Anderson determined to surpass McGrath

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James Anderson 500 wickets England cricket

James Anderson joined the elite 500-wicket club on Friday

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

James Anderson has revealed that he wants beat Glenn McGrath’s tally of 563 wickets to become the most successful pace bowler in Test history after he took his 500th wicket on Friday.

The England seamer became the third fast bowler and sixth bowler overall to claim 500 wickets in the longest format when he clean bowled West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite on the second day of the ongoing third Test at Lord’s.

Courtney Walsh will be next on the all-time list for Anderson to surpass as the West Indian legend ended his career with 519 Test wickets to his name.

McGrath, meanwhile, represented Australia in Tests between 1993 and 2007. In that time, he took 563 wickets at an average of 21.64.

Ahead of McGrath are a trio of spinners – Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne and Anil Kumble – that occupy the top three spots on the list.

Muralitharan leads the way with 800 wickets, while Warne and Kumble snapped up 708 and 619 wickets respectively.

“It feels good,” Anderson told Sky Sports. “It’s still a bit surreal and I can’t quite believe I’ve got this many wickets or played as much cricket as I have.

“I am loving playing cricket at the moment – I’m bowling well, feel fit and want to keep playing as long as I possibly can. If I can play for another couple of years I might get somewhere near [McGrath].”

Anderson made his Test debut in May 2003 and his first victim was Zimbabwe’s Mark Vermeulen, who he cleaned up for one run. In that match, Anderson proceeded to take the first of his 23 five-wicket hauls.

“I had a taste of international cricket early on and knew that was what I wanted to do – play for England,” the 35-year-old said. “There were some dark times – I got injured and left out of the side but that made me more determined to improve. I knew I had some skills and I just tried to develop that.

“I love playing cricket, it’s been my passion since I was kid, and playing for my country in Tests at Lord’s is something that I wouldn’t ever have dreamed of.”

When asked what went through his head when he reached the historic mark of 500 Test wickets, Anderson said: “I’m relieved more than anything to get it out of the way, so to get it early in this innings was a happy moment for me.

“I’d swung a few in the previous over so I thought I’d try a wobble and it nipped back down the slope. I head Nasser [Hussain’s] wise words about pitching the ball-up so that’s what I tried to do.

“Lord’s is a special place for me – to get my first wicket here and my 500th here is something that will live with me for a long time. Having my family and friends in the crowd made it even more special.”

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