Heading into the third Test of the Ashes 2025/26, there was anticipation of veteran off-spinner, Nathan Lyon, breaking the record of the former pacer, Glenn McGrath, to become Australia’s second leading wicket-taker in Tests. And he took just six balls on the second afternoon session of the third contest at the Adelaide Oval to make the feat in his name.

Nathan Lyon now remains only behind the late great Shane Warner. He had been stuck on the 562 wickets for five months, having missed two of Australia’s last three Tests, owing to two of them being the pink-ball day-night Test in Jamaica and Brisbane when the selected opted for all-pace attacks. He had bowled only two overs in the opening Test of the series at the Optus Stadium in Perth.

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The first was a gift one when the right-handed batter, Ollie Pope, gave catching practice to the mid-wicket region to draw Lyon level with McGrath. His second was a peach as it drifted into off from around the wicket on a good length. Ben Duckettt played forward in defense, and the ball spun past the edge to hit the top of the off stump.

Nathan Lyon becomes Australia’s 2nd leading Test wicket-taker

At the point, Lyon had 564 wickets while Warne finished with 708 from 145 games. On the global all-time list, the off-spinner has now found himself in sixth position, with his next target being 600 wickets.

Watch the video here:

And with that absolute beauty, Nathan Lyon has passed Glenn McGrath for Test wickets! 564 😱#Ashes | #MilestoneMoment | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/wTofukUsYD

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 18, 2025

Lyon, in the past, has spoken about wanting to play on until at least the 2027 Ashes in the UK, and Australia will also have a bumper period of red-ball cricket at home next year onwards. Earlier in the week, Lyon was added to the Adelaide Oval’s Avenue of Honour for his 12 wickets against India in 2014.

Australia posted 371 runs in the first innings with Alex Carey smashing a fine century, followed by a half-century from Mitchell Starc. England have already lost half of their side for 132 runs, with Harry Brook being the leading run-getter of the innings with 45 runs.

Along with some of the memorable batting performances, the Ashes series has been historic thanks to some of the fiercest bowling. It’s about the moments of the game, like how you start the game, whether it’s the delivery from Steve Harmison in the second slip to start the trip or Mitchell Starc’s leg-side delivery breaking the stumps of Rory Burns around the leg. 

Over the years, several bowlers, irrespective of pacers and spinners, have provided some of the sensational bowling performances in the Ashes history. The Ashes 2025/26 series will begin on November 21 at the Optus Stadium in Perth, and before that, here is a glance at the top five best bowling performances in Ashes history.

In the list of the top five bowling performances in the Ashes history, only two spinners each from respective sides have got their chances. Jim Laker is from England who had an incredible record, while there is no race to the late great King Shane Warne. The latter was a nightmare to the England batters whether they play at home or make their trip to down under.  

Let’s take a look at the Top 5 bowling performances in history of Ashes-

1. Jim Laker (England)

The former England off-spinner, Jim Laker, was incredibly successful in his bowling against Australia in the history of the Ashes. The late spinner picked up 79 wickets in just 33 innings at an average of 18.27 and a strike rate of 50 with five five-wicket hauls and as many four-wicket hauls at the best bowling figure of 10/53.

Laker’s best bowling came in 1956 at the Old Trafford ground in Manchester, when in the first innings, he ended with magical figures of 9/37 in 16.4 overs as the visitors were bundled out for 84 with only two batters getting into the double figures. In the second innings, he collected 10/53 to build up the match figures of 19/90 to collect an innings and 170 run win.

2. Stuart Broad (England)

Australia will never forget the 2015 Ashes Test at Trent Bridge. It was one of those unique games where all the edges were nearly taken at the slip region or to the wicket-keeper. James Anderson was out of the clash due to injury, as the responsibility fell on the home boy, Stuart Broad, who ended with 8/15 in his 9.5 overs. Australia got bundled out for 60 in the first innings and couldn’t recover from that position to face a massive innings and 78-run defeat.

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Broad, who retired during the 2023 Ashes at the Kennington Oval in South London, is the third leading wicket-taker in Ashes history with 153 scalps at 28.96 in 74 innings at a strike rate of 54.44 with eight fifers in the format against Australia.

3. Glenn McGrath (Australia)

The former Australian pacer, Glenn McGrath, was known for putting in the hard yards in the same line and length in a handkerchief and continued to pick wickets or either drying up the runs at one end, which opens the gate of wickets falling from the other side. He is the second leading wicket-taker in Ashes history with 157 wickets at an average of 20.92 and a strike rate of 46, thanks to 10 fifers.

McGrath’s best bowling figures of 8/38 came at the iconic Lord’s Test in 1997. The home side was bundled out for 77 runs in 42.3 overs before Australia grabbed a massive lead of over 150 runs. However, the foul weather and improved batting from the home side in the second innings ended it as a draw.

4. Shane Warne (Australia) 

Over the years, Shane Warne has had several memorable bowling performances in the Ashes. The former late great leg spinner is the leading run-getter of the Ashes history with 195 wickets in just 72 innings at an average of 23.25 and a strike rate of 55.16, having 11 five-wicket hauls at the best bowling figures of 8/71 in an innings.

His best performance in the Ashes also came through a six-wicket haul, and that was in 1997 at Old Trafford in Manchester. In the first innings, Australia were bundled out for less than 250 as they needed an inspiring bowling performance, and Warne stood out. He finished with 6/48 in 30 overs as the tourists claimed a 268-run win.

5. Mitchell Starc (Australia) 

Heading into the opening Test of the five-match Ashes 2025/26 series, the pressure was on Australia's premier pacer, Mitchell Starc, in the opening clash at the Optus Stadium in Perth, especially in the absence of the two otehr experienced fast bowlers- Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. Moreover, England had made several headlines by their Bazball approach.

In the first innings of the contest, the left-arm pacer picked up a breath-taking 7/58 in 12.5 overs with four maidens at an economy rate of 4.5. He terrorized the visiting batters with his pace and bounce before backing it up with anoter fine spell of 3/55 runs in 12 overs at an economy rate of nearly five with one maiden. He also won the Player of the Match award in Australia's eight-wicket victory. 

Another Ashes series is knocking on the door. Before that, a few stats are necessary to watch out for. In a previous article, we discussed the top 5 all-time leading run scorers in the history of The Ashes. In this part, we will talk about the 5 best bowlers who claimed the most number of wickets between the England and Australia rivalry in the Whites. 

Needless to say, legendary bowlers like Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath are on the list of leading wicket-takers in the history of the series. While bowlers like Ian Botham and James Anderson are not among the top 5 wicket-getters. 

Top 5 wicket-takers in the history of The Ashes

In a recent video by The Fast Bowling Cartel on YouTube, Australian cricket legends Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, and Damien Fleming shared their picks for the top five Indian ODI fast bowlers. Their selections sparked lively discussions among fans, highlighting both India’s current stars and iconic figures from the past.

Glenn McGrath’s Picks

Glenn McGrath, widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time, placed Jasprit Bumrah at the top. He praised Bumrah’s unorthodox action, lethal accuracy, and ability to deliver under pressure. McGrath’s full list:

Jason Gillespie’s Picks

Jason Gillespie echoed McGrath’s admiration for Bumrah, calling him a game-changer for India. He also highlighted Shami’s wicket-taking prowess and appreciated Agarkar and Srinath for their contributions to India’s pace evolution.

Damien Fleming’s Picks

Damien Fleming also ranked Bumrah as number one and called Kapil Dev “a trailblazer for Indian fast bowling.” Fleming gave Srinath the third spot for his dominance in the 1990s and included Zaheer Khan for his swing and role in India’s 2011 World Cup triumph.

Analysis and Fan Reactions

All three legends unanimously ranked Jasprit Bumrah at the top, reflecting his unique bowling action and clutch performances. Kapil Dev consistently featured near the top, underscoring his legendary status. Mohammed Shami’s inclusion in all lists highlights his impact in contemporary cricket.

Fans were intrigued by the choices of Ajit Agarkar over Zaheer in two lists, sparking debates on social media. Meanwhile, Srinath’s presence in multiple lists serves as a reminder of India’s pace-bowling foundations in the 1990s.

This discussion celebrates India’s rich fast-bowling legacy, from Kapil Dev’s era to Bumrah’s current dominance, showcasing the rise of Indian pacers as a global force.

The former Australia fast bowler, Glenn McGrath, who is a six-time Ashes winner, has made a jaw-dropping prediction on the upcoming five-match Test series between the Arch rivals. He did so during the last series between these two teams in 2023, where the tourists retained the urn after drawing it on a 2-2 margin.

The Ben Stokes-led side, who recently drew another home red-ball series against India after the final fixture defeat at the Kennington Oval in South London, haven’t won an Ashes series since 2015, with two draws and two losses. They haven’t gained victory in an Ashes series down under since 2010-11. Many reckon that this could be the perfect time to change the record.

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“It's very rare for me to make a prediction, isn't it? And I can't make a different one - 5-0. I'm very confident with our team. When you've got Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon firing in their home conditions, it's going to be pretty tough. Plus, that track record England have had, it'd be interesting to see if they can win a Test.” Glenn McGrath expressed on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Glenn McGrath predicts 5-0 victory for Australia during Ashes 2025/26

The former pacer has concerns about the home side’s batting, especially the top three of Cameron Green, Marnus Labuschagne, and Usman Khawaja, none of whom are in good form, while questions have been raised on whether the selectors should consider Sam Konstas at the opening position. He also reckoned that the tourists would need to work on strengthening their bowling attack.

“This series will be a big one for Root. He’s never really done that well in Australia; he's not even got a 100 over there, so he'll be keen to get out there. He's in fine form. Brook's the one that I've enjoyed watching. He just goes out there, plays his game, and takes it on. The Australians will need to get on him pretty early.” The former New South Wales pacer added.

“I love seeing sportspeople go out there and play without fear. That's what Baz is looking to bring into this England team - play without fear. I'd like to see a bit more accountability and the mental side of the game, just them switched on a bit more. It's exciting.” Glenn McGrath concluded as he was in full admiration of England’s aggressive batting style.

Glenn Mcgrath the legendary fast bowler of Australia has bit of small advice to Jasprit Bumrah who is been recovering from back stress which caused in 5th test of Bgt series. Mcgrah says he has to work hard in his body off the field as his body posses more power than other bowler so he needs to find an alternative way which lower the risk on his body. 

Glenn Mcgrath was renowned fast bowler for Australia who had played 124 tests and 250 ODI matches for Australia where he has taken 563 wickets in tests and 381 wickets in ODI. He has won three world cups(1999, 2003,2007) with Australia, and he was one of the prominent and go-to bowlers at that team. That was one of Australia's dangerous team. 

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The Load Is Too Much On Him

Jasprit Bumrah has been a go-through bowler for India since his debut. He has bowled some crucial overs for Team India. Though in his initial days, he was in his learning phase which constrained some runs later with the time being he mastered his art. Mcgrath says Bumrah has found some ways to get relief from his stress but needs to work on his speed and technique.

He moves on with his own example that he had bigger fuel tank but the speed was quite lower than him. Bumrah has a vivid action which extracts more pressure on his back. He needs to adgacent his body, he knows better than us that how he feels because he is not the same as he used to be before. He has to work more harder to get into field. Because the expectation on him is so high that drives more. 

Will Bumrah Back To IPL Nearby

Bumrah suffered Back stress injury in the 5th test of Bgt series on the second day where he found some discomfort in his back and left the the field where, Australia got the target of 168 and it was chased by Australia. From there he is been on recovering phase, though at initial stage he was on the cards for Champions Trophy but later he was dropped back. 

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He is doubtful for IPL too where its been said that he will be skipping the initial stages of IPL and may get into action at the later half of the IPL but it may be subject to later things. Even Mcgrath has adviced the same to balance the work load which is done by most of the players by today. 

The ICC Champions Trophy is all set to make a comeback after a long hiatus of eight years, with things getting kickstarted in Pakistan and UAE (solely for India matches). Starting on 19 February, it will be a wholesome treat to all the cricket fanatics as they witness the best eight teams competing for the coveted title in the white-ball format of 50 overs.

Across this timeline, we have seen over seven teams winning this trophy, and it will be interesting to see who among the eight teams will emerge victorious and triumph. As it implies, some legendary bowlers have set a benchmark in how this tournament can be one of the most precious and decisive for any cricket country's timeline. That said, here we look at the top five bowlers who have scalped the most wickets across all the ICC Champions Trophy editions.

India's veteran spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, is all set to resume his international season with the upcoming home Test matches against Bangladesh. With 516 wickets in his Test career, Ashwin has his eyes set on climbing the ladder of all-time wicket-takers. As he prepares for series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia looms on the horizon, where Ashwin aims to leave an indelible mark on cricket history.

Ashwin’s record-breaking ambitions in Bangladesh and beyond

Ravichandran Ashwin, one of India's greatest spinners, has been a consistent force in Test cricket, especially at home. Since 2021, Ashwin has taken 109 wickets in home Tests, far ahead of his closest competitor, Ravindra Jadeja, who has 56 wickets. With his total of 516 wickets in Test cricket, Ashwin is currently ninth on the all-time list of wicket-takers. He is closing in on legends like Courtney Walsh (519), Nathan Lyon (530), and Glenn McGrath (563), with the real possibility of surpassing Lyon's tally in the upcoming home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand.

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Home dominance and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Ashwin is not only looking to climb the all-time wicket-takers' list but is also gunning for another milestone at home. With 363 wickets in home Tests, he is chasing Stuart Broad’s record of 398 wickets in home conditions. If Ashwin maintains his stellar form, he could surpass Broad in 2024. Ashwin's recent performance against England, where he took 26 wickets in 5 matches, shows that he is in fine touch. The upcoming matches in Bangladesh and New Zealand will serve as a precursor to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where Ashwin hopes to continue his dominance on Australian soil, where he has taken 39 wickets in 10 Tests.

With a strong support cast that includes Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Jadeja, and Axar Patel, Ashwin is poised for a stellar season ahead. The spinner is inching closer to securing his legacy as one of the greatest Test bowlers of all time, with the World Test Championship Final at Lord's as a possible crowning achievement.