how many wickets does nathan lyon have

Quick Scoop

Nathan Lyon, Australia's legendary off-spinner, has amassed 564 Test wickets as of December 2025, making him the second-highest wicket-taker in Australian Test cricket history, surpassing Glenn McGrath's 563 wickets. He achieved this milestone during the third Ashes Test in Adelaide when he dismissed Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett, cementing his legacy as one of the game's finest spinners.

Career Achievements

Lyon's remarkable journey began in 2011, and he has since become a mainstay in Australia's red-ball cricket setup. His 564 wickets place him sixth on the all-time Test wicket-takers list globally , trailing only the legendary Shane Warne (708 wickets) among Australian bowlers. The 38-year-old surpassed Hugh Trumble's tally of 141 wickets back in 2015 to become Australia's most successful Test off-spinner, and he hasn't looked back since.

In limited-overs cricket, Lyon has taken 29 ODI wickets from 29 matches with a best bowling figure of 4/44, though his primary focus has always been Test cricket where he truly excels. He's also played 2 T20 Internationals, claiming just 1 wicket.

Historic Moments

Lyon's career has been filled with memorable performances that have shaped Test cricket history:

  • Border-Gavaskar Trophy record : On March 2, 2023, Lyon became the highest wicket-taker in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with 112 wickets, finishing the third Test in Indore with extraordinary match figures of 11/99
  • Record in India : During the 2023 series against India, Lyon broke the record for most wickets taken by an overseas bowler in India, surpassing Derek Underwood by claiming his 56th wicket in the country
  • 2023 Ashes heroics : Beyond his bowling, Lyon showcased his batting resilience at Edgbaston, scoring 16 not out and forming a crucial 55-run partnership with Pat Cummins to help Australia achieve an unlikely two-wicket victory

Test Cricket Statistics

Lyon has appeared in 141 Test matches , bowling an astonishing 5,805.2 overs with a bowling average of 30.16. His best bowling figures in an innings stand at 8/50, and he has achieved 24 five-wicket hauls throughout his career. These numbers reflect his consistency and longevity at the highest level of cricket, with an economy rate of 2.95 runs per over.

TLDR : Nathan Lyon has 564 Test wickets (2nd all-time for Australia, 6th globally), 29 ODI wickets, and 1 T20I wicket as of December 2025. He surpassed Glenn McGrath during the 2025 Ashes series and holds multiple records including most wickets in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and most wickets by an overseas bowler in India. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.