Former Australia pacer Glenn McGrath has compared James Anderson to the legendary Sachin Tendulkar as he paid tribute to the England star after he became the first pacer in the history of the game to take 600 Test wickets.
Anderson, who broke Glenn McGrath’s record to become the most prolific pacer in Test history in 2018, entered the 600 club on Tuesday when he dismissed Azhar Ali on the fifth day of the third Test. He became just the fourth bowler to take 600 wickets in the longest format of the game. Before him, only three spinners – Muttiah Muralitharan (800 Test wickets), Shane Warne (708) and Anil Kumble (619) – had managed to take 600 or more wickets in Tests.
As far as three-match Test is concerned, it ended in favour of England. The hosts won the series by 1-0 to register their first Test series win over Pakistan since 2010. After the home side won the series-opener, the second and third Test ended in draws.
You are ridiculous, @jimmy9! ? pic.twitter.com/aYkWUx84FG
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 25, 2020
Glenn McGrath’s tribute for Anderson:
Tributes have been pouring in from all quarters for Anderson and Glenn McGrath did not waste much time in congratulating the England legend either. The Australian legend paid a glowing tribute to Anderson while humbly saying that he did not have the England pacer’s skills.
“I didn’t have the skill level that Jimmy has,” Glenn McGrath was quoted as saying by BBC. “When he’s swinging that ball, both ways, in control, there’s no one better.”
He then went on to compare Anderson to India legend Sachin Tendulkar, the leading run-scorer in Test cricket. Glenn McGrath opined that just like Tendulkar’s Test record is unlikely to be broken, Anderson’s record looks untouchable too.
“He’s set the bar a bit like Sachin has,” said Glenn McGrath.
“No one is ever going to catch Sachin in Test cricket for the amount of runs he’s scored and the matches he’s played. Jimmy’s done the same for fast bowling,” added the bowling legend who previously held the record for most wickets taken by a fast bowler with 563.