious calf injury during the second Test and missed the remainder of the series. Despite missing the last three Tests he has claimed 41 wickets at an average of 25 in nine Tests this year, to make him the leading bowler in the world for 2023.

Australia stormed to a 360-run win inside four days after setting Pakistan 450 to win.Credit: Getty

Cummins described Australia’s victory as the “ideal” start and believes it sets them up for the summer.

“We know from travelling overseas, you go to foreign conditions and if you’re a batter that struggles to score runs you start questioning things, as a bowler if you haven’t had a huge impact, you start looking at your own game, perhaps a bit more than you do at home,” Cummins said.

“We love these conditions. We know these conditions really well. I think that’s what makes playing and winning away from home so difficult. So hopefully we’ll have a pretty stress-free week going into Boxing Day. We all know what to expect down there (in Melbourne). I can’t really speak for them, but I’m really happy with how we’ve started and I think everyone’s in a really good place.”

On a pitch with widening cracks which made the ball dart around and bounce at uneven heights, Pakistan’s batsmen were all at sea against Australia’s quality attack.

Mitch Marsh made an unbeaten 63 in front of his home crowd.Credit: Getty

For the third day in a row, player of the match Mitch Marsh gave the smattering of loyal Perth fans who turned up to the Test something to cheer about.

He was unbeaten on 63 from just 68 balls with seven fours and two sixes when Usman Khawaja holed out for 90, slicing Shaheen Shah Afridi to be caught at deep third man chasing quick runs. Cummins declared, sparing he and his fellow bowlers the need to bat on the cracked and increasingly dangerous pitch.

Marsh’s typically bold innings included the need to replace his helmet twice after being hit on the side of the helmet and then side of the grill attempting hook shots.

On Friday, the second day, Marsh made 90 at almost a run a ball, costing himself a century in front of his former Test playing father Geoff and brother Shaun, among others, with an ambitious drive first ball after lunch to be bowled.

And on Saturday he bowled what may well have been the ball of the innings, darting it away off the seam to have Pakistan’s best player, Babar Azam, caught behind for 21.

Marsh topped the Ashes averages with 50 after being recalled for the last three Tests and is now averaging 67 in his latest incarnation as a Test player.

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