England’s James Anderson overtook Australian legend Glenn McGrath as the highest wicket-taking fast bowler in international cricket, leading England to a 4-1 Test series victory over India at the Oval on Tuesday.
Anderson, 36, was on level with McGrath’s 563 wickets at the end of Day 4 where he had taken two quick wickets in the same over. And after reducing India to 2/3, it only looked inevitable of when will he reach the landmark. But that it failed to come in the first hour of the final day looked a little bemusing. In the end, though it was fitting that this Test series’ highest wicket-taker finished with a wicket in the final ball of the series.
The 36-year-old uprooted Mohammed Shami’s middle stump in the 95th over of the Indian innings to not only lead England to a 4-1 Test series win on home soil but also reach the podium as the greatest ever fast bowler in international cricket.
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Anderson now has 564 wickets, one more than McGrath. He, however, is third in the overall list which is spearheaded by Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan (800 wickets). Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne (708), and India’s Anil Kumble (619) complete the troika that leads the most-wickets list.
Meanwhile, Anderson’s bowling partner Stuart Broad, who dismissed Virat Kohli, remains just one wicket short of equaling Indian legend Kapil Dev’s of record 434 wickets. Broad remains eight in the illustrious list and three behind Anderson.
England won the Oval Test by 118 runs.
Image source: The Indin Express