.jpg) Lyon in 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Nathan Michael Lyon | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1987-11-20)20 November 1987 (age 38) Young, New South Wales, Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | The Goat, Garry[a] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-armoff break | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Bowler | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side |
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| Test debut (cap 421) | 31 August 2011 v Sri Lanka | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 21 November 2025 v England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ODI debut (cap 194) | 8 March 2012 v Sri Lanka | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last ODI | 11 July 2019 v England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ODI shirt no. | 67 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T20I debut (cap 77) | 29 January 2016 v India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last T20I | 28 October 2018 v Pakistan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T20I shirt no. | 67 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008/09–2010/11 | ACT Comets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010/11–2012/13 | South Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011/12–2012/13 | Adelaide Strikers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013/14–present | New South Wales(squad no. 67) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013/14–2022/23 | Sydney Sixers(squad no. 67) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | Worcestershire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | Lancashire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Source:ESPNcricinfo,24 November 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nathan Michael Lyon (born 20 November 1987) is anAustralian internationalcricketer. He made hisTest debut in 2011 and plays domestic cricket forNew South Wales. Lyon is anoff-spin bowler and a lower-order right-handedbatsman. Considered the most successful Australian off-spin bowler of all time, Lyon holds the record for the most Test wickets taken by an Australian off-spin bowler, passingHugh Trumble's 141 wickets in 2015.[3] In January 2021, Lyon played in his 100th Test match during Australia's seriesagainst India.[4] As of 2025, Lyon is Australia's third highest Test wicket taker of all time and ranks seventh among all international players in Test cricket with more than 500 wickets.[5]
Lyon has achieved a number of honours for his performances. He has been named in theICC Test Team of the Year three times[b] and was the recipient of the Shane Warne Men's Test Player of the Year award in 2019 and 2024. Lyon was a member of the Australian team that won the2021–2023 World Test Championship.
Lyon was born inYoung, New South Wales, to Stephen and Bronwyn Lyon.[6][7] He moved from Young toCanberra as a teenager where he went on to play forACT Cricket's under-17s and under-18s representative teams.[8] Lyon played for Western Districts and University of Canberra Cricket Club in ACTGrade cricket and debuted for theACT Comets in 2008 in theCricket Australia Cup against the South Australian Second XI where he claimed a wicket on day one.[9] During his time with Comets, Lyon was mentored by captain and later captain-coach,Mark Higgs, who helped him in his spin bowling, getting his bowling action right as well as the tactical side including what lines to bowl and fields to set. After Lyon left the Comets he continued to keep in contact with Higgs in regards to the game.[10]
In 2010, Lyon moved to Adelaide and worked as a member of the ground staff team at theAdelaide Oval.[11] He played for theProspect Cricket Club in theSouth Australian Grade Cricket League while continuing playing for the Comets in theFutures League. After Lyon's performance in the 2010 Futures League Twenty20 in December for the Comets in Melbourne which South Australia's Twenty20 coachDarren Berry witnessed he was selected to play for theSouthern Redbacks in theKFC Twenty20 Big Bash.[12]
In2010–11 KFC Twenty20 Big Bash Lyon was the leading wicket-taker where the Redbacks went on to win the competition. Lyon went on to play for South Australia in theSheffield Shield and theAustralian domestic limited-overs competition.[13][14] In the same year he was selected to representAustralia A inZimbabwe where he took 11 wickets in the tri-series to be named man of the series.[15] Lyon signed to play in theinaugural season of theBig Bash League for theAdelaide Strikers.[14]
In May 2017 it was announced thatWorcestershire had signed Lyon as a replacement for compatriotJohn Hastings, who was competing in theICC Champions Trophy.[16] On 15 November 2017, during the final moments of theSheffield Shield match againstQueensland at theAllan Border Field, Lyon was involved in a bizarre incident, burning a piece of toast in the dressing room and causing the smoke alarm to go off, which brought the fire services to the ground and stopped play for 30 minutes.[17]
In November 2019, Lyon signed forHampshire as their overseas player for the 2020 season inChampionship cricket in England.[18] However, this deal was later cancelled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[19] In February 2021, during the2020–21 Sheffield Shield season, Lyon took his 600th first-class wicket.[20]
In August 2023, theMelbourne Renegades announced they had signed Lyon on a three-year deal for the Big Bash League starting with the 2023/24 season.[21]
In November 2023Lancashire County Cricket Club announced that they had signed Lyon as an overseas player for the 2024 domestic season.[22]
On 26 July 2011, Lyon was selected in the Australian Test squad for thetour to Sri Lanka in 2011.[23] He took two wickets for Australia against the Sri Lanka Board XI in the three-day warm-up match at thePaikiasothy Saravanamuttu Stadium.[24] Lyon made his Test debut against Sri Lanka at Galle on 31 August 2011, he had his Baggy Green cap presented to him byGreg Chappell. Lyon took his first wicket off his first ball in Test cricket on 1 September 2011, his victim wasKumar Sangakkara. With this feat he became the third Australian (and seventeenth international player) to take hisfirst wicket off his first ball in Test cricket, and the first Australian sinceArthur Coningham, in 1894.[25] He finished with 5/34 in his first innings, becoming the 131st player to take five wickets on debut in a Test match.[26][27]
In November 2011, Lyon became just the seventhnumber 11 batsman to have the top score in his team's innings, when he scored 14 in Australia's second-innings total of 47 in the1st Test against South Africa.[28] Lyon played his first Test in Australia atthe Gabba starting on 1 December 2011 againstNew Zealand in the first Test match ofthe series. Lyon took 4/69 in the first innings and 3/19 in his second innings, culminating in match figures of 7/88, the best Test match bowling figures by an Australian off-spinner at the venue.[29] He played in three of the four Tests of the subsequenthome series against India—being left out of the team for the third Test on the pace-friendlyWACA Ground—taking seven wickets at an average of 41.57.[30] Former Australian off-spinnerAshley Mallett criticised Lyon's delivery method during the series, saying he had been bowling too wide on the crease.[31]
On 24 April 2013, Lyon was named as the only spinner in the upcoming2013 Ashes series for the Australian squad. It held true until hours before the first match when he was dropped from out of the lineup in favour of shock debutantAshton Agar, who then went on to score 98 on his Test debut, which was also a world record for a no. 11 batsman. However, Lyon was recalled to the team for the third Ashes Test, and in the fourth Ashes Test atChester-le-Street, he took figures of 4/42 on the first day to help restrict England to 238 in their first innings. On 28 December 2013, during theBoxing Day Test match at theMelbourne Cricket Ground, Lyon took his 100th Test wicket and also his first five wicket haul in Australia.[32] He became just the sixth Australian off-spinner to take 100 Test wickets.[33]
On 5 January 2014, Lyon became only the second cricketer ever to not be dismissed in any innings during a five-Test series. Lyon made 60 runs during his six innings, with a strike rate of 52.63.[34] On 13 December 2014, Lyon was named man of the match in the first Test of theBorder–Gavaskar Trophy series against India at theAdelaide Oval after taking a personal best haul for the match of 5 for 134 in the first innings and 7 for 152 in the second. This was the first match the Australian team had played after the death ofPhillip Hughes just two weeks earlier. After taking the final wicket of the match to secure the victory for Australia, Lyon knelt down and patted Hughes's Test number 408 that had been painted on the field for the match.
In 2015, Lyon was not named in Australia's final squad of 15 for the2015 Cricket World Cup.Xavier Doherty was picked in his place as a specialist spin bowler. In June 2015, Lyon took his 142nd Test wicket, passingHugh Trumble to become the most prolific wicket-taker of all Australian off-spinners.[35]
Lyon made hisTwenty20 International debut for Australiaagainst India on 29 January 2016.[36] On 28 July 2016, Lyon became the first Australian off-spinner to take 200 Test wickets. He achieved this feat during the first Testagainst Sri Lanka at thePallekele Cricket Stadium by dismissingDhananjaya de Silva.[37] During the 2016Test series between Australia and South Africa, the phrase "Nice, Garry!" became affectionately associated with Lyon after wicketkeeperMatthew Wade repeatedly yelled it after every ball bowled by the spinner (a joking reference to theMelbourne FC footballerGarry Lyon).[38] This phrase was adopted by cricket fans throughout Australia, elevating Lyon to cult-hero status.[39] A Facebook campaign was started up for fans at the 2016Boxing Day Test againstPakistan to yell "Nice, Garry!" in unison after Lyon's third ball bowled; however, their attempts were replaced by cheering, as he took the wicket ofSami Aslam with his third delivery.[40]
_(Lyon_cropped).jpg)
On 4 March 2017, in the second Test between Australia andIndia inBangalore as part of the2017 Australian tour of India, Lyon took figures of 8/50 and finished with the best figures ever recorded in India by a visiting bowler.[41] On 27 August 2017, Lyon became the 8th Australian bowler and the second Australian spinner afterShane Warne to take 250 Test wickets. He achieved this feat during the first Testagainst Bangladesh at theSher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium by dismissingMehedi Hasan Miraz. In September 2017, in the second Test between Australia and Bangladesh inChittagong as part of the2017 Australian tour of Bangladesh, Lyon took match figures of 13/154 and finished with the best figures ever recorded in Asia by an Australian bowler. He also took the most wickets in a two-Test series by an Australian bowler (22).
Having missed out on the Champions Trophy squad, Lyon replacedJohn Hastings to play forWorcestershire.[42] In 2017, Lyon became an Australian Apprenticeships Ambassador for the Australian Government.[43] He would finish the year by taking more Test wickets than anyone else (63).
On 6 March 2018, Lyon was fined 15 per cent of his match fee for a breach of theICC Code of Conduct during thefirst Test against South Africa in Durban.[44]Lyon took his 300th Test wicket during the 3rd Test in Cape Town by dismissingKagiso Rabada out stumped.[45] In April 2018, he was awarded a national contract byCricket Australia for the 2018–19 season.[46][47] Lyon finished the India–Australia Test series with 21 wickets and as the highest wicket taker, along withJasprit Bumrah.[48]
Lyon awarded the Men's Test Player of the Year at theAllan Border Medal ceremony by the CA in 2019.[49] In April 2019, he was named inAustralia's squad for the2019 Cricket World Cup.[50][51] In July 2019, he was named inAustralia's squad for the2019 Ashes series in England.[52][53] In the first Test of the2019 Ashes, his figures of 3/112 in the first innings 6/49 in the second innings helped Australia to win a Test at Edgbaston for the first time in 19 years. Australia went on to retain The Ashes for the first time in 18 years. In November 2019, Lyon took seven wickets in two Tests against Pakistan, including a five-wicket haul inAdelaide.[54] In thefollowing series against New Zealand, Lyon was the leading wicket taker between both sides, finishing the series with 20 wickets as Australia won the series 3–0. This was capped off with match figures of 10/118 in the New Year's Test in Sydney, taking five wickets in each innings.[55]
On 16 July 2020, Lyon was named in a 26-man preliminary squad of players to begin training ahead of a possibletour to England following theCOVID-19 pandemic.[56][57] On 14 August 2020,Cricket Australia confirmed that the fixtures would be taking place, with Lyon included in the touring party.[58][59] On 11 December 2021, during the first match of the2021–22 Ashes series, Lyon took his 400th Test wicket by dismissingDawid Malan.[60]
On 2 March 2023, Lyon become the highest wicket-taker in theBorder-Gavaskar Trophy during the second day of the third test inIndore with a total of 112 wickets.[61] He finished the match with figures of 11/99, taking 3 wickets in the first innings and 8 in the second, earning him player of the match honours.[62] In the fourth test inAhmedabad, Lyon broke the record of most wickets taken by an overseas bowler in India, surpassingDerek Underwood by taking his 56th wicket in the country.[63]
In the2023 ICC World Test Championship Final, Lyon recorded figures of 1/19 and 4/41 asAustralia defeatedIndia by 209 runs.[64]
In the first test of the2023 Ashes series atEdgbaston, Lyon took figures of 4/149 and 4/80 in each innings.[65] In the fourth innings, Lyon came to crease with Australia 8/227, 54 runs short of the winning target of 281. Forming a 55 run partnership withPat Cummins, Lyon helped Australia to an unlikely two wicket win, ending the match with 16 not out off of 28 deliveries.[65] In the second test of the series atLord's, Lyon became the first specialist bowler in history to play 100 consecutive test matches, a streak that dated back to the2013 Ashes series a decade prior.[66] He recorded his 496th test wicket in the first innings by dismissingZak Crawley before succumbing to a significant calf strain on day 2, which prevented him from bowling in the remainder of the test.[67] Despite arriving to the ground on crutches and having difficulty walking, Lyon came to the crease to bat in Australia's second innings and put on a 15 run partnership withMitchell Starc, scoring 4 runs himself.[68] He received a standing ovation from the crowd and praise for his bravery in batting despite the nature of his injury.[69] It was confirmed on the day following the test that Lyon would miss the remainder of the series as a result of the injury.[70] This meant his streak of 100 consecutive test matches going back to the2013 Ashes was broken.[71]
Lyon returned to test cricket in December 2023 for the match between Pakistan and Australia inPerth. He took his 500th test wicket by dismissingFaheem Ashraf lbw after a review. Just two balls later Lyon got his 501st test wicket by bowlingAamer Jamal.[72] He finished the match with five wickets in all, which helped Australia to a comprehensive victory by 360 runs.[73]
Nathan Lyon played in the2024–25 Border–Gavaskar Trophy.
Lyon has two children with ex-partner Mel Waring.[74] He married Emma McCarthy in July 2022.[75]
Lyon's older brother, Brendan, is his personal batting coach.[76]
Lyon is a supporter of theCanberra Raiders in theNational Rugby League.[77]
ICC Test Team of the Year: 2018, 2019, 2022
Australian Men's Test Player of the Year: 2019, 2024
Sheffield Shield Player of the Year: 2020-21[78]
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Michael Neser was not initially in the squad, but was named as a replacement forJosh Hazlewood in the final squad. | ||
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Kane Richardson was not initially in the squad, but named as replacements forJhye Richardson in the final squad. | ||
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