James Anderson became the third bowler in the rich history of Test cricket to attain 700 wickets, with only spinners Muthiah Muralidaran (800) and Shane Warne (708) ahead of him in the all-time list.
Anderson kicked off the Dharamsala Test on 698 wickets and moved to 699 shortly after lunch on day two, when he bowled Shubman Gill through the gate for 110. The eagerly-awaited landmark moment came in the fourth over of the third morning, as Anderson drew an edge from Kuldeep Yadav for 30, helping his team bowl India out for 477. As a result, the hosts secured a significant 259-run first-innings lead.
Anderson is almost 100 wickets clear of the next most-prolific seamer in Test history, his partner-in-crime Stuart Broad, who retired at the end of last summer’s Ashes with 604 scalps to his name. Former Test captain Alastair Cook paid a glowing tribute to Anderson’s skill and longevity.
“It is a superb achievement,” Cook said, having captained Anderson in 49 of his Test appearances. “His hunger to get better and win games of cricket for England is unbelievable. The physical challenges he has overcome to be able to play nearly 190 Test matches is a joke and his skill is a joke.”
JIMMY ANDERSON'S 7⃣0⃣0⃣TH TEST WICKET 🏏
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 🐐👏#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/NdOnLyEhoV
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) March 9, 2024
