I’M GOING FOR 700!
Jimmy targets Ashes glory after making Test history
JAMES ANDERSON celebrated becoming the first seamer in Test history to claim 600 wickets last night — and immediately set his sights on helping England win back the Ashes in Australia in two winters’ time. Anderson moved to the landmark when he had Pakistan captain Azhar Ali caught at slip by Joe Root on the last day of the drawn third Test, a result that gave England a 1-0 series win. And he said there was no reason, even at the age of 38, that he couldn’t go on to tick off 700. ‘I was just hoping and praying that it stuck,’ he said of Root’s catch, after four chances had gone down off his bowling. ‘I felt a little bit emotional, and I was very proud and happy to celebrate it with my good mates. I’m just
delighted to have played for as long as I have. When I look back at my first Test, I would never have thought I’d get close to 600 wickets. I’m over the moon. It means a huge amount.’
Despite no more Test cricket scheduled this year, and doubts surrounding England’s planned trips to Sri Lanka and India early in 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic, Anderson insisted he was as hungry as ever. Asked whether he could make it to 700, he simply replied: ‘Why not?’
Then there’s the question of the 2021-22 Ashes, which will end with Anderson a little over six months shy of his 40th birthday.
‘I’ve chatted to Rooty about this a bit and he has said he would like me to be in Australia,’ he said.
‘I don’t see any reason why I can’t be. I’m working hard on my fitness all the time. I didn’t bowl as well as I’d have liked for the whole summer, but this Test match I was really on it, and I feel like I’ve still got stuff to offer this team. As long as I still feel like that, I think I’ll keep going.’
Root was full of praise for his senior fast bowler after completing his third successive series win, following victories in South Africa and at home to West Indies.
‘There’s no one who can touch him really,’ he said. ‘He’s that far ahead of everyone else in my opinion. It’s incredible what he’s done so far in the game. I couldn’t be happier for him.’
England’s player of the series Jos Buttler added: ‘I’m blown away by his longevity. He’s an inspiration.’
Meanwhile, Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart has warned that Ollie Pope could be out for months after injuring his left shoulder in the field on the fourth morning of the Test.
Pope, 22, will have a scan today on the same shoulder he dislocated last year, leading to a four-month lay-off.