Nathan Lyon made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in Galle back in September 2011.
As he was called upon to bowl, then-captain Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey approached him, offering three crucial pieces of advice that have stayed with him throughout his career.
With this guidance in mind, he memorably took the wicket of Kumar Sangakkara, the top-ranked Test batsman at that time, with his very first delivery.
On Saturday afternoon at that same venue, he achieved a significant milestone by dismissing Dinesh Chandimal, brilliantly caught by a diving Beau Webster, making him the third Australian to reach 550 Test wickets, following in the footsteps of Shane Warne (708) and Glenn McGrath (563).
“It’s something I’m incredibly proud of,” Lyon remarked following the day’s play.
Nathan Lyon celebrates after taking his 550th Test wicket, dismissing Dinesh Chandimal. AP
“Achieving this here at Galle, a place that holds significant memories for me and my career, makes it even more special.
“Reflecting on my debut, I was quite inexperienced and uncertain in what to do.
“I distinctly remember Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey advising me to ‘enjoy yourself, trust your abilities, and bowl your best deliveries’.
“These three pieces of wisdom have been fundamental for me throughout my career, and I plan to stick to them until the day I retire – which, thankfully, is still some time away.
“I’ll continue to embrace the game, keep trusting my skills, and aim to deliver my best balls as we move forward.”
The Australians need to capture two more Sri Lankan wickets on day four before setting out to chase what is expected to be a modest target to secure a comprehensive series victory.
A young Nathan Lyon and Ricky Ponting in 2011. Getty
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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