Former Australia captain Mark Taylor expressed confidence that veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon could extend his Test cricket career into his 40s, suggesting it wouldn't be surprising if other players follow suit in the future.
In the first Test against Pakistan in Perth, Lyon, who made his Test debut in 2011, achieved the milestone of taking more than 500 Test wickets, becoming the third Australian and eighth overall bowler to reach this feat. Lyon has previously mentioned his desire to continue playing until the 2027 Ashes in England, even though he will be 39 by then.
Speaking to Wide World of Sports, Taylor stated, "That wouldn't surprise me, to be totally honest, because he's still very keen, and I spoke to him only recently, and he talked about maybe going back to England. That's 2027, the best part of three and a half years away. It wouldn't surprise me if he gets up towards 40 if he's still enjoying it and taking wickets. I don't see him giving it up in a hurry."
Nathan Lyon currently holds the eighth position on the all-time list of most Test wickets, with 501 wickets in 123 games, trailing behind legendary bowlers such as Muthiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, James Anderson, Anil Kumble, Stuart Broad, Glenn McGrath, and Courtney Walsh.
Reflecting on Lyon's place in cricket history, Taylor emphasized the challenges of comparing players across different eras. He noted that Lyon's achievement, though impressive, should be considered in the context of the increased number of Test matches played in the modern era.
Taylor remarked, "I don't like ranking guys over the history of the game because it's too far. Obviously, you're alluding to the fact that Warnie would be number one, but once again, Warnie was number one because, yes, he was a great spinner, but also he was able to play a lot more test matches."
The second Test between Australia and Pakistan is scheduled to begin on December 26, the Boxing Day, at the MCG. Australia currently holds a 1-0 lead in the three-game series, having defeated Pakistan by 360 runs in the series opener at Perth.
(With Agency Inputs)
