Kuldeep Yadav said 'I'm going to be your 700th wicket' - James Anderson's astonishing revelation
Published - 13 Mar 2024, 04:13 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:27 AM
The veteran England pacer, James Anderson, recounted an intriguing moment he shared with Kuldeep Yadav just before securing his 700th Test wicket. James Anderson said that he and Kuldeep Yadav exchanged lighthearted banter on the field in Dharamsala.
James Anderson reached his 700th Test wicket during the fifth and final Test match against India. Kuldeep Yadav became the victim of the veteran pacer’s landmark achievement in Test cricket. Anderson accomplished this milestone during India’s lone innings.
The England legend made history by becoming the first pace bowler to achieve the milestone. He joined an elite club alongside Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne. He now needs nine more wickets to become the second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket.
We Both Laughed At It – James Anderson
On BBC’s Tailenders podcast, James Anderson shared a humorous moment where Kuldeep jokingly predicted he would become Anderson’s 700th wicket. Anderson recalled how they shared a laugh over the remark while continuing with the game.
“Kuldeep edged one down to third man for a single and as he got to the non-striker’s end and as I was walking back to my mark, he said, ‘I’m going to be your 700th wicket’. He wasn’t saying he was trying to get out, he was just saying he had a feeling. We both laughed at it,” Anderson said.
Kuldeep’s prediction became reality as a lower-order batter was caught behind on the morning of Day 3 of the Test. Commencing the day with 699 wickets to his name, Anderson reached the milestone by inducing an edge when bowling from around the wicket.
Nice To Do It At A Picturesque Ground – James Anderson
The 41-year-old bowler described the milestone as a pleasant moment, especially given the picturesque ground. Anderson stated that he might have felt more jubilant had the team won the Test or the series.
“It was a nice moment and nice to do it at a picturesque ground. My dad was here so I had a drink with my dad, which was nice. He was more excited than I was. Maybe I would’ve felt more excited if we’d won the Test or the series,” Anderson said.
Anderson’s milestone was made more special by the presence of his father, who watched proudly from the stands. Amidst the spectators, he witnessed his son’s historic achievement with immense pride.
Earlier this month, the Ben Stokes-led team faced a humiliating innings defeat against India in the Dharamsala Test. The Rohit Sharma-led side sealed the series with a commanding innings victory by 64 runs, securing a 4-1 win over England.
The 41-year-old bowler ended up with 10 wickets in four matches. Despite not achieving a significant breakthrough, Anderson expressed contentment with his performance and aims to secure his spot for the upcoming English summer.
England will face Sri Lanka and the West Indies in the upcoming English summer. The home team will face three Tests each against the West Indies and Sri Lanka.
