Congratulations to Nathan Lyon for joining the 500 wicket spinners club - a special group reserved for the greats of the game - Warney, Murali & Kumble & one of only 8 bowlers in Test history to reach the milestone. Growing up in Young, a 4 hour drive from Sydney, Lyon was thrown into the cricketing deep end and recalls his baptism of fire fondly:

“I was a pretty tiny fella growing up and I was also playing A-Grade at the age of 12 and that was against men. And they didn’t hold back at all. That was the deal. I was there to compete, like anyone else,” Lyon said.

"You learn a lot quicker as a country kid, I dare say. It was pretty amazing."

His dream of playing for Australia looked all but gone as he worked hard as a groundsman at the Adelaide Oval, having moved to South Australia for opportunity.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/505/patrick-skene/blog/1836/congratulations-to-nathan-lyon-for-joining-the-500-wicket-spinners-club