Humble Lyon equals the great Lillee

Australian coach Justin Langer has implored his players to be humble and Nathan Lyon is living that.

Australia's Nathan Lyon celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of England's Stuart Broad at Lord’s. Picture: AP

Australian coach Justin Langer has implored his players to be humble and Nathan Lyon is living that despite continuing to elevate his standing towards legendary status.

It took a tap on the shoulder and a handshake from a team official to inform the Australian off-spinner he had moved to equal third on his country’s all-time wicket-taking list when he had Jonny Bairstow caught on the boundary to wrap up England’s innings at Lord’s.

Lyon now has 355 Test wickets, the same as the great Dennis Lillee. Only Shane Warne (708) and Glenn McGrath (563) have more than the 31-year-old former groundskeeper, who said his best was yet to come.

The more marvellous thing about Lyon’s achievement is that his 355 Test wickets are nearly 70 per cent of his career tally of 522 in all first class cricket. He’s a better bowler at the top.

But Lyon said he didn’t even know what he’d done, because it didn’t matter with a Test match to be won, and his best yet to come.

“I’ve always said I am not about personal milestones or personal achievements, it’s about winning Test matches and Test series for Australia,” he said.

“I feel like I can still get better, I still feel like I’m learning about bowling.

“I feel like I’m still in the learning stage, I don’t think I’ve hit my peak yet to be honest, of my career.”

Bowling Australia to victory in the first Test at Edgbaston only enhanced the growing legend of a man his teammates call the “Goat”.

It’s a moniker Lyon now carries worldwide, regarded by plenty as the pre-eminent spinner in cricket, better even than those subcontinental wizards who honed their craft on pitches made to turn.

Lyon is one against the grain, having played his maiden first-class games on the flat tracks at the Adelaide Oval, before moving on to more spin friendly conditions at the SCG.

He could pass Lillee in the second innings at Lord’s, but the elite company he lives in, the rare air he breathes, actually makes him a little uncomfortable.

Lyon said he’s just a bloke “trying to bowl off breaks”.

“I really struggle to see myself up with the likes of Warne, McGrath, Lillee, it doesn’t sit well with me,” he said.

“In my eyes those guys are true legends of the game and I’m just some bloke trying to bowl off breaks and trying to make Australian fans proud of the Australian cricket team.

“It hasn’t really settled down with me yet, but I am sure I will have a message from mum and dad.”

HERALD SUN