With 619 Scalps, James Anderson Equals Anil Kumble's Record For Third Highest Test Wickets At 39

IND Vs ENG: Only Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan are ahead of Jimmy Anderson in terms of number of Test match wickets. Anderson is the only fast-bowler to pick up more than 600 wickets.

(File Photos/ Getty Images)

Nottingham: England pacer James Anderson broke the monopoly of spin bowlers in the 600-wicket club in Test matches in August 2020 against Pakistan. On Thursday, after picking up the prized wicket of Virat Kohli for a duck, James Anderson became the third-highest wicket-taker in Test match cricket. Anderson has equalled Anil Kumble's record of 619 wickets in Test matches. 

Anderson is 39 years old and it is very rare that a fast-bowloer's career extends for so long. The English fast-bowler debuted in 2003 against Zimbabwe and he has been a constantpillar in the England Test team. James Anderson is a true ambassador of fast-bowling around the world. He has equalled Kumble's record in 163 matches. Only Shane Warne with 78 wickets and Muttiah Muralitharan with 800 wickets are ahead of Anderson at the moment. 

619 Test wickets!
Anil Kumble in 132 matches
Jimmy Anderson in 163* matches#EngvInd#EngvsInd

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) August 5, 2021

As a fast-bowler, it is very easy to be injury prone. Many world-class bolwers like Brett Lee, Shane Bond, Zaheer Khan had to cut short their career due to injury issues. Anderson's achievement becomes even more special by the virtue of him being a fast-bowler. Glenn McGrath with 563 wickets and Stuart Broad with 523 are the other pacers behind Anderson. 

Take a look at Anderson's record-breaking wicket below: 

James Anderson dismissing Indian batsmen most times in Intl cricket:

Sachin Tendulkar - 12
MS Dhoni - 10
Virat Kohli - 9
Gautam Gambhir - 9#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/v31tn6nEAF

— #PAKvWI #ENGvIND #Cricket (@CricketEdits_) August 5, 2021

Anil Kumble had greeted Anderson after he had picked up his 600th wicket. “Massive effort from a great fast bowler. Welcome to the club,” Kumble had tweeted.

Congratulations @jimmy9 on your 600 wickets! Massive effort from a great fast bowler. Welcome to the club 👍🏼

— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) August 25, 2020

Anderson is looking good to go past Anil Kumble and stay at the no. 3 position for a long long time as there are hardly any current bowlers who look like coming close to Anderson's tally.