Nathan Lyon opens up on the moment he took his 400th Test match wicket

Now he’s finally hit the magic 400-wicket mark, Nathan Lyon takes time to reflect on his glorious career and pinpoints the batsman who invariably ‘came out on top’ in most of their battles.

Right then, Nathan Lyon. Now that you’ve finally taken your 400th Test wicket it’s time to announce your best of the best.

Things may have slowed down for you over the past year or so with 326 days between your 399th and 400th wicket. But that’s another discussion.

For the moment it’s time to reflect on your decade in the sun and the moments great and small which mattered most.

A drum roll please for …

Nathan Lyon has big-time respect for AB De Villiers.

BEST BATSMAN BOWLED TO

“AB de Villiers. He was the guy who provided the biggest challenge and consistent. He just understood and read the game beautifully. His defence was excellent, but you always knew in the back of your mind he could hit a little finger spinner out of the park in any direction he wanted to. He was a great challenge, but I still loved playing him. I must say he came out on top most of the time.’’

BEST BALL

“I used to think my first ever Test match at the Gabba when I bowled (New Zealand No 11) Chris Martin through the gate was the best ball I ever bowled.

“I held that view for many years. Looking at it now, there was a ball in Chennai where I bowled Sachin Tendulkar through the gate (in 2013) I was pretty happy with and a couple of balls against England – Alastair Cook and Ben Stokes – at the Oval in (2015) which were among my top balls. I bowled both of them. Those three jump out.’’

FAVOURITE BATSMAN TO BOWL TO

“I used to enjoy bowling to Moeen Ali.

(Lyon dismissed the English all-rounder nine times in 20 innings and Moeen poked fun at his own record when he walked into the SCG dressing rooms after the final Test of the last tour of Australia with a sign hanging from his chin with the words “hit me Garry’’ on it).

FAVOURITE COMPLIMENT

“This may sound unusual but the one which meant most to me came from Pakistan’s Younis Khan.

“In the 2014 series Pakistan beat us 2-0 in Dubai and Younis Khan (468 runs at 156) was just incredible, really. Just a class player.

“At the end of the game he said to me ‘the only reason I started sweeping you was because I was really struggling with your stock ball’. That meant everything to me. He was such a fine player. It just gave me faith in my stock ball.’’

Lyon leads the Aussies in an Ashes victory song in 2019.

BEST TEAM SONG CONDUCTED

“The one that stands out to me was at Manchester on the last Ashes tour when we retained the Ashes. We went out on the oval because the Manchester change rooms are so small.

“I do get quite nervous (leading the song) because the way I look at it it is a bloody important role. Not just for the players but all the staff and you might have a couple of players making their debut.

“I remember when Huss gave me the team song and gave me the letter about why the song was handed over. I try and make it special and a bit funny, which is a challenge for me because I’m not that funny.’’

Chains of anxiety finally snap after 326 days on 399

The night before Nathan Lyon took his 400th Test wicket Pat Cummins told him it would never happen … that he would be stranded on 399 indefinitely.

In keeping with the chilled vibe of his first Test as captain, Cummins found a way of pricking the tension with some cheeky reverse psychology.

Lyon had spent 326 days on 399 so a touch of lightness didn’t go astray, proving yet again the best way of making something happen in sport is to predict it won’t.

You could almost hear the chains of anxiety snap when Dawid Malan bunted Lyon to Marnus Labuschagne at silly mid-off and the Australians celebrated with gusto for, in that moment, the breakthrough meant as much as the milestone.

It triggered a dam burst of wickets. Soon after Lyon would take three more.

Amid the joy of becoming the 17th bowler and just the third Australian after Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath to reach 400, there was also relief for Lyon who could not escape the relentless banter from his teammates in the pressurised countdown.

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Nathan Lyon salutes to the crowd after claiming his 400th wicket. Picture: AFP Images

“I have a lot of best mates in the change room and they asked me whether I am going to have 400 put on my shoes like Pidge (Glenn McGrath) or run around like Warnie,’’ Lyon said.

“There is a lot of banter going on. It was a big relief.’’

First came the relief and joy to be followed by a celebration of Australia’s Test win and the magical milestone which felt like a millstone for a while in this Test as it stayed tantalisingly out of Lyon’s reach.

But soon enough Lyon will head back on the tools to plot a new game plan for the game’s finest batsman against slow bowling – England batsman Joe Root whose second innings 89 included some masterful footwork and stroke play.

“There are a couple of challenges there (against Root) for sure. He is a very good player off the front and back foot and he sweeps. So it does provide a really decent challenge to catch him on the crease.

“He is the best in the world at the moment. It’s going to be a big summer and very challenging against Joe.

The moment Nathan Lyon joined the 400 club. Picture: AFP Photos

“I have a huge amount of respect for him and the way he goes about it. I am going to have to make sure I keep looking at footage and planning and find a few different things for him that’s for sure.’’

Major milestones invariably trigger a review of the past but when Lyon entered the Australian dressing room talk soon turned to the potential of towering all-rounder Cameron Green who bowled with impressive pace and venom.

“I was only sitting in the rooms before coming here with Starcy (Mitchell Starc), Hauff (Josh Hazlewood) and Smithy (Steve Smith) and we were all saying how remarkable is his skill set.’’

Originally published as Nathan Lyon opens up on the moment he took his 400th Test match wicket