List of top Australian bowlers who joined the 500 wickets club in Test Cricket

Bowling is one of the most difficult skill to perform in cricket. A sports man fight several odds to defy nature and help us see some of the best bowlers across the world. Australia has been one such nation which has consistently produced some world class bowlers in their rich cricketing history. Whether it was the fierce pace duo of Glenn McGrath and Brett lee or Lilly and Thomson in the past or the great modern trio of Mitchell Starc, Patt Cummins and Josh Hazlewood in Tests.

Their spin legacy of Australia was started by the iconic Richie Benaud which was carried forward by the magician with the ball and Australia’s highest wicket taker in tests- Shane Warne and the current leader of the Australia spin department for quite some time has been Nathan Lyon, who with his arguably the best finger spinner of the current generation.

Given the reckoning force that Australia has been over the years in world cricket, there have been many talented and iconic bowlers who have donned Australia’s jersey and etched their names in the annals of the cricketing history with their jaw-dropping performances and stellar records.

Let’s delve in the cricketing history books and explore the prestigious names from Australia’s cricket history who have breached the iconic 500-wickets mark in test history:

1) Shane Warne

The first name that comes at the top of the list is Shane Warne. He has picked up 708 wickets in the 145 test matches as he has played in his career at an average of 25.41. Shane Warne has fooled some of the biggest batters with his wrist spin and is Australia’s highest and world’s second highest wicket-taker in World cricket.

Warne supple wrists and guile has bamboozled biggest of the batters in the world and is also called the magician with the ball because of the sharp spin he used to get off-the wicket. Shane Warne is an iconic figure not only in cricket but also in the world and has contributed immensely in making Australia the champion side they were in the late 90s and early 80s where they dominated in every country and every format.

2) Glenn McGrath

McGrath held the record for the most wickets by a fast bowler in Test cricket for many years before being surpassed. His tally of 563 wickets in 124 Tests underscored his longevity and sustained excellence over a remarkable career.
Known for his impeccable control and unyielding consistency, McGrath possessed an uncanny ability to dismantle batting line-ups with surgical precision. His battles with the best batsmen of his time were a testament to his skill, determination, and mental toughness.

3) Nathan Lyon

Following an extensive quest for a consistent spinner in the period post-Shane Warne, Australia eventually discovered their answer in 2011. They turned to a groundsman-cum-off-spinner hailing from country New South Wales.
Having showcased his skills as a net bowler while serving as a curator’s assistant at the Adelaide Oval, Lyon quickly made a mark in Twenty20 cricket for South Australia. Despite having only a few first-class matches to his name, Lyon was swiftly drafted into Australia’s Test squad for the 2011 tour of Sri Lanka.
Earningly dubbed the “GOAT” (greatest of all time) by his teammates, Lyon achieved another milestone in 2017 by becoming the sixth Australian to cross the 300-wicket mark in Test cricket and is now he is only the 3rd Australian bowler to cross the 500 wickets mark in test cricket.