The Adelaide Oval bore witness to a historic changing of the guard on Day 2 of the third Ashes Test. Nathan Lyon, Australia’s most successful off-spinner, officially moved into second place on the list of Australia’s all-time leading Test wicket-takers, surpassing the legendary fast bowler Glenn McGrath.
The milestone was made even more memorable by McGrath’s theatrical reaction from the commentary box. As Lyon clean-bowled Ben Duckett to reach 564 wickets, cameras caught a “mock-fuming” McGrath pretending to throw his chair in frustration—a light-hearted nod to the man who finally broke his long-standing record.
The Leaderboard: Australia’s Test Greats
Lyon now sits in elite company, trailing only the “King of Spin” on the all-time Australian list:
| Rank | Bowler | Test Wickets |
| 1 | Shane Warne | 708 |
| 2 | Nathan Lyon | 564* |
| 3 | Glenn McGrath | 563 |
| 4 | Ricky Ponting (for context) | (Top Batter) |
A Stunning Morning Collapse for England
Lyon’s impact was as immediate as it was historic. Introduced in the morning session, he turned the game on its head in a single over:
- The Setup: England started steadily at 37/0 until captain Pat Cummins dismissed Zak Crawley.
- The Milestone Over: Lyon first removed Ollie Pope to tie McGrath’s record. Four balls later, a drifting delivery bamboozled Ben Duckett, crashing into his off-stump to secure the record-breaking 564th wicket.
- The Damage: England lost 3 wickets in just 15 balls, crumbling from a position of strength to 59/3 at lunch.
Match Context: The Adelaide Grind
Earlier in the day, Australia’s tail wagged effectively. Resuming at 326/8, the hosts reached 371 thanks to a defiant 54 from Mitchell Starc. England’s Jofra Archer was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with a hard-earned five-wicket haul (5/104).
England now faces a mammoth task to save the match and the series, especially with Adelaide temperatures predicted to soar near 40°C. With Australia already leading the series 2–0, the pressure is firmly on Joe Root’s men to survive a surface that is beginning to offer a significant turn for the history-making Lyon.