James Anderson reaches 620-wicket mark, surpasses Kumble on list of leading wicket-takers

James Anderson has surpassed Anil Kumble on the list of leading wicket-takers in Tests during the first clash of the five-match series against India in Nottingham. He dismissed KL Rahul by edging through to the keeper to reach the 620 wickets mark in the longest format of the game.

Former Indian leg spinner Kumble had 619 Test scalps to his name.

Anderson now stands behind just Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne on the list of leading wicket-takers. Warne has 708 Test wickets in his career while Muralitharan sits comfortably at an unattainable height of 800 Test wickets.

The right-arm bowler has also become the most successful pacer to have ever played the game. He has 620 wickets to his name, which is significantly higher than any pacer in the history of the game.

Anderson has scalped 620 wickets at a phenomenal average of 26.61 and strike rate of 56.31 till the wicket of KL Rahul on the third day. He has bagged 30 five-wicket hauls and 3 ten-wicket hauls in his 163-match long Test career.

Rahul was Anderson’s third scalp of the innings as he had already dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli on the second day of the Test. He followed it up another wicket of Shardul Thakur quickly after Rahul’s departure and left India seven down for 205.