James Anderson becomes first pacer to take 600 Test wickets
New Delhi : James Anderson has become the world's first pacer to take 600 Test wickets and is now aiming to enter the 700-club alongside Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan.
38-year-old cricketer is the fourth-highest wicket taker in the world. He reached his 600-wicket milestone after dismissing Pakistan captain Azhar Ali in the third Test in Southampton on Tuesday.
Indian spin great Anil Kumble has 619 wickets to his name behind Muralitharan (800) and Warne (708).
Speaking after the drawn game, he made his intentions clear about his future in cricket bowling.
"I've chatted to Joe about this a little bit and he has said he would like me to be in Australia (for the Ashes next year). I don't see any reason why I can't be. I'm working hard on my fitness all the time. I'm working hard on my game," he was quoted as saying by ''ESPNcricinfo''.
"I didn't bowl as well as I'd have liked for the whole summer. But in this Test I was really on it and I feel like I've still got stuff to offer this team. As long as I still feel like that I think I'll keep going. I don't think I've won my last Test matches as an England cricketer yet. Can I reach 700? Why not?"
"We're still in the Test championship. There are still series ahead of us and Test matches to win. That's all I'm really interested in. I still love turning up every day at training, putting in the hard yards and being in the dressing room with the lads trying to forge a win for England.
"That's all I've really ever bothered about and what I'll keep trying to do. I'll keep working hard in the gym and keeping myself available for selection.
"There will be decisions along the way with the selectors and coach and captain around how the team moves forward but as long as they want me around I'll keep working hard and try to prove I'm good enough to play in this team," he said.
Talking about his 600-wicket-haul, Anderson said, "Looking back to that first Test (in 2003), I never thought I would get anywhere near 600 Test wickets. I just feel very fortunate and privileged that I have been able to do that for a long period of time."
