Nathan Lyon facts for kids
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Lyon in 2019
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name |
Nathan Michael Lyon
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| Born | 20 November 1987 Young, New South Wales, Australia |
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| Nickname | The Goat, Garry | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm off break | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Bowler | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side |
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| Test debut (cap 421) | 31 August 2011 v Sri Lanka | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 3 July 2025 v West Indies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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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Source: ESPNcricinfo, 7 July 2025
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Nathan Michael Lyon (born 20 November 1987) is an Australian international cricket player. He is known as an off-spin bowler. He also bats right-handed in the lower part of the batting order.
Nathan Lyon made his first Test match appearance in 2011. He plays domestic cricket for New South Wales. Many people think he is the best Australian off-spin bowler ever. He holds the record for the most Test wickets taken by an Australian off-spin bowler. He passed Hugh Trumble's record of 141 wickets in 2015.
In January 2021, Lyon played in his 100th Test match. This happened during Australia's series against India. As of 2025, Lyon is Australia's third highest Test wicket taker of all time. He is also ranked seventh among all international players in Test cricket with over 500 wickets.
Lyon has received many awards for his great performances. He has been named in the ICC Test Team of the Year three times. He also won the Shane Warne Men's Test Player of the Year award in 2019 and 2024. Lyon was part of the Australian team that won the 2021–2023 World Test Championship.
Contents
Nathan Lyon's Early Cricket Journey
Lyon was born in Young, New South Wales. His parents are Stephen and Bronwyn Lyon. As a teenager, he moved from Young to Canberra. There, he played for ACT Cricket's under-17s and under-18s teams.
Lyon played for local clubs in ACT Grade cricket. He joined the ACT Comets in 2008. This was in the Cricket Australia Cup. He took a wicket on his first day playing. While with the Comets, Mark Higgs helped him a lot. Higgs taught him about spin bowling and how to set up the field.
In 2010, Lyon moved to Adelaide. He worked on the ground staff at the Adelaide Oval. He also played for the Prospect Cricket Club. After a strong performance in a Twenty20 game, he was chosen to play for the Southern Redbacks.
Playing for Domestic Teams
In the 2010–11 KFC Twenty20 Big Bash, Lyon took the most wickets. His team, the Redbacks, won the competition. Lyon then played for South Australia in other cricket formats. He also represented Australia A in Zimbabwe. There, he took 11 wickets and was named man of the series.
Lyon joined the Adelaide Strikers for the first Big Bash League season. In May 2017, Worcestershire signed Lyon. He played for them while another player was away.
In November 2019, Lyon was set to play for Hampshire in England. However, this plan was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In February 2021, Lyon took his 600th first-class wicket. This happened during the 2020–21 Sheffield Shield season.
In August 2023, the Melbourne Renegades signed Lyon for three years. He started playing for them in the 2023/24 Big Bash League season. In November 2023, Lancashire County Cricket Club also signed Lyon for their 2024 season.
Nathan Lyon's International Cricket Career
On 26 July 2011, Lyon was picked for the Australian Test team. This was for a tour to Sri Lanka. He made his Test debut against Sri Lanka on 31 August 2011. Greg Chappell gave him his special Baggy Green cap.
Lyon took his first Test wicket with his very first ball on 1 September 2011. He dismissed Kumar Sangakkara. This made him the third Australian to take a wicket with their first ball in Test cricket. He ended his first innings with 5 wickets for 34 runs. This was a great start to his Test career.
In November 2011, Lyon became one of only seven number 11 batsmen to score the most runs for his team in an innings. He scored 14 runs in a match against South Africa. In December 2011, Lyon played his first Test in Australia. He took 7 wickets in the match, which was a record for an Australian off-spinner at that ground.
In 2013, Lyon was chosen as the only spinner for the 2013 Ashes series. However, he was replaced by Ashton Agar for the first match. Lyon returned for later matches. On 28 December 2013, Lyon took his 100th Test wicket. He also took his first five-wicket haul in Australia. He was only the sixth Australian off-spinner to reach 100 Test wickets.
On 13 December 2014, Lyon was named man of the match. This was in a Test against India. He took 12 wickets in that match. This game was played shortly after the death of Phillip Hughes. After taking the final wicket, Lyon knelt and patted Hughes's Test number, 408, which was painted on the field.
In June 2015, Lyon took his 142nd Test wicket. This made him the most successful Australian off-spinner ever, passing Hugh Trumble.
Lyon made his Twenty20 International debut for Australia in January 2016. On 28 July 2016, he became the first Australian off-spinner to take 200 Test wickets. This happened against Sri Lanka. During a 2016 series, the phrase "Nice, Garry!" became popular. Wicketkeeper Matthew Wade often yelled it after Lyon bowled. This made Lyon a fan favorite.
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On 4 March 2017, Lyon took 8 wickets for 50 runs against India. These were the best figures ever by a visiting bowler in India. In September 2017, Lyon took 13 wickets in a match against Bangladesh. These were the best figures ever by an Australian bowler in Asia. He also took the most wickets in a two-Test series by an Australian bowler (22).
Lyon took his 300th Test wicket in March 2018 against South Africa. In April 2018, Cricket Australia gave him a national contract. Lyon was the highest wicket-taker in the India–Australia Test series, with 21 wickets.
Lyon won the Men's Test Player of the Year award in 2019. In April 2019, he was chosen for Australia's 2019 Cricket World Cup squad. He was also in the squad for the 2019 Ashes series in England. In the first Ashes Test, his 9 wickets helped Australia win. Australia went on to keep The Ashes for the first time in 18 years.
In November 2019, Lyon took seven wickets against Pakistan. He also took 20 wickets in a series against New Zealand. This included 10 wickets in the New Year's Test in Sydney.
On 11 December 2021, Lyon took his 400th Test wicket. This happened during the 2021–22 Ashes series. On 2 March 2023, Lyon became the highest wicket-taker in the Border–Gavaskar Trophy. He took 11 wickets in a match against India, earning him player of the match. He also broke the record for most wickets taken by an overseas bowler in India.
In the 2023 ICC World Test Championship Final, Lyon helped Australia win against India. He took 5 wickets in the match.
In the first Test of the 2023 Ashes series, Lyon took 8 wickets. He also helped Australia win by batting with Pat Cummins at the end of the match. In the second Test, Lyon became the first specialist bowler to play 100 consecutive Test matches. This streak lasted for a decade. He took his 496th Test wicket but then got a calf injury. Even with his injury, Lyon bravely came out to bat. He received a standing ovation for his courage. The injury meant he missed the rest of the series.
Lyon returned to Test cricket in December 2023 against Pakistan. He took his 500th Test wicket by dismissing Faheem Ashraf. Just two balls later, he got his 501st wicket. He finished the match with five wickets, helping Australia win.
Nathan Lyon played in the 2024–25 Border–Gavaskar Trophy.
Nathan Lyon's Personal Life
Lyon has two children with his former partner, Mel Waring. He married Emma McCarthy in July 2022.
His older brother, Brendan, helps him with his batting skills. Lyon supports the Canberra Raiders rugby league team.
Awards and Achievements
- 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
See also
- List of international cricket five-wicket hauls by Nathan Lyon
