England pacer James Anderson on Saturday became the first fast bowler to take 700 Test wickets. The 41-year-old achieved the feat on the third day of the ongoing fifth Test against India in Dharamshala. Anderson dismissed Kuldeep Yadav in the morning session and became the third bowler to take 700 or more Test wickets. Only Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Shane Warne (708) have taken more Test wickets than Anderson (700). On the second day, Anderson cleared Shubman Gill and moved on to take 699 Test wickets.

In the 147-year history of Test cricket starting in 1877, Anderson was the first pacer to take 700 wickets.

In India’s first innings, Anderson took figures of 2/60 in 16 overs with an economy rate of 3.75. He got the wickets of Shubman Gill and Kuldeep Yadav.

Anderson made his Test debut for England in 2002 and now has 700 wickets in 187 Test matches. He has an average of 26.52 and a strike rate of 56.9 with 32 five-wicket hauls and three ten-wicket hauls. His best bowling figures per innings are 7/42.

He is the bowler with the most wickets in England’s Tests. Overall, he trails Sri Lankan spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan (800 wickets in 133 games) and the late Australian spin maestro Shane Warne ( 708 wickets in 145 games).

Anderson has been outstanding in India this year. In the four Tests he played, Anderson took 10 wickets at an average of 33.5 with best bowling figures of 3/47.

Meanwhile, India were bowled out for 477 in the first innings. They are 259 runs ahead of England.

(With ANI input)