James Anderson Scripts History! Becomes First Seamer In Test Cricket To Scalp 600 Wickets

Test Cricket World Record: James Andersen joins a select band of Test bowling greats in Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Shane Warne (708) and Anil Kumble( 619) to have scaled the 600-Test wicket milestone.

England's James Anderson (C) shows the ball as he is applauded by teammates after taking the wicket of Pakistan's Azhar Ali, his 600th test match wicket. (Image: AFP)

Southampton: James Anderson became the first ever fast bowler to scalp 600 Test wickets. Anderson achieved the herculean landmark when he dismissed Pakistani skipper Azhar Ali in the ongoing third Test between England and Pakistan at the Ageas Oval in Southampton. Azhar Ali, who had scored an unbeaten 141 in Pakistan's first innings, was surprised by the bounce that Anderson generated as the ball ended up deflecting off the shoulder of his bat to England captain Joe Root at the lone slip position. Root pocketed the ball despite it coming at a good pace at him. With this, Anderson became the fourth bowler overall in Test cricket's history to achieve the feat. Azhar Ali's wicket was the second Anderson took in the innings after that of opener Abid Ali. He ended the first innings with figures of 5/56.

6️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ Test wickets for Jimmy Anderson 🎉🎉🎉 He becomes the first fast bowler to ever reach the mark!#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/QCaEzxm4NS

— ICC (@ICC) August 25, 2020

Anderson is now the fourth highest wicket taker of all time in Test cricket behind Muttiah Muralitharan (800 wickets), Shane Warne (708) and Anil Kumble (619). Among fast bowlers, the 38-year-old is followed by Glenn McGrath (563), Courtney Walsh (519) and his long-time new ball partner Stuart Broad (514). Anderson became the highest wicket taker among seamers in Test cricket after he went past Australian pace legend Glen McGrath's haul of 563 wickets in Tests. With 600 wickets in his kitty and still counting, Anderson is the highest wicket taker for England in Test cricket by some distance. He had broken allround great Ian Botham's record of 383 Test wickets to become England's highest wicket taker in the longest format of the game. Anderson grabbed his 599th Test wicket as England remained in the driver's seat against Pakistan who reached 100/2 following on at stumps on the rain-hit Day 4. England asked Pakistan to follow on after the tourists managed 273 in reply to hosts' mammoth 583/8d in the first essay, riding on a maiden double century by Zak Crawley and a brilliant hundred by Jos Buttler. Meanwhile, Anderson, who returned figures of 5/56 in the first innings, and could have had at least three more wickets had catches not been dropped off his bowling on Day 3, saw wicketkeeper Jos Buttler drop yet another catch off his bowling in the first session on Monday.