The journey of a Grounds man to 'Nice Garry': Part 3

tarpan (72)modCR bangladeshin Cric-World 🏏 • 4 years ago

Let's start with a little flashback. The domestic season was over. Greg Chappell, the chief selector for the series of Sri Lanka tour, included Lyon in Australia's ' A' team for the tour of the tri-nation series Zimbabwe. Nathan Lyon took 11 wickets in that tri-nation series in Zimbabwe. He was selected for the upcoming Sri-Lanka tour. A total of four Sheffield Shield matches in Lyon's first-class cricket match experience before getting a place in the national team. Considering the cultural history of Australian cricket which is kind of unbelievable!

_{Nathan Lyon of Australia raises the ball aloft after claiming his fifth wicket of the innings}

Lyon made his Test debut on 31 August 2011 against Sri Lanka in Gale. Australia spent the first day batting in the first innings. Lyon did not the chance to bowl the ball that day. On September 1, 2011, Nathan Lyon bowled for the first time in his career. Lyon was a little nervous. After all, he was overwhelmed with joy when he got his first tracksuit that day! Because he would be going to play his first ball in the international match. It is normal to be surrounded by excitement!

_{The Australian team congratulate Nathan Lyon of Australia after Michael Hussey of Australia caught Thilan Samaraweera of Sri Lanka}

Maybe there would be a normal off-break delivery - the batsman would defend, or leave in a defensive mood. What more can anyone expect! Lyon bowled his first delivery. But luck smiled at him again, Out! Batsman, Kumar Sangakkara! He got his first wicket and he is the legendary batsman Kumar Sangakkara.

_{Nathan Lyon of Australia appeals during day three of the Third Test match between Australia and Sri Lanka}

First wicket in the first bowl! Lyon brought the story of imagination to reality by making it an illusion! But the reality was like a dream for him at that time! He wrote his name on the historical statistics page. The history is written as the third Australian bowler and the 17th bowler to take the first wicket in the first bowl of the first Test cricket match. Lyon's bowling figure in the first innings was 5/34. Nathan Lyon was the 131st bowler to take five wickets in his debut, and the 15th Australian bowler to took a 'caught and bold' wicket at the end of the innings.