Stats: James Anderson enters the elite ‘600 wickets in Test cricket’ list

James Anderson’s wait to join the elite club of bowlers with 600 wickets came to an end on Tuesday when he got the Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali edge one to the slips. Anderson began the Test match seven wickets short of the milestone and narrowed it down to two wickets with a first-innings fifer. Dropped chances and the rain intervals added frustration to his milestone wait as he ended 4th day with 599 wickets to his name. The work carried out by the Southampton’s ground staff did help Jimmy to get back on to the field in the final session and complete his milestone.

Here are some of the major stats and numbers created by James Anderson with the ball in his Test career:

1 – James Anderson became the first pacer in the history of Test cricket to claim 600 wickets. He is also the first player from England to do so. Only Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan and Anil Kumble have achieved this feat before Anderson.

29 – Number of 5-wicket hauls for Anderson in Test cricket; the joint 2nd most fifers for any pacer in this format. Sir Richard Hadlee tops the list with 36 hauls of 5+ wickets while Glenn McGrath also had 29 fifers in this format.

All the 29 fifers of Anderson came while opening the bowling for England. These are the 2nd most 5-wicket hauls for any player in Test cricket while opening the bowling behind Richard Hadlee’s 35 fifers.

103 – Anderson claimed 103 wickets across 23 Test matches he played at the Lord’s ground. He is the only pacer to claim 100+ wickets at a venue. Muttiah Muralitharan achieved this feat at three different venues while Rangana Herath got to this milestone at Galle Stadium.

110 – James Anderson took 110 wickets in Test cricket against India; the most he has picked against any team. His 110 Test wickets are also the most by any bowler against India in this format.

156 – Anderson got to his 600th Test wicket in his 156th match which makes him the slowest bowler to 600 wickets in terms of matches played. Anderson is also the only specialist bowler in Test cricket to complete 150 appearances.

165 – Anderson has 165 Test wickets to his name when wicket-keeper took a catch. These are the most number of wickets in Test cricket for any bowler taken caught by a keeper.

384 – James Anderson has picked up 384 wickets in Test matches on England soil; the most number of wickets for any pacer in a country. Overall, only Muttiah Muralitharan (493) has bagged more wickets in Test cricket in a country than Anderson.

577 – 577 wickets out of Anderson’s 600 Test wickets came while opening the bowling itself; the most by any player in this format. Anderson is also the only bowler to claim 500+ Test wickets while bowling the first over of an innings. He has taken 511 wickets in the 241 innings where he bowled the first over of England in a Test inning.

33717 – Anderson became the 2nd fastest to 600 wickets in Test cricket in terms of balls bowled. Only Muralitharan (33711) bowled fewer balls than Anderson for reaching the milestone of 600 Test wickets.