PHOTO FEATURE
Follow UsOn Saturday (March 9), James Anderson entered a club of his own, becoming the first pacer to pick up 700 Test wickets. He did that with a brute delivery against Kuldeep Yadav, who, after 68 deliveries, finally succumbed under pressure.
It is the first time in the history of the sport, in 147 years, that anyone has achieved this record. So, you might be wondering who his landmark wickets were and when he got to 700 Test wickets.
First Test wicket
Mark Vermeulen b James Anderson 1, Lords 2003
It is only fitting that James Anderson’s glorious cricketing journey began at the Home of Cricket, Lord’s Cricket Ground. A 20-year-old Anderson, playing his first Test, beat the defence of the Zimbabwean opener Mark Vermeulen.
Look at the precision. Top of off-stump, you say? Anderson has got you.
Coaching manuals ✔️
100th Test wicket
Jacques Kallis lbw Anderson 2, The Oval, 2008
Another landmark wicket in London, James Anderson’s love story continues with the city. One of the all-time greats, Jacques Kallis, was just a passenger in this passage of play against James Anderson.
Pinged back, pumped up, Anderson’s 100th Test wicket was bliss.
ONE BRINGS TWO IN LONDON
200th Test wicket
Peter Siddle c Collingwood b Anderson 8, Perth, 2010
Washed in Australia, James Anderson is an absolute dust in Australia.
How do you answer to all of that criticism? With a landmark wicket. Anderson’s 200th wicket came in Australia and couldn’t have been sweeter.
Talk 📞now, Siddle.
300th Test wicket
Peter Fulton c Swann b Anderson 2, Lord’s, 2013
And, they go MENTAL. Anderson is pumped up, he’s running towards the slip cordon. This combination proves to be effective yet again. Graeme Swann has caught it, and Fulton has to walk back. Another landmark wicket at the Lord’s.
When they realise that you are a 🐐 in the making
400th Test wicket
Martin Guptill c Bell b Anderson 0, Leeds, 2015
Oh, Jimmy Jimmy!
An attacking Martin Guptill had no chance. The iconic celebration, the iconic bowler, the iconic swing.
The 🐐 keeps grazing!
500th Test wicket
Kraigg Brathwaite b Anderson 4, Lord’s, 2017
How does one of the greatest swing bowlers get to his 500th Test wicket?
With a booming in-swinger, one for which even the grittiest of openers, Kraigg Brathwaite had no clue.
What’s more beautiful? It just pinged the middle stump back.
Art: Middle-stump pinged back
Artist: James Michael Anderson
600th Test wicket
Azhar Ali c Root b Anderson 31, Southampton, 2020
Pandemic, no cricket, boring life.
That’s when England and Anderson decided to make everyone happy. What’s happier than watching Anderson go about his things?
This was a fitting Anderson milestone wicket. Just swings slightly away from the first-innings centurion, Azhar Ali, and Joe Root grabs it with ease.
Stuart Broad: Hey 🫵 they are showing the GOAT on the screen
700th Test wicket
Kuldeep Yadav c Foakes b Anderson 30, Dharamshala, 2024
If you’d asked Anderson where he would have wanted to pick his 700th Test wicket, he’d have said Lord’s. While this is no Lord’s, this was quite a scenic beauty for Anderson to get to his 700.
When even the 🏔️ Himalayas bow down to history
