Anderson one scalp away from 600
SOUTHAMPTON: James Anderson took his 599th Test wicket on Monday but his bid to become just the fourth bowler to take 600 wickets was hampered by yet another dropped catch as poor weather and the Pakistan openers frustrated England on the fourth day of the series finale against Pakistan.
Anderson, who started the fourth day’s play in the third Test with 598 wickets, induced an edge from Shan Masood but wicketkeeper Jos Buttler floored a routine chance. It was the fourth dropped catch in 37 balls off Anderson.
After a long interruption due to rain and some steady resistance from the Pakistan batsmen, Anderson struck in the last session by trapping opener Abid Ali LBW for his 599th wicket before bad light forced early stumps. Pakistan were 100 for two in 56 overs, with captain Azhar Ali and Babar Azam taking the game into the final day.
Masood could not make much of the life, getting trapped in front without offering a short to Stuart Broad.
Earlier, Pakistan were 41 for none after being made to follow on when some heavy rain stopped play and the players took an early lunch.
Masood was 13 not out and Abid Ali 22 not out, with Pakistan still 269 runs adrift of England’s mammoth first innings 583 for eight declared. A huge downpour during the interval then threatened to keep the players off the field for several hours.
With more rain forecast for Tuesday and no certainty as to when England will next play a Test due to the coronavirus pandemic, Anderson could be left stranded for some time yet. No paceman has yet reached the landmark figure of 600 Test wickets, with the only bowlers ahead of the 38-year-old Anderson in the all-time list a trio of retired spinners -- Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Australia’s Shane Warne (708) and India’s Anil Kumble (619).
Anderson might have reached the landmark late on Sunday had not three easy catches been dropped off his bowling with the new ball.
And there was more frustration for Anderson on the fourth day when left-hander Masood, on three, edged a drive outside off-stump only for the ball to hit Buttler on the thigh as he failed to get his gloves to a chance far less difficult than several catches he held on Sunday. BRIEF SCORES: England 583/8d v Pakistan 273 & (f/o) 100/2 in 56 overs (A Ali 42; J Anderson 1/18, S Broad 1/23)