‘Oh Jimmy Jimmy!, You freak of an artist’, ‘You absolute freak’ Hell! You can use as many adjectives you want- freak, genius artist, and they still won’t be enough to describe James Anderson.
In the end, after a series of drop catches and rain+ bad light delays, the moment we had all been waiting for finally came as James Anderson became the first seamer in the history of Test match cricket and fourth overall to breach the 600-wicket barrier.
The moment finally came in the 61st over of Pakistan’s second innings when play finally kickstarted on the fifth and final day of the third Test between England and Pakistan after a long delay due to inclement weather.
Also Read- James Anderson Becomes First Fast Bowler To Take 600 Test Wickets
James Anderson breaches Mount.600 in Test cricket
It is a special landmark from a very special bowler and it needed something special to achieve it. And, Anderson did just that. He got the ball to kick in from the surface, and Azhar Ali could do nothing but fend at it, giving Joe Root an easy catch in the slip cordon.
YOU ARE WITNESSING GREATNESS. HE IS TIMELESS ???
This is James Anderson's world and we're just living in it ?#CricketForAll | #ENGvPAK ?????????pic.twitter.com/VKQNaUUhAf
— Cricingif (@_cricingif) August 25, 2020
Consistent dropped catches off his bowling meant, James Anderson could not beat Muttiah Muralitharan’s record of being the fastest to the 600-wicket landmark (in terms of number of deliveries bowled).
Nevertheless, he still is the second fastest to do so. The Lancashire seamer took a total of 33717 deliveries to claim 600 Test wickets as compared to Muttiah Muralitharan (33711), Shane Warne (34919) and Anil Kumble (38494).
Here’s how Twitter reacted to James Anderson’s 600 Test wicket feat-
Champion bowler James Anderson! Congrats on reaching the first-ever 600 wickets for a fast bowler.. hard work, passion and never-day-die approach have been the hallmark of your career.. doyen of fast bowlers, best wishes for the rest of your career @jimmy9
— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) August 25, 2020
Congratulations to one and only #anderson for being the first fast bowler to reach 600 Test wickets. I was playing U19 cricket when you started and I am still learning by watching you the tricks of a swing bowler even if I am retired ? #JamesAnderson #ENGvsPAK #PakvsEng
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) August 25, 2020
Having skills is just one part but there is a knack or some call it intelligence to take wickets James Anderson has it all #GOAT #600 #ENGvsPAK pic.twitter.com/uQScVILlft
— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) August 25, 2020
600 is a lot of wickets for a fast bowler; a tribute to skill and fitness. And @jimmy9 has shown he is as good as any. Fabulous career and a place among the greats of the game
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 25, 2020
Great skills and even greater performer @jimmy9 #600wickets #test
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) August 25, 2020
https://twitter.com/hershybru/status/1298292853437804545
Congratulations @jimmy9, so proud moment on becoming the FIRST ever fast bowler to pick 600th Test Wicket?
Here’s to many more milestones! ?✌️ https://t.co/NJpQF93uQD— Suresh Raina?? (@ImRaina) August 25, 2020
Now it will be even better! @gregjames @felixwhite @itsmattchin. Incredible @jimmy9 #600 #ENGvPAK #tailenders
— Isa Guha (@isaguha) August 25, 2020
What an outstanding achievement from @jimmy9 #600 from a Fast bowler is just unheard of just shows the quality of the man, massive congrats fella plenty left in you yet ?? #ENGvPAK #differentgravy
— Alex Tudor (@alextudorcoach) August 25, 2020
Three quarter sprint over 20 yards, gather, small leap, then compress left side with front arm pull, right-arm follows, seam up, bit of swing or seam & measured scowl in follow-through..Jimmy Anderson did this 33,717 times to reach 600 Test wickets…dedication, fitness & talent
— Derek Pringle (@derekpringle) August 25, 2020
Congratulations @jimmy9 600 Test wickets ???????? 1st Fast bowler to achieve this Milestone U r a Great Ambassador of this beautiful game of cricket ? Stay Blessed
— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) August 25, 2020
#600JA Couldn’t be a greater ambassador for Test Cricket than James Anderson! He’s an excellent example to young kids that to win a Cricket Oscar be great in Test Cricket!
— Ramiz Raja (@iramizraja) August 25, 2020
2nd fastest to #600 in balls bowled. Legendary! #JimmyAnderson
— mark butcher (@markbutcher72) August 25, 2020
Congratulations @jimmy9 on your 600 wickets! Massive effort from a great fast bowler. Welcome to the club ??
— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) August 25, 2020
An extraordinary bowler @jimmy9 goes past yet another milestone. What a bowler and what an achievement !! ?? Well done and look forward to having a healthy debate on the run out and shredder ASAP! Someone like you can really help settling the stigma surrounding it. ????
— Mask up and take your vaccine???? (@ashwinravi99) August 25, 2020
Fantastic achievement- congratulations Jimmy.
#600 https://t.co/Y3tY0irkXm— Jason Gillespie ? (@dizzy259) August 25, 2020
Undoubtedly One of the modern great…Big congratulations to Jimmy Anderson ?? first pace man in the history of test cricket to scalp 600 test wicket ✊✊-MR 15 pic.twitter.com/fykUNRWUjB
— Mushfiqur Rahim (@mushfiqur15) August 25, 2020
Congratulations @jimmy9 wonderful display of skill and resilience over a long career. #Jimmy600 https://t.co/PPl6V26i2x
— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) August 25, 2020
Congratulations @jimmy9 Astonishing feat…onwards to 700! ? #600
— Matt Prior (@MattPrior13) August 25, 2020
Outstanding achievement of 600 test wickets. Congratulations to @jimmy9. Hard work and dedication throughout his career has resulted in a skilled champion bowler. Great inspirational story for youngsters
— Azhar Mahmood (@AzharMahmood11) August 25, 2020
What a achievement!congratulations @jimmy9 ….well done????????????@ECB_cricket pic.twitter.com/NwssVaLKj6
— Kamran Akmal (@KamiAkmal23) August 25, 2020
Congrats James Anderson @jimmy9
First fast bowler in history to take 600 Test wickets.
You are a nightmare for any openers in world cricket….. #ENGvPAK— ?????? ???????????? (@IamDimuth) August 25, 2020
Since turning 30, James Anderson has taken 322 Test wickets at 23.87.
Since turning 35, he's taken 120 Test wickets at 21.06.
?#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/o74oSAKGYQ
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) August 25, 2020
Sachin Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis, Kumar Sangakkara, Kane Williamson, Graeme Smith, Michael Clarke and David Warner.
Undoubtedly some of the greatest batsmen to ever play the game.
James Anderson has got each of them out at least FIVE times in Test matches.#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/BpweroUJxx
— bet365 (@bet365) August 25, 2020
? 2003: James Anderson takes his maiden five-fer on his Test debut.
17 years later…
6⃣0⃣0⃣ James Anderson takes his 600th wicket. If only we could have another 17 years from him.pic.twitter.com/Cxi7xvovNi
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) August 25, 2020
600th Test victim for each bowler:
Shane Warne- Marcus Trescothick (2005)
Muralitharan- Khaled Mashud (2006)
Anil Kumble- Andrew Symonds (2008)
James Anderson- Azhar Ali (2020)#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/wERlALEYWT— Rohit Yadav (@cricrohit) August 25, 2020
YOU ARE WITNESSING GREATNESS. HE IS TIMELESS ???
This is James Anderson's world and we're just living in it ?#CricketForAll | #ENGvPAK ?????????pic.twitter.com/VKQNaUUhAf
— Cricingif (@_cricingif) August 25, 2020
James Anderson's most frequent Test victims:
Peter Siddle – 11 dismissals
Sachin Tendulkar – 9
Michael Clarke – 9
Azhar Ali – 9
David Warner – 9
Shane Watson – 8
Cheteshwar Pujara – 8
Brad Haddin – 8
Shan Masood – 8#ENGvPAK— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) August 25, 2020
First fast bowler to wicket milestones
100: Charlie Turner (1895) ??
200: Alec Bedser (1953) ???????
300: Fred Trueman (1964) ???????
400: Richard Hadlee (1990) ??
500: Courtney Walsh (2001) ??
600: James Anderson (2020) ???????#ENGvPAK— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) August 25, 2020
A reminder that Anderson is now just 100 wickets short of the 700 mark: Ever wondered how much James Anderson puts into his bowling? How about breaking a rib from effort? https://t.co/I3E1KWdK1f
— George Dobell (@GeorgeDobell1) August 25, 2020
600th Test victim of
Shane Warne – Marcus Trescothick (Eng) in 2005
Muralidharan – Khaled Mashud (Ban) in 2006
Anil Kumble – Andrew Symonds (Aus) in 2008
James Anderson – Azhar Ali (Pak) in 2020#EngvPak #EngvsPak— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) August 25, 2020
James Anderson becomes the first seamer to claim 600 Test wickets. He is only the fourth bowler of any kind to take this many wickets in Test cricket, alongside Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, and
Anil Kumble. #ENGvPAK— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) August 25, 2020
James Anderson becomes the first pacer to take 600 Test wickets. And he gets a big wicket of Azhar Ali as his 600th. 156 Tests & 17 years as a pace bowler — amazing fitness & consistency.
Joins Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne & Anil Kumble in this elite list. #ENGvsPAK
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) August 25, 2020
Number 600 for James Anderson is Azhar Ali,unfortunate that there’s no one to give him a standing ovation,but still doesn’t take away from the fact that it’s been an incredible career,what a bowler! #ENGvPAK
— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) August 25, 2020
@jimmy9 During my college days, watched a 20-year-old dismiss Pritpaul, Pothas and Laney in a List A game. Waspish pace and movement. Hours turned into months and now 18 years.
600 Test wickets! Tremendous achievement by a skilful bowler!#JamesAnderson #ENGvPAK #600wickets
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) August 25, 2020
A once in a generation cricketer and the most handsome cricketer (according to me)
600 Test wickets. Congratulations, Jimmy Anderson ? Historic Moment ❤️@jimmy9 @ECB_cricket @TheBarmyArmy #jamesanderson #JimmyAnderson #ohhjimmyjimmy pic.twitter.com/u4VtGwEQy3
— Hrithik Sharma (@imhrithiksharma) August 25, 2020
600 test wickets for James Anderson, he's the first fast bowler of test history to achieve this feat. What an outstanding achievement for him, one of the fittest bowler of this generation. pic.twitter.com/9fLMYH3VUv
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 25, 2020
600 wickets for James Anderson, he is the first fast bowler to complete this milestone – other three are spinners: Muralitharan, Warne & Kumble.
17-year-old Test career for a fast bowler is an achievement – longevity, swing, accuracy, fitness, motivation and still going strong. pic.twitter.com/jbcE9X2ilQ
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 25, 2020
James Anderson in Test
100th Wicket – Kallis
200th Wicket – Siddle
300th Wicket – Fulton
400th Wicket – Guptill
500th Wicket – Brathwaite
600th Wicket – Azhar Ali*#ENGvPAK— CricBeat (@Cric_beat) August 25, 2020
We support everyone well down james Anderson ? 600 test wickets. @SkyCricket #RaiseTheBat #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/NBOTaLvJqm
— Yohan Blake (@YohanBlake) August 25, 2020
6️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ Test wickets for @jimmy9!
England's King of Swing becomes the first pace bowler to reach the milestone. A true legend of the game ?
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) August 25, 2020
Muttiah Muralitharan
Shane Warne
Anil Kumble…and James Anderson
James Anderson joins the 600 Club!#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/TUQnYOFD0f
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) August 25, 2020
England's James Anderson has taken his 600th Test wicket becoming the fourth bowler in history to do so
— Sky News Breaking (@SkyNewsBreak) August 25, 2020
James Anderson becomes just the 4th bowler and 1st pace bowler to take 600+ Test wickets
Joining Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Shane Warne (708) and Anil Kumble (619)#ENGvPAK ??????? pic.twitter.com/qG0FKJQXce
— Fox Sports Lab (@FoxSportsLab) August 25, 2020
? What. A. Career
6⃣0⃣0⃣ Test wickets
? 156 Tests
?️ Test Debut: 2003
? 29 five-fers
⚱️ Four Ashes wins
? Best match figures: 11/71
? A record 90 not outs
⚪️ 269 ODI wickets in 194 matches??????? England legend James Anderson is first fast bowler ever to join the 600 club pic.twitter.com/E6HRzhxz7T
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) August 25, 2020
Fast bowlers to take 600 Test match wickets:
✅ James Anderson
End of list#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/umzUUWFslN
— William Hill (@WilliamHill) August 25, 2020