The first Ashes Test saw a thrilling contest between Australia and England, with the visitors holding their nerve and taking a 1-0 series lead. Nathan Lyon Played an important role not only with the ball but also with the bat, especially in the second innings. The off-spinner took four wickets each in both the innings and then played a key role with the bat, scoring 16 not out in a match-winning 55-run ninth-wicket partnership with the captain. Pat Cummins,
Lyon has been a key player for Australia in red-ball cricket and not once has the player done poorly for the team. For this reason, he was never dropped from the team and this has led to a huge record in the Lord’s Test, which Lyon will apparently play for Australia. When this offie is named in the playing XI for the second Ashes Test, he will become only the seventh player in history to play 100 consecutive Test matches without being dropped or missing any matches due to injury.
Only two Australians before this – Mark Waugh and Allan Border – have achieved this feat by playing 107 and 153 consecutive Test matches respectively for Australia. Other players in this list are – Alastair Cook, Sunil Gavaskar and Brendon McCullum.
Cook tops the list by playing 159 consecutive Test matches for England, while Gavaskar, the only Indian to achieve this feat, did not miss 106 consecutive Test matches for his country. Nathan Lyon has a great chance to climb the ladder in this aspect in the near future as he will continue to perform for Australia and there is no threat to his status unless he decides to walk away from the game.
List of players with most consecutive Test appearances for a team:
Alastair Cook – 159 Tests
Allan Border – 153 Tests
Mark Waugh – 107 Tests
Sunil Gavaskar – 106 Tests
Brendon McCullum – 101 Tests
Nathan Lyon – 99* Test (before Lord’s Ashes Test)