Cricket / Anderson becomes first England bowler to take 900 wickets in international cricket

James Anderson has become the first England bowler to take 900 wickets across formats in international cricket. The 38-year-old achieved the feat after dismissing Ajinkya Rahane on the second day of the fourth Test in Ahmedabad. Overall, he is the sixth bowler to take 900 international wickets after Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan, Anil Kumble and Wasim Akram.

Vikrant Shekhawat : Mar 05, 2021, 12:59 PM

Cricket Desk: England's James Anderson, on Friday, became only the third pacer to pick up 900 wickets in international cricket after legends Glenn McGrath and Wasim Akram.

While Australia's McGrath had 949 wickets to his name, Pakistan great Wasim Akram picked up 916 wickets in his international career between 1984 and 2003.

Anderson is now also the first English bowler to reach this milestone, with Stuart Broad the next active bowler on the list of cricketers with most wickets across formats (760).

Additionally, there are three spinners with more than 900 wickets - Muttiah Muralitharan (SL, 1347), Shane Warne (AUS, 1001) and Anil Kumble (IND, 956).

Dismissing most players for a duck in Tests

On Thursday, Anderson gifted Joe Root and Co. just the start the side wanted by removing Shubman Gill in the very first over of the second innings.

With that dismissal, Anderson, not only clinched his 899th international scalp, but also equaled McGrath's record of dismissing the most players for a duck in Test matches - 104. Following the duo on this elite leaderboard are Warne and Muralitharan with 102 wickets apiece.

During the second day of the fourth and final Test, the 38-year-old snapped up India vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane at the stroke of lunch to get himself registered in the 900-wicket club.