Legendary Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath delivered a priceless reaction after Nathan Lyon surpassed him on one of Test cricket’s most elite lists on Thursday. The veteran off-spinner moved past McGrath to claim sixth place on the all-time Test wicket-takers’ chart during Day 2 of the third Ashes Test against England.

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Lyon reached the milestone by dismissing Ollie Pope with his third ball of the day and removing Ben Duckett just three deliveries later, taking his career tally to 564 wickets and overtaking McGrath’s long-standing mark of 563. In doing so, Lyon also cemented his status as Australia’s second-highest Test wicket-taker, behind only the great Shane Warne, who finished with 708 scalps.

Glenn McGrath’s viral moment, Archer’s fifer and a swinging Ashes day

As Lyon scripted history, television cameras captured McGrath’s humorous response in the commentary box. In a clip that quickly went viral on social media, the former fast-bowling great jokingly pretended to throw a chair in mock frustration before bursting into laughter, drawing widespread amusement from fans.

Earlier in the day, Australia resumed at 326 for 8 and were bowled out for 371, with Jofra Archer completing an impressive five-wicket haul. Archer dismissed Mitchell Starc for a well-made 54 before removing No. 11 Lyon to finish with figures of 5 for 53. England began their reply steadily, reaching 37 without loss in the eighth over, before returning Australia captain Pat Cummins struck to remove Zak Crawley for 9—his first wicket of the series. The breakthrough sparked a collapse, with England losing three wickets in just 15 deliveries.

Lyon was introduced in the 10th over and made an immediate impact, claiming two wickets in four balls to dismiss Pope for 3 and Duckett for 29 as England slipped to 42 for 3. Pope pushed forward to a delivery that turned sharply, offering a catch to a diving Josh Inglis at midwicket, while Duckett was beaten by drift and lost his off stump on the final ball of the over.

The moment also carried historical significance, as Lyon’s first strike drew him level with McGrath’s tally before the second pushed him clear. McGrath’s light-hearted reaction in the commentary booth underscored the occasion. Only Warne now sits above Lyon on Australia’s all-time Test wicket list.

With England needing a victory in Adelaide to keep their Ashes hopes alive, the situation could have worsened. Scott Boland found an inside edge off Joe Root’s bat when the former England captain was on 1, but the on-field umpire ruled not out. The TV umpire later confirmed the decision after adjudging the ball had landed just in front of wicketkeeper Alex Carey’s gloves.

It marked a reversal of fortune for Carey, who had earlier benefited from a contentious review when on 72 before going on to score 106 on Day 1. Root survived to be unbeaten on 11 at the interval, with Harry Brook alongside him on 6.

Archer had earlier claimed the opening wicket of the Test, added two more in his first over after lunch on Wednesday, and then wrapped up Australia’s innings on Day 2. Starc, resuming unbeaten on 33, raced to his half-century with four boundaries in his first 10 balls of the morning before Archer bowled him with a delivery that angled in from around the wicket.

The final-wicket pair added 23 runs before Archer trapped Lyon lbw for 9, leaving Boland unbeaten on 14. The five-for marked Archer’s fourth in Test cricket and his third in the Ashes.

England now need to bat through the day to revive their chances in the five-Test series, with extreme heat forecast to approach 40°C, potentially working in their favour as Australia spend long hours in the field.