Nathan Lyon passes Glenn McGrath as Australia nears Ashes win

Adelaide Oval: Nathan Lyon etched his name into Australian cricket history by overtaking Glenn McGrath as the nation's second-highest Test wicket-taker, while Australia moved to the brink of retaining the Ashes with a commanding 356-run lead on day three of the third Test at Adelaide Oval.

Travis Head delivered a masterful unbeaten 142 on his home ground on Friday, combining with Alex Carey in an unbroken 122-run partnership to steer Australia to 271 for four at stumps. The home side's dominance left England facing almost certain defeat in a Test they must win to keep the five-match series alive after losing the first two matches by eight wickets each.

Lyon's Historic Milestone

The 38-year-old Lyon claimed his place in cricket lore on day two when he struck twice in his first over after being introduced into the attack. He first dismissed Ollie Pope for three, caught by Josh Inglis at midwicket, to draw level with McGrath on 563 Test wickets. Three balls later, Lyon bowled Ben Duckett for 29 with a delivery that drifted in and clipped the top of off stump, moving to 564 wickets and second place on Australia's all-time list behind Shane Warne's 708.

McGrath, commentating from the broadcast booth, responded to being surpassed with mock fury, theatrically pretending to hurl a chair before breaking into laughter. The moment quickly went viral on social media.

"I grew up idolising Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, and these guys were my childhood heroes," Lyon said after play. "To be able to take over or equal Glenn, it's pretty humbling to be honest with you, and it's something that I'll look back at the end of my career."

Lyon's achievement came in his 141st Test and positioned him sixth on the all-time Test wicket-takers list globally. He had been dropped for the second Test in Brisbane, expressing frustration at being left out.

England's Defiant Stand Crumbles

Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer staged a spirited fightback on day three morning, combining for a 106-run ninth-wicket partnership that reduced Australia's first-innings lead to 85. Stokes battled cramps and dehydration from Thursday's 40-degree heat to score 83 off 198 balls before Mitchell Starc bowled him. Archer followed with a maiden Test half-century of 51 before Scott Boland dismissed him, giving Australia a modest 85-run advantage.

But England's resistance wilted in the afternoon as Head seized control. The left-hander reached his century with a boundary off Joe Root after surviving a dropped chance on 99 by Harry Brook at gully. His fourth consecutive century at Adelaide Oval underscored Australia's stranglehold on the match.

Australia captain Pat Cummins, returning from injury, took three wickets for 69 in the first innings, while Boland finished with three for 45. With three days remaining and England needing an improbable victory, Australia appears poised to clinch the series and retain the urn won in 2021-22.