James Anderson Becomes 1st Fast Bowler In History Of Cricket To Reach 700 Test Wickets

England's seasoned bowler, James Anderson, etches his name in the record books as the first pace bowler to claim 700 wickets in Test cricket.

James Anderson of England leaves the field after claiming his 700th test wicket during day three of the 5th Test Match between India and England at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium on March 09, 2024 in Dharamsala, India. ( Image Source :Getty )

England's pace bowler James Anderson made history by becoming the first fast bowler to reach the milestone of 700 Test wickets on March 9 (Saturday). The 41-year-old accomplished this remarkable feat on Day 3 of the ongoing 5th India vs England Test in Dharamsala. Anderson secured his 700th wicket by dismissing Kuldeep Yadav in the early morning session, thereby joining an exclusive group as only the third bowler to achieve this feat of 700 or more Test wickets.

James Anderson now stands as the third-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, with only Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Australia’s Shane Warne (708) having claimed more wickets. He also is England’s highest wicket taker in Tests. During Day 2 of the ongoing 5th Test against India in Dharamsala, Anderson reached 699 Test wickets by dismissing Shubman Gill. His subsequent wicket on Day 3, dismissing Kuldeep Yadav, marked his entry into the exclusive 700-wicket club.

Watch James Anderson’s 700th Test Wicket:

Bow down to the Swing King! 👑

James Anderson has become the first pacer to claim 7️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ wickets in Test Cricket. 🙌#IDFCFirstBankTestSeries #BazBowled #INDvENG #JioCinemaSport pic.twitter.com/Rj6iHht5J4

— JioCinema (@JioCinema) March 9, 2024

In the extensive 147-year history of Test cricket, which commenced in 1877, James Anderson has etched his name as the first fast bowler to achieve the milestone of 700 wickets.

Most Wickets In Test Cricket

Player	Mat	Inns	Wkts	Ave	4
Muttiah Muralidaran	133	230	800	22.72	45
Shane Warne	145	273	708	25.41	48
James Anderson	187*	348	700	26.52	32
Anil Kumble	132	236	619	29.65	31
Stuart Broad	167	309	604	27.68	28

James Anderson’s Bowling Excellence Across Formats

Since making his Test debut for England in 2002, Anderson has amassed 700 wickets in 187 Test matches. These wickets have come at an average of 26.52 and a strike rate of 56.9, accompanied by 32 five-wicket hauls and three ten-wicket hauls. His best bowling figures in an innings stand at 7/42.

James Anderson had a prolific limited-overs career for England as well. He featured in 194 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) from 2002 to 2015, amassing an impressive tally of 269 wickets. Additionally, in the shorter format of the game, he made contributions in 18 T20 Internationals, securing a total of 19 wickets.