James Anderson, England’s pace maestro, has etched his name in cricket history as the first pacer to achieve the remarkable milestone of 700 Test wickets. His journey spans 187 Tests and an awe-inspiring 21 years, a testament to his skill, fitness, and unyielding motivation. The achievement places him in the elite company of spin wizards Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Shane Warne (708), who had previously crossed the 700-wicket mark. 

Anderson reached this milestone by dismissing India’s Kuldeep Yadav during the morning session of Day 3 in the fifth and final Test of the ICC World Test Championship series held in Dharamsala. His remarkable longevity and sustained excellence have made him a true legend of the game. James Anderson’s illustrious Test career commenced in 2003 against Zimbabwe at Lord’s, where he announced his arrival with a memorable five-wicket haul. It took another 184 Tests for the pace maestro to join the exclusive 700-wicket club. 

Over his nearly 21-year-long career, Anderson has consistently outpaced his contemporaries. Currently with 517 wickets, Nathan Lyon stands as the second-highest wicket-taker among active players. With 708 wickets, Shane Warne occupies the No. 2 position on the all-time Test wicket-takers list. Anderson, now at 700, is inching closer to surpassing the Australian spin legend and etching his name even higher in cricketing history.

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Analyzing James Anderson’s Historic 700 Test Wickets

James Anderson embarked on his Test career in 2003, showcasing early promise by securing 26 wickets in 14 innings. The following three years saw a break in his appearances, with modest returns of 7, 2, and 8 wickets in consecutive years. From 2007 onward, Anderson’s performance became notably consistent. In 2007, he claimed 19 wickets in 10 innings, setting the stage for an impressive run.

The following year, 2008, marked a significant leap as he scalped 46 wickets in 21 innings. This remarkable trend continued in 2009 with 40 wickets in 21 innings. However, 2010 proved to be the pinnacle of Anderson’s Test cricket career, as he delivered a stellar performance, claiming a staggering 57 wickets in 23 innings. 

Post-2010, James Anderson continued to showcase remarkable consistency in Test cricket. From 2011 to 2018, he consistently contributed to the English bowling attack, claiming 35, 48, 52, 40, 46, 41, 55, and 43 wickets in consecutive years. The subsequent years, 2019 and 2020, saw a decline in his wicket-taking exploits with 12 and 23 wickets, respectively. However, Anderson demonstrated resilience in 2021, claiming 39 wickets, and maintained a commendable performance with 36 wickets in 2022. In 2023, he secured 15 wickets, and as of 2024, he has added 10 wickets to his illustrious tally. 

James Anderson’s bowling performance is evident across various cricketing nations. In his home country, England, he has been particularly dominant, amassing 433 wickets in 198 innings. His performances extend globally, with notable achievements in Australia (68 wickets in 39 innings), India (44 wickets in 29 innings), West Indies (36 wickets in 17 innings), New Zealand (36 wickets in 16 innings), South Africa (34 wickets in 18 innings), U.A.E (22 wickets), Sri Lanka (18 wickets), and Pakistan (8 wickets). These statistics underscore Anderson’s ability to adapt and succeed in diverse playing conditions, contributing significantly to England’s bowling success worldwide.

Paras Mhambrey, the Indian bowling coach said on Saturday that the Ranchi pitch did not behave according to the team’s expectations. After the second day’s play in the fourth Test match between India and England, the hosts scored 219/7 in response to England’s first innings total of 353.

Mhambrey on Ranchi Pitch

After Stumps on Day 2, Mhambrey spoke about the conditions in the press conference. “From what we have seen out here, generally, the nature of the pitch is that it gets slower as the game progresses. We expected that. But, to be honest, we didn’t expect it to play that low on the second day itself.” He added,  “A couple of balls did keep low in the first innings itself. We expected it to get slower. But we were not expecting the variable bounce.”

He explained how variable bounce was experienced on the track. He also added that the management did not give any specific instructions to the curator regarding the pitch. “There was variable bounce. But I don’t think there were too many that spun sharply from the wicket. It was the variable bounce, on the lower side, which has made batting difficult. That is the nature of the soil. There were no specific instructions from us [to the curator] that we wanted to play on a rank turner.”

Mhambrey credited Bashir and Hartley

He also mentioned the duo of Shoaib Bashir and Tom Hartley. Bashir and Hartley took a total of six Indian wickets out of seven that fell today. “I think they bowled well. (They) kept a simple line and length. At this level, you expect your opposition to do that. They kept it simple and picked up wickets for that.”

While speaking of India’s batting performance he said, “What is important is that we have two set batsmen [Dhruv Jurel and Kuldeep Yadav] at the crease. We have a 40+ partnership going. I think they have really applied themselves. The important thing is we get as close as possible to the English total and then we will see tomorrow.”

According to the bowling coach, the hosts have to bat well in the second innings whatever the target is. He also mentioned that the venue conditions cannot be controlled. “What we need to look at is, that we are going to chase. The target will differ but mentally we will have to be ready to chase. We have to bat well in the second innings, whatever the target is. Let’s keep it that simple,” added Mhambrey.

England cricketer Alex Lees has shared insights about his banter with Indian star Virat Kohli during the final Test of the series at Edgbaston in July 2022. Despite his limited international experience, Lees revealed that Kohli was trying to assert his dominance. He explained that Kohli was sledging Lees’ teammates and behaving in an unpleasant manner.

Not one to remain silent, Alex Lees, in light of Virat Kohli’s relatively poor recent form and the absence of a century for over two years, seized the opportunity to sledge him with the classic line, “I’ve had two kids since you last scored a century.” Speaking to the Telegraph, Lees explained, “Because I was an inexperienced international, he was attempting to assert himself. It was not very clever cricket banter. He was simply continuing in a manner he occasionally adopts. He had been getting on people’s nerves in the field while batting.”

Alex Lees regards Virat Kohli as a fierce competitor who is determined to win

Alex Lees also discussed his banter with Virat Kohli and praised the Indian batsman’s competitiveness. He mentioned that the best response to Kohli would have been to score a century in a winning cause.

Lees said, “He is just a human, and I knew it must be playing on his mind, which was likely the thing that would irritate him the most. Once I had a word with him, he seemed to lose his composure, especially when we resumed play after tea. He’s a competitor; he has a strong desire to win. I may never fully grasp the immense pressure of representing a billion people, but you can still be competitive without losing your temper. I knew I had gotten to him. The biggest disappointment for me was that I reached 56 and then got run out. The ultimate comeback would have been to score an unbeaten century and win the game, but I didn’t get the opportunity.”

Out-of-form hitter Virat Kohli is probably going to miss the first ODI against England at the Oval on Tuesday after sustaining a groin injury during the third T20 International.

The degree of Kohli’s niggle is as yet not known, however the Indian team management wouldn’t mind allowing the 33-year-old veteran a break so he is available for the following two games at Lord’s (July 14) and Manchester (July 17).

“Virat had a groin strain during the last game. It can’t be confirmed whether it happened during fielding or while batting. He will probably miss the first ODI tomorrow at Oval as the groin needs rest,”

a BCCI source said

It has been discovered that Kohli didn’t travel out from Nottingham to London in the team bus and the explanation could be a visit to finish a clinical examination to evaluate his condition.

Also read: Suryakumar Yadav- India’s Very Own 360 Degree Middle-order Mainstay

On Monday, only the players chosen for the ODIs — Shikhar Dhawan, Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna — had an optional net session at the Oval ground in London.

This could likewise be the justification for the delay of the Indian team selection for the five-match T20I series in the West Indies and the USA. The team will be announced on Tuesday.

Kohli’s spot in the T20 side is being addressed over and over by the experts including former greats like Kapil Dev and Virender Sehwag despite the fact that captain Rohit Sharma has firmly backed his long-time colleague.

As per people privy to the developments in the India camp, Kohli has requested rest from the whole West Indies series. In the event he is not part of the team, whether that term will be “rest” or “dropped” will be a point of discussion.

“The Indian team will be taking a charter flight to the Caribbean,”

the source informed

The BCCI has chosen to fly the Indian squad toward the West Indies by a special charter flight from Manchester to Port of Spain because of the COVID-19 danger.

3rd T20I: India came out chasing a gigantic target of 221, yet were shocked early as they lost the Big three — Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli. Yet, Suryakumar Yadav paired well with Shreyas Iyer and they forged a 100 and more run stand to drive England to the edge.

India stayed in the game till the penultimate over where Yadav was excused and they missed the mark by 17 runs.

England players made the most of the batting heaven at Trent Bridge as Dawid Malan (77) and Liam Livingstone (42*) assisted them with posting an imposing 215/7 in 20 overs. India missed the services of the senior bowling stars as spinner Ravi Bishnoi (2/30) and Harshal Patel (2/35) were the only saviours for them. It will be an immense undertaking for the Indian batting line-up to chase down a mammoth total like this despite short boundaries..

England captain Jos Buttler won the toss and chose to bat against India in the third T20I match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. India rolled out four changes to their side as Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Umran Malik and Shreyas Iyer got an opportunity instead of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal and Hardik Pandya. It was a major gamble for India which they can manage with a 2-0 lead in the series. While England likewise made a couple changes.

Rohit Sharma and Co. played dominant cricket in the initial two matches of the series and took an unassailable 2-0 lead. On Sunday, they were hoping to finish the whitewash however the spotlight was on previous India captain Virat Kohli who has been going through a lean fix. An unfortunate trip at Edgbaston has by and by put Kohli in a difficult spot.

India put in-form Deepak Hooda on the seat to clear a path for Kohli in the second T20I who was excused on only 1 by Richard Gleeson. Notwithstanding, returning Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah urged their rebound to the T20I side after a short break.

Also Read IND vs ENG 2nd T20I: India wins by 49 runs!

The guests took a bold move by picking Rishabh Pant as the opener in the second T20I. Pant showed a brief look of his attacking approach at the top yet failed to change over a decent start to a major score. He was dismissed on 26 runs off 15 balls.

The stand-out innings of the game went in vain majorly because of the fact that India’s top order came unraveled.

Trent Bridge has ostensibly pushed the limits of white-ball cricket farther than some other international ground in recent times, and Sunday’s third T20I contained an innings that did exactly that. 

It didn’t come as a winning reason, yet it highlighted what the future of T20 batting could potentially look like.

Suryakumar Yadav scored 117 off 55 balls, and he did this in a pursuit of 216 where no other India batter passed 30 and just a single other passed 20. He did this with a control percentage of almost 91%. That is a magnificent figure in a Test inning and a decidedly surreal one in the shortest format. For huge swathes of his innings, he appeared to hit any line or length to any part of the field he wished to target, and England’s bowlers could apparently never really contain him.

There were never sufficient boundaries fielders when Suryakumar was on strike, yet he was off strike frequently enough for England to stay in charge of the game. Also, at last, the target stayed just past India’s compass. En route, nonetheless, Suryakumar guaranteed that he’ll be one of the first names in India’s team sheet, wellness allowing, when the World Cup rolls round in October.

India assumed command over the procedures as England lost their 10th wicket in pursuit of 171 in the continuous second T20I at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Bhuvneshwar Kumar gave India an incredible beginning as he scalped England openers Jason Roy and Jos Buttler inside the powerplay.

Jasprit Bumrah then, at that point, fortified Liam Livingstone before Yuzvendra Chahal provided walking requests to Harry Brook. Prior, Ravindra Jadeja’s 46 not out off 29 balls directed India to 170/8 out of 20 overs against England in the continuous second T20I at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Prior, Richard Gleeson and Chris Jordan had kept England controlling everything except Jadeja actually figured out how to take India to a battling complete.

Gleeson asserted the wickets of Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli while Jordan excused Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Harshal Patel and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Prior, England skipper Jos Buttler had picked to bowl first against India. Rohit and Pant gave India a flying beginning however Gleeson shifted the game for England. It is a pivotal game for Team India as they eye a series-securing win against the hosts in the three-match series. Quite, India dominated the main match by 50 runs.

Base edge and that is simply getting practice for Virat Kohli. Gleeson hits it high, doesn’t get the distance as Bhuvi strikes once more. Harshal Patel in to bowl the sixteenth and Wiley hits a six. Very nearly a catch yet England wouldn’t fret. A full stop next which is cut away for four more. India won by 49 runs.

India secured the series 2-0.

It is by and by India’s bowling in the powerplay that is the contrast between the two groups. Bhuvneshwar set the vibe briefly, showing how to nipping out Jason Roy off the absolute first ball and furthermore added the wicket of Jos Buttler in his next over. Bumrah supplemented him impeccably as the pair bowled two ladies and got three wickets in the initial six overs.

England couldn’t recuperate after that and were at a serious disadvantage. Moeen and Willey played two or three appearances however they required more from their top request. Prior on, India’s changed methodology saw them slip to 89/5 however a returning Jadeja rescued them with his profession best T20I score and the complete of 170 ended up being all that could possibly be needed.

India won the first T20I by 50 runs and secured a 1-0 lead in the series. Rohit Sharma won the thirteenth sequential T20I as a captain. Hardik Pandya was really clinical as an all-rounder in the first T20I between India and England as the guests got off to a positive beginning in the three-match series.

India, batting first, posted a target of 199 for the hosts. England capitulated to the scoreboard tension and lost wickets too often while attempting to after the bowlers.

India’s triumphant run went on under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy as the ‘Hitman’ turned into the first skipper to have 13 consecutive victories added to his repertoire. Rohit likewise has a surprising winning level of 86.20 percent in the 29 T20Is he has led up to this point.

India had a close ideal trip at the Rose Bowl, with the exception of a couple of dropped catches that would get concealed under the shroud as they secured a 50-run triumph.

Here are some of the discussed points from the match:

Hardik Pandya’s all-round performance: 

The Indian all-rounder was clearly the star in the first T20I on Thursday as he scored a lively half-century (51 of 33 balls) and wound up with figures of 4/33 in his four-over spell. Pandya turned into the first Indian to accomplish the dual feat of a half century and a four-wicket haul in T20Is. He likewise became the fifth player in general to do so amongst the full-time ICC members.

Pandya came in at the score of 89/3 in the 9th over. India had lost three wickets very early yet they were scoring at 10 runs for every over which balanced the scorecard. Pandya proceeded with the scoring energy and hit boundaries voluntarily. The all-rounder has conveyed his super hot IPL form over to the international field and these are excellent signs for India going into the T20 World Cup in a couple of months’ time. Pandya likewise bagged the Player of the Match award for his record-breaking performance.

Deepak Hooda and Suryakumar Yadav’s capability:

While Deepak Hooda started where he left off in the Ireland series, Suryakumar Yadav appeared to have found his beat back as the two took on the bowlers and crushed them all round the park. Notwithstanding a forceful beginning by captain Rohit Sharma with the bat, Moeen Ali sent both the openers back to the burrow in the strategic manoeuvre itself. The team made a partnership of 43 runs in only 23 balls at a strike pace of 186.96.

Also Read: INDW v SLW 3rd ODI: India Women win by 39 runs!

England’s deadly bowling:

India were going strong with the bat and at one phase, a total of more than 200 appeared to be very agreeable. However, England were splendid in the death overs as they took four wickets and all the more significantly permitted just 33 runs in the last four overs, as opposed to India scoring at in excess of 10 runs for each over all through their innings.

Skipper Jos Buttler involved four different bowlers in the last four overs, including spinner Matthew Parkinson bowling the 17th, and changed the momentum of the match.

India in the bowling show of dominance:

Indian batters were fantastic in the batting show of dominance, and the bowlers reflected their performance toward the beginning of England’s innings. Bhuvneshwar Kumar disturbed the in-structure Buttler’s stumps for a brilliant duck with a peach of a conveyance in the first over. Debutant Arshdeep Singh then began his T20I vocation with a maiden over as Jason Roy attempted to interface his bat with the ball.

India’s messy handling and wicket-keeping:

India had a near-perfect outing right from the time Rohit won the toss and chose to bat first. In any case, something they would have loathed is the numerous dropped gets which Rohit likewise conceded at the post-match show. Yadav dropped Moeen off Yuzvendra Chahal’s bowling. A couple of overs later Chahal himself dropped a got and bowled open the door when Chris Jordan severely hit straight back at the bowler. In the equivalent over Hooda dropped a guideline get at long-off.

Likewise, behind the stumps, Karthik dropped two catches. He previously dropped a top edge running towards the short fine leg in the eighth over of Harshal Patel’s bowling. He thus dropped Jordan off Pandya’s bowling when the previous edged one shy of a length conveyance.

India still won the first T20I by 50 runs and secured a 1-0 lead in the series. Rohit Sharma won the thirteenth successive T20I as a captain.

Cricketers and experts scrutinised Jasprit Bumrah-led India’s second-inning batting after England’s Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root scored hundreds to absolutely obliterate the visitors in the fifth Test on Tuesday.

India was dismissed for 245 runs, setting England a record triumph focus of 378, which the home team reached on the fifth day with two sessions and seven wickets remaining to tie the Covid-delayed five-match series at 2-2.

To pull off a stunning triumph, the in-form Bairstow (114*) and Root (142*) put on a solid stand of 269 for the fourth wicket.

“Special win by England to level the series. Joe Root & Jonny Bairstow have been in sublime form and made batting look very easy, Congratulations to England on a convincing victory.”

batting extraordinary Sachin Tendulkar stated on Twitter.

“The 8th largest run-chase in history has been a stroll in the park. Bat hasn’t faced a challenge from the ball for the last 200 runs,”  

Veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle hit out at India.

With Root and Bairstow partaking in a simple time against the Indian spinners, England began the day on 259 for three and travelled home in the principal meeting of the last day.

 “This victory of team England should hurt Team India. That was too easy.” 

Former India quick bowler Irfan Pathan tweeted.

However, in the wake of posting 416 in the primary innings, it was India’s second innings that experienced harsh criticism. People have also gone as far as to bring up the altercation between Virat Kohli and Root during their match, as a reason for the brutal loss for India.

Except for Rishabh Pant (57) and furthermore Cheteshwar Pujara (66), no batsman endured the English test, which saw commander Ben Stokes take four wickets.

The players were reprimanded by previous mentor Ravi Shastri for their protective technique.

“They needed to bat two sessions and I thought they were defensive, they were timid today. Especially after lunch,” 

Shastri, who was mentor when India drove the series 2-1 last year, said after Monday’s day four.

“Even after they had lost those wickets, they could have taken some chances. Runs were important at that stage of the game. And I thought they just went into a shell, lost those wickets too quickly. And gave enough time for England to bat today. India have quite a few issues to address, only Pujara & Pant from the top 6 scoring runs and Jadeja batting brilliantly, but need batsman to be in form,”

Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag expressed that following the loss, India needs to reflect.

“Bowling in the fourth innings was absolutely listless,” the previous opening batsman said.

Last September, this decider was planned to take place in Manchester. Yet, it deferred a couple of hours in advance because of stresses over the Covid in the India camp.

IND vs ENG, 5th test: India 416 and 125 for 3 (Pujara 50*, Pant 30*) lead England 284 (Bairstow 106, Billings 36, Siraj 4-66, Bumrah 3-68) by 257 runs.

The morning started with India ascending, leading by 332 with England five down. They would have been careful about Bairstow and Stokes, nonetheless, a short-term batting pair that is basically as possible as any to turn what is happening like this on its head.

Jonny Bairstow added a new chapter to a radiant summer with a pugnacious 106 off 140 balls

However it was India who took control over the Edgbaston Test throughout the span of a captivating third day. Their quicks, drove by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, bowled England out for 284 to get a first-innings lead of 132, and by stumps, this lead had developed to 257, with seven wickets still close by, as Cheteshwar Pujara marked his comeback with an unshakable, unbeaten third-innings 50 years.

After both first innings flew along at more than four-and-a-half runs per over, India’s second innings followed an undeniably more customary Test-match pattern as they went to stumps at 125 for 3 after 45 overs. This was down by and large to Pujara’s presence at the crease. Obviously, however consistently he spent out there was valuable to India’s push to bat England out of the game. Notwithstanding two or three brazen minutes, he looked completely secure – safer with all due respect, conceivably, than anytime since the Covid-19 pandemic started.

In this Test match, it has been clear that Pujara has switched his set-around at the crease to get more side-on, with his front shoulder highlighting the bowler as opposed to towards mid-on similar to the case during the initial four Tests of this series in 2021. 

On Sunday, this seemed to allow him to adjust more easily to late away movement than he has done lately. Where he would occasionally get squared up while playing the underlying point – a typical example in a ton of his excusals in Australia and England last year – he was by all accounts ready to play the ball later here, and change the point of his bat face to guard toward the development.

Also Read: Indian crowd faces racism in England during ENG vs IND

His leaving was brimming with sureness as well, even against approaching balls in the direct external off stump, against Stuart Broad specifically. The main time he got into a knot while leaving was when Ben Stokes bowled one into him, late, to strike him on the front cushion. An uproarious yell was turned down, and England’s survey called an umpire back decision, with ball-following recommending the ball would have proceeded to cut the external edge of off stump.

This second came not long after Stokes had delivered the chunk of the innings, which lifted unplayably to kiss Virat Kohli’s glove, to end a 32-run third-wicket partnership. Getting Pujara out then might have put India – who by then drove by 218 – under a considerable amount of tension. As it ended up, Pujara and the naughty Rishabh Pant saw out the remainder of the night’s play, putting on a whole 50-run stand for the fourth wicket.

With England six down nevertheless 175 behind, India scented a speedy completion to the innings, and they to a great extent accomplished this, as Siraj skipped out Broad, bowled Billings off within edge, and afterward had Matthew Potts got at second slip to finish an odd kind of four-wicket pull.

Siraj was costly, yielding 66 in 11.3 overs, and compromised the hitters undeniably less reliably than Bumrah or Shami, yet every bowler enjoys the occasional day when they are nowhere near their best yet end up with a big haul. The last wicket came in disputable conditions as well, with Shreyas Iyer getting the slim chance on the second grab, having first scooped it up from extremely near the turf – close enough that the choice might have gone the player’s way had the delicate sign been not out as opposed to out.

An investigation will be initialised by Warwickshire and ECB into alleged racist abuse at a segment of onlookers during Day 4 of the rescheduled fifth and last Test between England and India at Edgbaston.

“Women were literally in tears” and when the fans reported the problem to the stewards, they asked them to “sit down”.

One of the observers posted on Twitter

Azeem Rafeeq, who last year had raised charges of racist abuse, tormenting and provocation at Yorkshire, featured the issue by sharing a portion of the posts.

“We’re incredibly sorry to read this and do not condone this behaviour in anyway [sic]. We’ll be investigating this ASAP.”

Edgbaston ground’s official Twitter handle answered to one of the all-rounder’s tweets

Also Read: Sri Lanka call up Maheesh Theekshana to the Test Squad

A segment of Indian cricket fans were racially mishandled towards the finish of Day 4. A few Indian fans made claims on Twitter that they had confronted racist abuse from different fans during the match.

Afterward, Warwickshire County Cricket Club made an announcement, with the CEO Stuart Cain saying: 

“I’m gutted by these reports as we’re working hard to make Edgbaston a safe, welcoming environment for all. Having seen the initial tweets, I’ve spoken personally to the gentleman who raised them and we’re now speaking to the stewards in this area to establish what happened. Nobody should be subject to any form of abuse at Edgbaston. So, once we’ve got all the facts, we will make sure this issue is addressed swiftly.”

CEO Stuart Cain responded

Azeem Rafiq, a former British-Asian cricketer who has battled through racist abuse, was one of the fan’s most prominent allies as they confronted horrifying abuse from the English Crowd.

Following the complaints made by the fans on the web, the Warwickshire CCC and Edgbaston Stadium said they would research the matter as quickly as time permits.

Discussing the match, a 150-run stand between Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root helped turn things for England toward the end of the final session of Day 4 of the ongoing fifth and last Test against India at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Monday.

Towards the end of the day’s play, England’s score read 259/3, with Root (76*) and Bairstow (72*) standing tall. Indians were left confused by the assurance and stroke play of both in-structure hitters.