Nathan Lyon joins 400-club

3 The number of Australian bowlers to claim 400 or more wickets in Test match cricket. In the Brisbane Test, Nathan Lyon became the latest Aussie bowler to join this elite list after Shane Warne (708) and Glenn McGrath (563). Lyon, meanwhile, became the fourth off-spinner to claim 400 or more wickets in Tests.

Most wickets by off-spinners in Test cricket

Nathan Lyon’s Test wicket landmarks

Note: Nathan Lyon claimed Sangakkara off his very first ball in Test cricket!

7 The number of players to register over 1000 runs, 400 wickets and 50 catches in Test cricket history. Nathan Lyon is the latest to join this exclusive list that has two Indians, two Australians and one each from Sri Lanka, South Africa and England.

Players with 1000 runs, 400 wickets and fifty catches in Test cricket

4 The number of occasions a wicket fell off the very first ball of an Ashes Test match. Australian Mitchell Starc, in the recent Test at the Gabba in Brisbane, became the latest bowler to get into this exclusive list, when he claimed the wicket of England's Rory Burns. Incidentally, it was only the second instance that a wicket fell off the very first ball of an Ashes series. The only other occasion came when Aussie paceman Ernie McCormick claimed the wicket of England opener Stan Worthington also at the Gabba on December 4, 1936. Interestingly, just as the 2021 Ashes match was the debut Test as captain for Pat Cummins, the 1936 match was the first for Don Bradman as captain. However, Cummins' landmark Test as skipper ended in a win for Australia, while Bradman wasn't that lucky.

A wicket off the first ball of an Ashes Test match

Note: Bardsley was the Aussie captain

+ First ball of the Ashes series

85 The number of balls taken by Travis Head to reach his maiden Ashes Test century in Brisbane. This is now the joint third-fastest individual century in Ashes history and the joint second-fastest by an Aussie batter.

Quickest to reach an individual century in Ashes history

1 The number of batters to register 1500 runs or more in a calendar year for England. Joe Root, in the second innings in Brisbane, became the first Englishman to do so. Prior to Root's effort, Michael Vaughan, in 2002, had made 1481 runs. Root, meanwhile, also became only the fourth Test captain to aggregate 1500 runs or more in a calendar year.

Most Test runs in a calendar year for England

Most Test runs in a calendar year by captains

7 The number of wickets claimed by Pat Cummins in his first Test match as the Australian captain. His match figures are the best by an Aussie bowler in his first Test as captain. He had claimed a five-wicket haul in the first innings of the Brisbane Test match, the second-best figures for an Aussie bowler in his first Test as captain.

Best innings bowling figures by an Australian in his maiden Test as captain

Note: Giffen’s figures came in the second innings. However, he did not bowl in the first.

Best match bowling figures by an Australian in his maiden Test as captain

8 The number of catches pouched by Aussie keeper Alex Carey in his debut Test match in Brisbane. This is now the most number of catches taken by any player in his debut Test match. Two other wicketkeepers have had eight dismissals on debut, but their tally included one stumping. Meanwhile, Carey also topped the list of wicketkeepers with most catches against England in Test matches.

Most dismissals by a wicketkeeper on Test debut

Most dismissals by a wicketkeeper on Test debut against England

All records are updated and correct as of December 15, 2021