James Anderson became only the third bowler in the history of cricket to go past 700 Test scalps, behind only Muthiah Muralidaran (800) and Shane Warne (708). Anderson claimed his 700th by dismissing India’s Kuldeep Yadav in Dharamsala on the morning of Day 3 of the fifth and final Test of the ICC World Test Championship series.
The fast bowler began the Test on 698 wickets and moved to 699 when he bowled the centurion Shubman Gill with some beautiful reverse swing. He had to patiently wait for his milestone moment while spinners dominated the proceedings for the remainder of Day 2. The following day, he reached his 700th wicket by dismissing Kuldeep, caught behind for 30.
His first Test wicket came in 2003 against Zimbabwe at Lord’s where he picked a five-wicket haul to mark the beginning of his Test career. Anderson took another 184 Tests to enter the 700-club as the only pacer at the age of 41.
In his nearly 21-year-long career, Anderson continues to put distance between himself and others. Nathon Lyon, currently with 517 wickets, is the second-leading wicket-taker among active players.
Anderson is now not too far away from overtaking the No.2 placed Shane Warne in the most wickets in Tests list. England were bowled out for 218 after electing to bat on the opening day of the Test. Kuldeep led the attack with a five-wicket haul while R Ashwin, playing in his 100th Test, contributed with four.
The hosts responded strongly with the bat as skipper Rohit Sharma and Gill stitched a 171-run second-wicket partnership. Both the batters brought up their hundreds before the England skipper Ben Stokes, who returned to bowling for the first time in a long time, had Rohit clean bowled.
Gill was the next Indian batter to fall, becoming Anderson’s 699th Test wicket. India went to stumps on 473/8, with a lead of 255. On Day 3, England swiftly bowled India out for 477. Anderson claimed the first wicket of the day, while Shoaib Bashir concluded the innings, achieving a five-wicket haul in the process.
Most wickets in Test cricket:
800 – Muttiah Muralitharan
708 – Shane Warne
700* – James Anderson
619 – Anil Kumble
604 – Stuart Broad
