James Anderson made history on Saturday, becoming only the third bowler in Test cricket to achieve the remarkable feat of 700 wickets. The England pacer achieved this milestone during the fifth Test match against India in Dharamsala.
Anderson, who started the match with 698 wickets, reached the milestone by dismissing Shubman Gill and Kuldeep Yadav during India’s first innings. This achievement further cements his place as one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of the game.
Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka and Shane Warne of Australia are the only other bowlers who have crossed the 700-wicket mark in Test cricket, with Muralitharan leading the charts with 800 wickets and Warne following with 708.
James Anderson closing in on Warne
| Player | Wickets |
|---|---|
| Muttiah Muralitharan | 800 |
| Shane Warne | 708 |
| James Anderson | 700* |
| Anil Kumble | 619 |
| Stuart Broad | 604 |
The 39-year-old Anderson already holds the record for the most Test wickets by a fast bowler, surpassing Glenn McGrath’s tally of 563 wickets during a Test match against India at The Oval in 2018.
In addition to his individual achievements, Anderson also holds the record for the most Test wickets for England, surpassing former teammate Stuart Broad’s tally of 604 wickets. He is followed by Ian Botham (383), Bob Willis (325), and Fred Trueman (307).
Here’s a table showing the bowlers with the most Test wickets for England:
| Player | Wickets |
|---|---|
| James Anderson | 700* |
| Stuart Broad | 604 |
| Ian Botham | 383 |
| Bob Willis | 325 |
| Fred Trueman | 307 |
Anderson’s accomplishment is a testament to his skill, longevity, and dedication to the game. His ability to adapt to different conditions and consistently deliver top performances has made him a legend of the sport.
The cricketing world congratulates James Anderson on this historic achievement and looks forward to seeing him continue to excel on the field.
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