History-making Nathan Lyon overtakes Shane Warne as Aussies strangle West Indies in Adelaide
Nathan Lyon was an Adelaide Oval groundsman before ditching the roller and donning a baggy green.
So it was fitting that the veteran Australian off-spinner became Adelaide Oval's highest Test wicket-taker on Friday.
When Lyon removed West Indian Jermaine Blackwood caught and bowled during the night session of day two, he surpassed Shane Warne as the highest Test wicket-taker at the South Australian venue.
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Lyon captured his 57th scalp from 12 Tests at Adelaide Oval — a record that compares impressively to Warne's 56 wickets from 13 matches.
"He's a great athlete," said Australian teammate Michael Neser in a Fox Cricket interview at stumps.
"He's been performing for many years now so it's great to see him getting milestones.
"I'm sure he has many more years left in him."
Nathan Lyon surpassed Shane Warne as Adelaide Oval's highest Test wicket-taker on day two of the second Test between Australia and the West Indies. Matt King/Getty Images
While the West Indies had failed to take a wicket in the night session on day one, the Australians were dangerous with the pink ball under lights, reducing the tourists to 4-102 by stumps.
Neser, who'd been called into the Australian XI after Josh Hazlewood suffered a side strain, dismissed captain Kraigg Brathwaite for 19 runs and first drop Shamarh Brooks for eight.
Lyon then removed Blackwood for three, before Australia's fruitful night-time spurt was rounded out by Cameron Green bowling Devon Thomas for 19.
Australia's terrific work with the ball followed the decision by stand-in captain Steve Smith to declare on 7-511 after 137 overs.
In a rare crushing moment for the Australians, hometown hero Travis Head fell short of notching a double century when he was run out for 175.
After Green turned a Roston Chase ball off his hip, the Australian batters got in a muddle as they took off for a second run.
Head did his best to return to his crease when they gave up on attempting a second run, but gloveman Joshua Da Silva caught the left-hander out by the slimmest of margins.
Head was infuriated as he lumbered from the field, lamenting what Mark Waugh labelled a "complete mix-up" on the Fox Cricket coverage.
But he'd made 175 from 219 and struck 20 fours on the way.
Carving out the highest score of his Test career yet was an ideal way to bury the devastation of Perth, where he chopped on for 99.
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