Nathan Lyon close to Richie Benaud's record

Tomorrow Australia will take on Bangladesh in the first match of the 2 match Test series. The hosts have improved a lot over the last 2-3 years and this series is expected to be closely fought. Australia will have their task cut-out if they want to do well in Bangladesh. The visitors would need contributions from their spinners, especially from the leader of the spin attack – Nathan Lyon.

Nathan Lyon close to record

Nathan Lyon is the No. 1 Australian spinner for quite some time now and he is now very close to achieving a personal milestone. The off-spinner is only 2 wickets short of becoming second-best spinner in Australian history. Currently, Richie Benaud is in the second position having taken 248 wickets in his Test career.

Nathan Lyon has taken 247 wickets in his career and is expected to surpass Richie Benaud’s record in the upcoming series. While coming close to Shane Warne’s record of 708 wickets seems very unlikely, it will be a great achievement for a spinner who hasn’t got many plaudits from critics or spectators.

After underwhelming performances in the tour of Sri Lanka last year, Lyon’s place in the team was a matter of debate. But he worked on his technique and did brilliantly on the tour to India taking 19 wickets in the 4-match series.

Lyon more focussed on contributing to team

Nathan Lyon said that he will think about records only after retiring from the game. He added that rather than thinking about the milestones, he is more focussed on helping his nation to a series win.

“It’ll be nice but I’ve always said from day one … at the end of my career, I’ll look back and see where I get to.But I’m not here to make milestones, I’m here to win series and games of cricket for Australia.” Lyon said as quoted by the SBS

Lyon recalled his meeting with Richie Benaud and said he feels lucky to have met a legend like him. He added that Benaud was very humble to him.

“I was a long way off him then – I don’t think he ever thought I’d get there,He was just a nice, humble guy.Obviously he was an Australian cricket legend. He was someone very special to the Australian cricket team.” Nathan Lyon recalled