The rivalry between Joe Root and Nathan Lyon has been a key feature of modern Test cricket, especially in the Ashes. Root, one of England’s finest batters, has often found himself up against Lyon, Australia’s top off-spinner known for his accuracy and bounce.
Their head-to-head contest began in 2013 and has continued across multiple series. Lyon has dismissed Root 8 times in Tests, but Root has also scored over 400 runs off him, showing the back-and-forth nature of their battle.
In this article, we break down their head-to-head stats across formats and look at how their contest has unfolded year by year.
Joe Root vs Nathan Lyon Head-to-Head Stats Summary
Across both Tests and ODIs, Joe Root has scored a total of 447 runs from 846 balls, with 8 dismissals. He has faced 566 dot balls, hit 34 fours and 4 sixes, averaging 55.9 overall with a strike rate of 54.9 against Nathan Lyon.
Format | Runs | Balls | Outs | Dots | 4s/6s | Avg | SR |
Tests | 439 | 841 | 8 | 566 | 33/4 | 52.2 | 54.9 |
ODIs | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1/0 | - | 160.0 |
Total | 447 | 846 | 8 | 566 | 34/4 | - | - |
Joe Root vs Nathan Lyon: Year-by-Year Head to Head Stats in Tests
Joe Root has scored 439 runs off 841 balls against Nathan Lyon in Tests. Lyon has dismissed him 8 times in this format. Root has played 566 dot balls, hit 33 fours and 4 sixes. He averages 52.2 against Lyon in Tests, with a strike rate of 54.9.
Year | Runs | Balls | Outs | Dots | 4s | 6s | Avg | SR |
2013 | 62 | 140 | 3 | 108 | 7 | 0 | 20.7 | 44.3 |
2015 | 83 | 111 | 0 | 63 | 5 | 2 | 74.8 | |
2017 | 47 | 97 | 1 | 64 | 4 | 0 | 47.0 | 48.5 |
2018 | 46 | 102 | 0 | 69 | 0 | 0 | 45.1 | |
2019 | 84 | 208 | 3 | 154 | 8 | 0 | 28.0 | 40.4 |
2021 | 63 | 104 | 0 | 64 | 7 | 0 | 60.6 | |
2022 | 3 | 16 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 18.8 | |
2023 | 51 | 63 | 1 | 31 | 2 | 2 | 51.0 | 81.0 |
Joe Root vs Nathan Lyon: Year-by-Year Head to Head Stats in ODIs
In One Day Internationals, Root has scored 8 runs from just 5 balls against Lyon, with no dismissals. He has hit 1 four, and his strike rate in ODIs against Lyon stands at a high 160.0.
Verdict: Who Has the Edge?
Nathan Lyon holds a slight edge in this battle. While Joe Root has scored 447 runs against him, Lyon has dismissed him 8 times in Tests — a key stat in their long rivalry. Root has handled him well overall, averaging over 52, but Lyon’s knack for breaking through in crucial moments gives the Aussie spinner a narrow advantage.
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