'Fantastic to see a fast bowler get up there' - Anil Kumble congratulates James Anderson for breaching his Test record

James Anderson has finally broken the long-standing record of Anil Kumble to become the third-highest wicket-taker in the history of Test cricket. As the Englishmen achieved this marvelous record, Kumble found time to wish Anderson for going past him. Kumble has long held the record, being only behind Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan in the list of the leading wicket-takers in Test cricket. 

Anderson started the ongoing Test against India in Nottingham with 617 Test wickets to his name. On day two of the Test, he equaled the record of the former Indian leg-spinner when he got the wickets of Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli on consecutive deliveries. After that, it was frustrating for the old warhorse to get his 620th wicket, which would make him get past Kumble’s tally. 

Anderson induced KL Rahul’s edge twice, once on day two and once on day three, but the catches were dropped in the slips. On day two, Dominic Sibley dropped a pretty easy one while on day three, the culprit was the English captain, Joe Root. Eventually, Anderson got his third of the innings which Rahul got a faint edge and the ball went to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, who managed to hold on to the chance. 

Anil Kumble calls James Anderson a legend

Anderson got another wicket sometime later when he got Shardul Thakur’s edge to the slip. On this occasion, his captain got the catch. The Lancashire pacer ended up with figures of 4 for 54 in India’s first innings. As India’s first innings ended, Kumble was quick to post a congratulatory message for Anderson on Twitter. 

Kumble wrote, “Congratulations @jimmy9 Fantastic to see a fast bowler get up there. #legend @ECB_cricket”. Until today, the top three positions on the list of the leading wicket-takers in Test cricket were held by spinners. Muralidaran leads the way with 800 wickets while Warne stands at number two with a tally of 708 wickets. 

The former Karnataka spinner has 619 Test wickets to his name from 132 matches and 236 innings with an average of 29.65 and a strike rate of 66. Anderson now has 621 wickets with an average of 26.59 and a strike rate of 56.25. The 39-year-old English pacer is currently playing his 163rd Test match. 

Congratulations @jimmy9 Fantastic to see a fast bowler get up there. #legend @ECB_cricket

— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) August 6, 2021