England seamer James Anderson is far from being done after becoming the first pacer to amass 600 Test wickets and he sees no reason why he can’t enter the 700-club alongside Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan even though he has hit 38.
Anderson is the fourth-highest wicket-taker in Tests and reached the 600-wicket milestone by dismissing Pakistan captain Azhar Ali in the third Test here on Tuesday. Indian spin great Anil Kumble has 619 wickets to his name behind Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Warne (708).
Speaking after the drawn game, the 38-year-old made his intentions clear.
“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?”
Anderson claimed his 29th five-wicket haul in the third Test and only the great Richard Hadlee has more among seam bowlers. He said his hunger to perform has not not diminished and that is what keeps him going.
“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 wickets, Anderson added: “I have worked really hard with my skills over the years and I am fortunate enough that I get to do it at the top level playing for my country.
“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.
Meanwhile Anderson’s feat was widely applauded by former greats of the game on Twitter
Micheal Vaughan , Former England Captain
Remarkable achievement to play 156 Tests as a Batsman .. To do it as a quick bowler & then achieve 600 wickets is nothing short of extraordinary .. Well done @jimmy9 .. England’s greatest ever bowler .. #TestCricket
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) August 25, 2020
Nasser Hussain, Former England Skipper
From that quiet shy Burnley lad to England’s greatest ever bowler my thoughts on Jimmy Anderson ..
via https://t.co/jTw0hUd9Mw https://t.co/iCS5mYdorj— Nasser Hussain (@nassercricket) August 26, 2020
Sachin Tendulkar, Indian batting Legend
What an incredible achievement @jimmy9! Many congratulations on your feat.
6️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ wickets in Test Cricket over a span of 17 years for a fast bowler is a testament to your grit, perseverance and accurate bowling. pic.twitter.com/nQok5bgbOG
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 25, 2020
