Former England skipper Mike Atherton has predicted that no fast bowler will leapfrog James Anderson’s tally of Test wickets. The veteran has snared 682 wickets in 178 Test matches in his illustrious career so far.
Anderson returned with figures of 3-36 in the first innings of the opening Test match against New Zealand and then picked 4-18 in the second dig. Thus, the 40-year-old pacer reclaimed the numero uno position in the Test rankings.
In the age of T20 cricket, not many fast bowlers might be able to play as many Test matches as Anderson has done in his career. The experienced pacer is also 18 wickets away from becoming the first fast bowler to take 700 Test wickets.
Anderson is currently the leading wicket-taker as a fast bowler in Test cricket, followed by his compatriot Stuart Broad (571) and Australian legend Glenn McGrath (563).
Mike Atherton wrote in his column for the Times, “No fast bowler will take more wickets than Anderson in Test cricket again. Ever. Records are there to be broken; faster, stronger, higher and all that, but I have absolute conviction that Anderson’s record, as yet unfinished and incomplete, will never be broken. As long as Test cricket is played (which may not be that long, hence part of the certainty) Anderson will stand tall, looking down on the rest.”
Atherton feels Stuart Broad might not play as long as James Anderson has been playing in his long career.
“Stuart Broad is his nearest challenger, with 571 wickets, but Broad, at 36, won’t carry on for much longer. After Broad, you have to scroll down the list to Tim Southee (355), for the next active fast bowler.”
The former England opener added Anderson will go past the 700-wicket barrier before he calls it a day and also hailed the veteran’s longevity.
“It is a remarkable achievement for anyone to become recognized as the world’s best, but to do so at 40 years of age, in a pursuit that is among the most physically demanding of any sport, is magnificent.”
“It is also the way the calendar has changed, with Tests retreating in the face of T20, that will ensure his record is never beaten. It has taken Anderson 178 Tests to reach his present number of wickets. No cricketer will play that number in future; certainly no fast bowler.
“Anderson’s average (25.94) does not stand out, but the longevity he has shown in a sport that has become increasingly demanding is an outlier. He will probably pass 700 Test wickets before he is done and no fast bowler will ever get close to that again. Ever.”
Anderson has had a glorious career and he will want to finish strong.
