England’s Jimmy Anderson makes history by becoming the first pace bowler to reach 700 test wickets.
The 41-year-old reached his milestone in the fifth and final test at the ICC World Test Championship series against India in Dharamshala. Anderson, already the most successful fast bowler in Test cricket history had 698 wickets going into day three with England trailing the series 3-1.
His landmark moment came in the fourth over of the third day, a right-handed ball edged comfortably into the hands of wicketkeeper Ben Foakes by India’s Kuldeep Yadav was enough to claim Anderson his 700th test wicket and a standing ovation from the travelling Barmy Army.
Mobbed by his teammates, the Burnley born bowler celebrated becoming the third ever bowler to reach 700 wickets in Test Cricket, with only Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and the late Australian bowler Shane Warne (708) ahead of him.
800 wkts | |
708 wkts | |
700 wkts | |
619 wkts | |
604 wkts |
No specialist bowler has played more than Anderson’s 187 tests, he has the second most appearances in history behind Sachin Tendulkar (200).
Beginning his career nearly 21 years ago, Anderson has established himself as one of the greatest bowlers of all time with a combination of consistency, technical ability, and longevity.
He has answered the question - “will any fast bowler ever break 700 wickets”.
Anderson’s former test captain, Alastair cook, paid homage to the Lancastrian, “The physical challenges he has overcome to be able to play nearly 190 Test matches is a joke and his skill is a joke”.
England’s next big challenge comes in a year-and-a-half when they travel down under to try reclaiming the ashes for the first time since 2015. It will be interesting to see whether the record-breaking bowler will accompany the England squad or bow out with grace.
Fast bowling is physically demanding on the body and by the time the ashes roll around, Anderson will be 43-year-old.
England will have to find some young seamers who can fill the gaping hole in the squad. But for now, England celebrate Jimmy Anderson as a cricketing icon, and he doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon
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