ACE OF PACE
Anderson swings into 600-wicket club
Southampton, Aug. 26: England paceman Jimmy Anderson became the first fast bowler to reach 600 wickets in Test cricket, before the third and final Test against Pakistan finished as a draw on Tuesday, leaving the home side to celebrate a second series victory of the pandemic-disrupted summer.
Less than two hours of cricket were played on a rain-affected Day 5, with England taking just two of the eight wickets needed to win the match at the Rose Bowl after Pakistan resumed on
100-2 and trailing by 210 runs. The big consolation was Anderson took one of them, removing Pakistan captain Azhar Ali to join retired spinners Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne and Anil Kumble in the “600 club” in Tests.
England won the series 1-0, with their three-wicket victory in the first Test in Manchester followed by two drawn Tests in Southampton.
It was a first series triumph over Pakistan since 2010 and a second of the summer after beating the West Indies 2-1.
Pakistan were 187 for the loss of four wickets when the teams settled for a draw, with 27.1 overs bowled on Tuesday.
Babar Azam was 63 not out. The first two sessions were washed out because of heavy overnight rain and a subsequent drenched outfield.
After England captain Joe Root took a high catch at first slip off Azhar to give Anderson his prized wicket on his 14th delivery of the day, the 38-year-old fast bowler was mobbed by his teammates.
Then Anderson took the ball in his right hand and — with a cheeky smile — saluted all sides of the Rose Bowl, which is without spectators because of Coronavirus restrictions.
England coach Silverwood applauded boundary edge.
Muralitharan (800), Shane Warne (708) and Anil Kumble
(619) remain above Anderson on the all-time list of wicket-takers.
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