England pacer James Anderson, who became the first pacer to claim 600 wickets in Tests on Tuesday, has set himself a new challenge
An ecstatic James Anderson celebrates the dismissal of Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali, his 600th Test victim, at Southampton on Tuesday. PIC/PTI
James Anderson is far from being done after becoming the first pacer to amass 600 Test wickets and he sees no reason why he can’t enter the 700-club alongside Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan even though he has hit 38. Anderson is the fourth-highest wicket-taker in Tests and reached the 600-wicket milestone by dismissing Pakistan captain Azhar Ali in the third Test here on Tuesday. Indian spin great Anil Kumble has 619 wickets to his name behind Muralitharan (800) and Warne (708).
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Speaking after the drawn game, Anderson made his intentions clear. “I’ve chatted to Joe [Root] about this a little bit and he has said he would like me to be in Australia [for the Ashes next year]. I don’t see any reason why I can’t be. I’m working hard on my fitness all the time. I’m working hard on my game,” he was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
“I didn’t bowl as well as I’d have liked for the whole summer. But in this Test I was really on it and I feel like I’ve still got stuff to offer this team. As long as I still feel like that I think I’ll keep going. I don’t think I’ve won my last Test matches as an England cricketer yet. Can I reach 700? Why not?”
Anderson claimed his 29th five-wicket haul in the third Test and only the great Richard Hadlee has more among seam bowlers. He said his hunger to perform has not diminished and that is what keeps him going. “We’re still in the Test championship. There are still series ahead of us and Test matches to win. That’s all I’m really interested in. I still love turning up every day at training, putting in the hard yards and being in the dressing room with the lads trying to forge a win for England.
“That’s all I’ve really ever bothered about and what I’ll keep trying to do,” he said.
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