### Nathan Lyon's Spin Magic Puts Australia on the Brink of Ashes Victory Australia's Nathan Lyon delivered a stunning performance on the fourth day of the third Test against England in Adelaide, significantly enhancing Australia's chances of clinching the Ashes series. With his exceptional spin bowling, Lyon dismissed key English players, including captain Ben Stokes and leading scorer Zak Crawley, leaving England struggling at 207-6 while chasing a daunting target of 435 runs to keep the series alive. This match marks a critical juncture in the Ashes, with Australia poised to secure a 3-0 lead in the five-match series if they can claim four more wickets [https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lyon-puts-australia-brink-ashes-071404434.html][https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/12040/13485824/the-ashes-england-suffer-late-collapse-at-hands-of-nathan-lyon-as-australia-set-tourists-test-record-target-in-adelaide]. ### Breakdown of the Ashes Test Situation 1. **Current Match Status**: - Australia has set a record target of 435 runs for England. - England is currently at 207-6, needing 228 more runs to win [https://www.smdailyjournal.com/sports/nathan-lyon-picks-off-three-key-wickets-to-set-australia-on-course-for-ashes-series/article_5e1f0379-23bd-5211-859f-7cb96f3fa307.html]. 2. **Lyon's Impact**: - Nathan Lyon took three crucial wickets in a single session, dismissing Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, and Zak Crawley [https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/sports-games/3737131-nathan-lyons-lethal-spin-dents-englands-ashes-hopes]. - His performance has been pivotal in breaking England's resistance and shifting the momentum firmly in Australia's favor [https://www.crictips.com/news/lyon-spins-australia-to-brink-of-ashes-glory-198940]. 3. **Historical Context**: - Lyon's recent achievements include surpassing Glenn McGrath to become Australia's second-highest wicket-taker in Test history, now with 564 wickets [https://www.yardbarker.com/cricket/articles/nathan_lyon_surpasses_mcgrath_in_historic_test_milestone/s1_17729_43220501]. - This milestone adds to the narrative of his dominance in the Ashes series, where he has consistently performed against England [https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/cricket/2025/dec/18/australias-lyon-surpasses-mcgrath-on-all-time-wicket-taker-list]. ### Evidence of Lyon's Dominance and Match Dynamics - **Key Statistics**: - Lyon's three wickets on day four reduced England from a promising position to a precarious one, with their score plummeting from 194-3 to 207-6 [https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/ashes-2025-26-pretty-humbling-nathan-lyon-proud-after-surpassing-glenn-mcgrath-in-list-of-highest-wicket-takers-for-australia]. - England's collapse included losing three wickets for just 17 runs, showcasing the effectiveness of Lyon's bowling strategy [https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/12040/13485824/the-ashes-england-suffer-late-collapse-at-hands-of-nathan-lyon-as-australia-set-tourists-test-record-target-in-adelaide]. ### Conclusion: Australia Poised for Ashes Glory In summary, Nathan Lyon's exceptional bowling has placed Australia in a commanding position to win the Ashes series. The combination of his record-breaking achievements and critical wickets taken during this Test has not only bolstered Australia's chances but also highlighted his importance in the team's success. 1. **Current Score**: England 207-6, chasing 435. 2. **Lyon's Key Wickets**: Brook, Stokes, Crawley. 3. **Historical Milestone**: Surpassed McGrath, now second in Australian Test wicket-takers. With just four wickets needed for victory, Australia stands on the brink of securing a significant series win, further solidifying their dominance in the Ashes [https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lyon-puts-australia-brink-ashes-071404434.html][https://www.crictips.com/news/lyon-spins-australia-to-brink-of-ashes-glory-198940].