why is nathan lyons nickname gary

Nathan Lyon’s nickname “Garry/Gary” comes from a light‑hearted reference to former Australian Rules football star Garry Lyon, who shares his surname.

Quick Scoop

• Teammates started calling Nathan Lyon “Garry” during the 2016 South Africa tour because his last name is the same as AFL great Garry Lyon.

• Wicketkeeper Matthew Wade really made it stick by shouting “Nice, Garry!” after Lyon’s deliveries, and the phrase caught on with crowds and TV audiences.

• The nickname is classic Aussie dressing‑room humour: giving someone the name of a better‑known sportsman with the same surname.

Why people say “Nice Garry”

• During Tests, Wade repeatedly yelled “Nice, Garry!” every time Lyon bowled, turning it into a catchphrase that fans began to chant in stadiums and online.

• Clips of this went viral, so many casual viewers only encountered Lyon as “Garry/Gary,” assuming it was his real or main name.

Spelling: Garry vs Gary

• The AFL footballer’s name is Garry (with two r’s), so technically the nickname refers to “Garry.”

• Online searches and forum posts often write it as “Gary,” which is why both versions appear in memes and discussions.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.