Durable Anderson joins '600 club,' says there's more to come

Jimmy Anderson has entered exclusive “600 Club.”

England paceman became only fourth bowler — and first seamer — to take 600 wickets in test cricket on Tuesday, before saying re was more to come in his enduring international career that began in 2003.

38-year-old Anderson was mobbed by his teammates when he reached his latest milestone by dismissing Azhar Ali in third test against Pakistan, with England captain Joe Root taking a high catch at first slip.

Anderson took ball in his right hand and — with a cheeky smile — saluted all sides of Rose Bowl, which is without spectators because of coronavirus restrictions. England coach Chris Silverwood applauded on boundary edge.

Anderson, who is playing in his 156th test, is fourth on list of all-time leing wicket-takers in tests. Only retired spinners Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Shane Warne (708) and Anil Kumble (619) are above him.

“Massive effort from a great fast bowler,” Kumble, former India legspinner, wrote on Twitter. “Welcome to club.”

Anderson is second quickest to get to 600 wickets, taking only six balls more than Muralitharan.

Anderson prides himself on his work ethic and fitness, and said only this month that he has plans to retire, with his sights set on an Ashes series Down Under next year.

“I still get satisfaction from putting a shift in, from bowling 25 overs a day and maybe getting two wickets at end of day,” down-to-earth Anderson said. “I still enjoy putting yards in nets, making those tweaks with technique to make sure I'm in good shape going into test matches, doing stuff in gym. I think that’s why I keep going.”

Warne has suggested Anderson could limit his work lo and extend his international career by playing only in home test matches and rest up during away tours, when he could perhaps act inste as a bowling consultant to younger teammates.

Anderson, however, said he feels “like I can still bowl in all conditions, like I’m still fit eugh to play.”

“I don’t think it's particularly fair on or guys in team if I just rock up in England to play when conditions suit, and send m off to India and Sri Lanka to do hard yards,” he said. “I realize re'll be times when I’ll get left out for various reasons, wher it is resting or m having a look at someone else. I will just try and keep working hard at my game and keep it at as high a level as possible, and just be rey when I’m called upon.”

600th wicket should have come much earlier.

Anderson was dropped four times in 37 balls eir side of Pakistan’s overnight change of innings between Days 3 and 4 of final test of series.

He went to bed Monday night on 599 wickets and first two sessions of Tuesday were washed out, raising doubts about wher Anderson would miss his chance at 600. However, play started late in afteron and Anderson took wicket of Azhar off his 14th delivery during two hours of play possible.

Even in his vanced years, Anderson remains peerless when bowling on home soil, where he is so ept at taking vant of English conditions. Put simply, he is best bowler in world when ball is swinging.

On Sunday, he took his 29th five-wicket haul of a test career that began in 2003. His aver is 26.79.

t playing white-ball cricket since 2015 has allowed him to focus his energy and fitness toward test format. extended break to cricket season because of pandemic gave Anderson more time to rest his aging body after an injury-plagued period that restricted him to just 74 overs of bowling from opening Ashes test in August last year until this summer.

“I felt in great rhythm this week, as good as I have done for a number of years,” Anderson said. “It looks like we haven’t got a test match for ar few months but hopefully I can keep ticking over and be fit eugh and rey to go for next test.”

Im credits: AP