James Anderson becomes the first pacer to reach the milestone of 650 Test wickets

English pacer James Anderson became only the third in Test cricket history to collect 650 wickets on Monday, June 13. Apart from Anderson, Muttiah Muralitharan, the former Sri Lankan legend, and Late Shane Warne, the Australian spin wizard, are the other two players to reach the milestone. 

1. Muttiah Muralitharan (800) 

2. Shane Warne (708) 

3. James Anderson (650)

The Burnley born is currently the leading wicket-taker among fast bowlers in Test cricket. The 39-year-old is also the fifth-highest wicket-taker in international cricket history. The veteran seamer has 933 wickets in 383 matches since his debut in 2002, including 33 five-wicket hauls and three 10-wicket hauls. 

The seamer is approaching 40, has shown no signs of fatigue, and has continued to trouble batters worldwide. He's also kept quiet about his retirement plans.

Veteran England pacer James Anderson went past the landmark of 650 wickets in Test cricket on Day 4 of the second Test match against New Zealand at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Monday. The veteran rattled Tom Latham's woodwork on the fourth day of the Test. Latham decided to leave the ball alone as Anderson bowled from around the wicket.

THE LEGACY OF KING OF THE SWING BOWLING 

It's challenging for a fast bowler to keep playing at the age of 38 for another year and a half.

Many great bowlers have had to retire due to fitness issues, the most notable of whom is Dale Steyn, widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers of all time, who couldn't also reach that mark at this age which the veteran is right now at. 

When the ball is swinging, and the wicket offers some assistance to the seamers, he transforms into a ventriloquist. When the wicket and conditions are favourable for seam and swing bowling, he has been one of the best bowlers in the last 50 years.

He is ineffective when the ball does not move in the air. Because he does not reverse the ball well, does not express himself, and does not bowl great bouncers or yorkers. 

James Anderson is an outstanding and consistent bowler who has demonstrated great endurance and carried his team through some difficult times as a bowler and leader. 

He is, without a doubt, the greatest fast bowler of all time. According to all statistics and cricket experts, fast bowlers like James Anderson are born once in a century, and it is nothing short of a miracle to achieve such a record as 650 wickets in one's career while still playing for the country. 

Also, breaking James' record appears to be next to impossible, as there is no bowler in sight with the skill and durability to break Anderson's record.

It does not imply that he is not a good bowler, but in order to be a legend, your performance must be consistent throughout. Some bowlers are so consistent both at home and away from that it would be fair to call Jimmy Anderson a " Living Legend" in any context.