The leading Test wicket-taker as a pacer and third most Test wicket-taker, English legendary right-arm pacer James Anderson became the third bowler and first pacer to complete 700 Test wickets.
During the third day of the fifth Test of India vs England at Dharamsala, which also became the last day of the five-match Test series, James Anderson took his second wicket of the match by dismissing Indian cricketer Kuldeep Yadav (30). With that caught-behind dismissal, Anderson completed his 700 Test wickets milestone.
James Anderson became the first pacer to take 700 Test wickets
By completing 700 Test wickets, James Anderson created history in Test cricket. The key facts of this special milestone have been discussed below:
James Anderson became the first pacer to complete 700 Test wickets.
After the spinners Shane Warne and Muthiah Muralidaran, Anderson became the third bowler to record 700 wickets in Test cricket.
Most Test wickets (Top 5)
Player (Team) | Bowling style | Wickets |
Muthiah Muralidaran (Sri Lanka/ICC World XI) | Right-arm offbreak | 800 |
Shane Warne (Australia) | Right-arm leg break | 708 |
James Anderson (England) | Right-arm fast-medium | 700 |
Anil Kumble (India) | Right-arm leg break | 619 |
Stuart Broad (England) | Right-arm fast-medium | 604 |
(Updated as of 9 March 2024)
The 41-year-old English pacer James Anderson has set up a great example in international cricket. The right-arm pacer has been tirelessly serving the English Test team for more than 20 years, and he is still ready to lead the English pace bowling line-up in Test cricket further. He is a true inspiration for the pacers in this generation.
James Anderson’s milestone Test wickets
1st wicket: Mark Vermeulen (Zimbabwe) in May 2003
100th wicket: Jacques Kallis (South Africa) in August 2008
200th wicket: Peter Siddle (Australia) in December 2010
300th wicket: Peter Fulton (New Zealand) in May 2013
400th wicket: Martin Guptill (New Zealand) in May 2015
500th wicket: Kraigg Brathwaite (West Indies) in September 2017
600th wicket: Azhar Ali (Pakistan) in August 2020
700th wicket: Kuldeep Yadav (India) in March 2024
James Anderson’s next big milestones
English pacer James Anderson has already picked up 987 wickets in international cricket. With 13 more international wickets, Anderson will become the first pacer and third bowler, after Muthiah Muralidaran (1347 wickets) and Shane Warne (1001 wickets), to record 1000 international wickets.
Anderson is also very close to becoming the second most wicket-taker in Test and international cricket by surpassing the legendary Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne.
