England pacer James Anderson achieved a Himalayan feat during the fifth Test against India on Saturday, March 9 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamsala. He became the first-ever fast bowler to pick 700 wickets in Test cricket.
James Anderson reached the landmark dismissing Kuldeep Yadav in the first innings. He bowled an away swinger to Kuldeep, who poked at the delivery. The ball took a healthy outside edge and flew towards the wicket-keeper Ben Foakes, who did the rest. Kuldeep had to walk back to the pavilion for 30 runs. The England players rushed in celebration of the 700-wicket landmark for James Anderson.
The pacer is the third overall bowler, and the first from England in the history of the sport to take 700 wickets in Test cricket. His longevity in International cricket has been commendable making his debut in Test debut in 2003. In his over two-decades-long career, the pacer has thirty-two five-wicket hauls and three ten-fors.
THE 700-PLUS CLUB
Muttiah Muralitharan – July 2007 at 35
Shane Warne – December 2006 at 37
James Anderson – March 2023 at 41
Sachin Tendulkar lauds James Anderson’s 700 Test wickets feat
Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar heaped praise on James Anderson for becoming the first pacer to take 700 wickets in Test cricket. He recalled the first time he saw the England bowler bowl in 2002. He also expressed that for a fast bowler to achieve the 700-test wickets feat is “simply magnificent”.
“The first time I saw Anderson play was in Australia in 2002, and his control over the ball looked special. Nasser Hussain spoke very highly of him back then and today, I am sure, he would say, “Maine bola tha” — that he had called it so early. 700 test wickets is a stellar achievement. A fast bowler playing for 22 years and performing so consistently to be able to take 700 wickets would have sounded like fiction until Anderson actually made it happen. Simply magnificent!,” wrote Sachin Tendulkar on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter)
The first time I saw Anderson play was in Australia in 2002, and his control over the ball looked special.
Nasser Hussain spoke very highly of him back then and today, I am sure, he would say, “Maine bola tha” — that he had called it so early. 😀
700 test wickets is a stellar… pic.twitter.com/GijfRXYvoY
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) March 9, 2024
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