Mark Taylor Expects Nathan Lyon to Continue Test Cricket into His 40s

Mark Taylor believes Nathan Lyon’s passion for the game may see him continue playing Test cricket into his 40s, following the off-spinner’s historic 500-wicket milestone.

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Former Australia captain Mark Taylor expresses confidence in veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon’s ability to continue playing Test cricket well into his 40s. Lyon recently achieved a significant milestone during the first Test at Perth against Pakistan, becoming the third Australian and eighth bowler overall to claim over 500 Test wickets.

Mark Taylor, sharing his thoughts with Wide World of Sports, stated, “That wouldn’t surprise me to be 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,” added Taylor.

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Lyon, who made his Test debut in 2011, has expressed his desire to continue playing until the 2027 Ashes in England when he will be 39 years old. With 501 wickets in 123 games, he currently ranks eighth on the all-time list of most Test wickets, standing behind cricket legends such as Muthiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, James Anderson, Anil Kumble, Stuart Broad, Glenn McGrath, and Courtney Walsh.

On the topic of Lyon’s place in cricket history, Taylor cautioned against direct comparisons across eras, considering the different playing conditions and schedules. “I don’t like ranking guys over the history of the game because it’s too far,” commented Taylor.

The second Test between Australia and Pakistan is set to commence on December 26, the Boxing Day, at the MCG. Australia leads the three-game series 1-0 after a convincing 360-run victory over Pakistan in the series opener at Perth.

IANS