James Anderson scripted history on Saturday as he became the first pacer in the 147 years of Test cricket to claim 700 Test wickets.
On Day 3 of the ongoing fifth and final Test against India at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, Anderson dismissed Kuldeep Yadav to reach the milestone.
Starting the fifth Test with 698 wickets to his name, Anderson faced a challenging start with the ball in Dharamsala, especially against Shubman Gill’s impressive batting display. However, the veteran pacer eventually managed to dismiss the Indian youngster, securing his 699th wicket in Test cricket.
Anderson, who debuted in Test cricket in 2003, now stands alongside legends like Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne in the exclusive club of players who have secured 700 wickets in the longest format of the game.
Anderson reached the milestone in just 187 Tests, averaging 26.52. The England seamer has accumulated 434 wickets in matches played at home and 266 wickets in overseas fixtures.
James Anderson is now just nine wickets away from surpassing Australia’s veteran leg-spinner Shane Warne, who claimed a total of 708 wickets in his remarkable Test career.
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Overall, Anderson, 41, has played 194 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) for England between 2002 and 2015 picking 269 wickets. He scalped 19 wickets in 18 T20 internationals (T20Is).
Meanwhile, India further solidified their position over England in the final Test. The hosts have amassed a commanding lead of 259 runs as they aim to seal the series with a 4-1 victory. After Kuldeep departed, his overnight batting partner Jasprit Bumrah couldn’t prolong his innings. Bumrah became a victim of Shoaib Bashir’s bowling prowess, which marked the latter’s fifth wicket (5/173). With that, India concluded their innings at 477 in response to England’s 218.
Although India has already sealed the series however, the ongoing Dharamsala Test holds great significance as it is a part of the World Test Championship (WTC). A win in this final affair will bolster the hosts’ position in the WTC points-table.
