James Anderson joins the cricketing elite with 500 test scalps

Right-arm fast bowler, James Anderson has become the sixth bowler over-all and the first English player to pick up 500 wickets in Test cricket.

The 35-year-old achieved this feat in the 2nd innings of the ongoing Test between England and West Indies at Lord’s, as he picked up Kraigg Brathwaite as his 500th scalp. Earlier in the first innings, Anderson could only take the wicket of Brathwaite and Kyle Hope, leaving him just one away to get to this historical feat.

Call it ironic, but Anderson picked up his 500th Test scalp on the same ground, where he picked up his 1st Test wicket. At Lord’s.

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Before Anderson, only two pacers have taken over 500 wickets in Test cricket, which includes Australia’s great legend Glenn McGrath and West Indian great Courtney Walsh. On the other hand, the top 3 highest Test wicket-takers spot belong to Muttiah Muralidharan, Shane Warne and Anil Kumble, all of whom took more than 600 wickets.

Anderson spoke, about the idea of joining legends of the game at the top of the wicket-taking columns in Test cricket, before the Lord’s Test match: ‘I don’t look at stats but because there’s not many people who have done it you know the people who are up there.

‘I didn’t think I would play this much for England or get this many wickets. It’s very surreal to think I’ve achieved what I have and I’m thrilled I’ve been able to play for so long and have the success I’ve had.

‘Five hundred wasn’t in my mind at the start of the summer – I knew over seven Tests I’d have to bowl very well and everything go my way to get near it.

James Anderson made his international debut over 15 years ago, and is one of the most underrated bowler of his era, and should now be known as the best English bowler in Tests.

Top 10 wicket-takers in Test cricket:

1. Muttiah Muralidharan – Sri Lanka : 800 wickets
2. Shane Warne – Australia : 708 wickets
3. Anil Kumble – India : 619 wickets
4. Glenn McGrath – Australia : 563 wickets
5. Courtney Walsh – West Indies : 519 wickets
6. James Anderson – England : 500 wickets
7. Kapil Dev – India : 434 wickets
8. Richard Hadlee – New Zealand : 431 wickets
9. Shaun Pollock – South Africa : 421 wickets
10. Dale Steyn – South Africa : 417 wickets