James Anderson after claiming 900th international wicket: The hunger is still there

James Anderson. Picture/ AFP

England's James Anderson definitely has no plans to hang up his boots. The great pacer claimed his 900th international wicket on Friday when he dismissed Indian vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane at the stroke of lunch on Day Two of the fourth Test here at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Anderson became the third pacer in the world to achieve the feat after Australia's Glenn McGrath (949 wickets) and Pakistan's Wasim Akram (916).

Overall, Anderson is the sixth bowler to have 900-plus international wickets. Muttiah Muralitharan is at the top with 1,347 wickets across all three formats followed by Shane Warne (1,001) and Anil Kumble (956).

Speaking to the broadcaster ahead of the third day's play, Anderson said the hunger is still there. "Yeah, it was a very proud moment for me (getting to 900 international wickets). It tells me I have been playing the game for a long time (smiles). I think it's just a case of trying to improve every time I come to play or train. That hunger is still there to improve myself," he said.

Contrary to the popular belief that the pink ball swings more than the traditional red cherry, Anderson felt the red ball used for the fourth Test swung more than the pinball used for the previous day-night Test here. "The red ball definitely swung more than the pink. The first new ball swung more than the second. I am not sure if that's because we were tired and the wicket seemed to play better in the last session," he said.