England bowler Jimmy Anderson has become the first seamer to reach the 700 wicket milestone.
The 41-year-old fast bowler delivered a right-handed off stump ball to India’s Kuldeep Yadav who edged it into the comfortable gloves of wicketkeeper Ben Foakes.
Anderson was embraced by his teammates as the crowd applauded the achievement on day three of the fifth Test in Dharamshala.
He raised the ball to the fans in celebration. There wasn’t much else for England to celebrate – they lost the Test match by an innings and 64 runs inside three days, giving India the series 4-1.
The Burnley man joined cricketing legends to have notched 700 – former Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and the late Australia leg-break bowler Shane Warne (708).
Anderson closed in on the landmark on day two when he bowled out Shubman Gill, taking his total to 699.
The other fast bowler to have surpassed 600 wickets is England’s Stuart Broad at 604, and India’s Anil Kumble – a spin specialist – who is also on the prestigious list on 619.
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Anderson has been most prolific at home, taking 434 of 700 wickets, with 266 coming overseas.
He’s taken 149 against India, 117 against Australia, and 103 facing South Africa.
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Anderson made his debut in 2003 against Zimbabwe at Lords, and Mark Vermeulen was his first victim, and not the last.
In his 22-year career, Anderson’s right arm has launched him beyond the greats of Ian Botham and, in 2018, Australian Glenn McGrath.
His future was in speculation when he, and teammate Broad, were left out from the West Indies tour in 2022 but they were both recalled later that year.
