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James Anderson: England bowler becomes first seamer to reach 700 Test wickets

James Anderson: England bowler becomes first seamer to reach 700 Test wickets

England captain Ben Stokes said it was “amazing” to be on the pitch with Anderson when he took his 700th wicket.

“I’ve been there for quite a few of his milestones but 700 wickets as a seamer is phenomenal,” added Stokes, speaking after India won the fifth Test by an innings and 64 runs to claim a 4-1 series victory.

“Every young kid out there who wants to be a fast bowler should be looking up to him and trying to emulate everything that he does.

“He’s 41 but as fit as I’ve ever seen him. I don’t know when he’s going to stop because he’s still got so much desire and commitment.”

Sir Alastair Cook, who captained Anderson in 49 Tests, told TNT Spots: “It is a superb achievement.

“His hunger to get better and win games of cricket for England is unbelievable. The physical challenges he has overcome to be able to play nearly 190 Test matches is a joke and his skill is a joke.”

Former England bowler Steven Finn said: “At the foothills of the Himalayas, James Anderson has reached the insurmountable summit for a fast bowler in Test match cricket.

“Nobody will ever taken more than 700 Test wickets as a fast bowler. He’s a remarkable man and player and he’s still going.”

India legend Sachin Tendulkar, who Anderson dismissed nine times in Tests, called it a “stellar achievement”.

He added: “A fast bowler playing for 22 years and performing so consistently to be able to take 700 wickets would have sounded like fiction until Anderson actually made it happen. Simply magnificent.”