Former Indian spinner Anil Kumble, who has taken 600 Test wickets welcomed England pacer James Anderson to the elusive club. Anderson became the first fast bowler to achieve the feat when he had Pakistan’s Azhar Ali caught by Joe Root on the final day of the third Test at Southampton. He joins the legendary trio of retired spinners -Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Australia’s Shane Warne (708) and India’s Anil Kumble (619).
Indian counterpart Anil ‘Jumbo’ Kumble retired in 2012 from cricket. He finished his career as the third-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket with 619 wickets to his name only behind Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan.
Indian spin Legend Anil Kumble congratulated James Andeson for his 600 wickets
Kumble took to his official Twitter account to congratulate his England counterpart for officially getting into the 600 wicket club with himself.
“Congratulations @jimmy9 on your 600 wickets! Massive effort from a great fast bowler. Welcome to the club,” Anil Kumble tweeted.
Congratulations @jimmy9 on your 600 wickets! Massive effort from a great fast bowler. Welcome to the club ??
— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) August 25, 2020
Former Australian pacer Glenn Mcgrath told he considers James Anderson as one of the most skilful fast bowlers and he is a big fan of the England pacer.
“Absolutely incredible, I’m a big fan of Jimmy’s. Just the fact he’s still playing now, in his 156th Test match, which in itself is just incredible.The rigours, the stresses that fast bowlers put on their body day in day out, to turn around and front up and just work your backside off is just absolutely incredible,” McGrath told the BBC
“Looking through my career, the two that really stand out skill-wise is Jimmy and Wasim Akram. What they can do with the ball, to swing it both ways, it’s a real art form,” he added.
James Anderson considers himself fortunate enough to play for his country
It took Anderson 17 years and 156 appearances in the making to bag this record to his name which has never been achieved by any fast bowler in the history of cricket. He tells he has worked really hard on his skills and considers himself fortunate enough to be playing for his country at the top level.
“I have worked really hard with my skills over the years and I am fortunate enough that I get to do it at the top level playing for my country.”
The 38-year-old pacer James Anderson is celebrated as the highest wicket-taker for England in Test cricket — and also the first pacer to reach 500 Test wickets for England.