(Cricket news) James Anderson wore the whites for the 168th time when he entered into the MCG in the ongoing 3rd Test match of the Ashes series. He has been one of the greatest players for England in the Test format and has been representing the side for the last 18 years.

The 39 year old made his debut for the side against Zimbabwe in 2003 and took a five wicket haul in the first innings including the wicket of captain Health Streak. Since then, he has taken 639 wickets which is the most by a pace bowler. The veteran is also the first and so far only pace bowler to reach the 600 wickets mark, Glenn McGrath comes in second with 563 wickets. Anderson has dismissed Jacques Kallis and Kumar Sangakkara 7 times but has dismissed Sachin Tendulkar 9 times in the Test format.

The master of swing, Anderson has been known as the top bowler in the current era of cricket where most bowlers rely on speed he can swing the ball both ways. It has been credited to the wrist position and the long strides he takes during his runup. Even Sachin Tendulkar did an analysis on Anderson’s reverse swing which is disguised like an inswinger but goes away from the batter and the same thing for the outswinger. Anderson’s 600th Test wicket came last year and at the current rate we can expect it by 2023 or late 2022.

Anderson along with former Australian cricketers Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh have played 168 Tests which is the second most after Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 200 matches for India. Among active cricketers, Joe Root comes in second with 112 Tests which shows how strenuous it is to play the longest format of the game. 

The third highest wicket taker in Tests has not played an ODI in 6 years and last played a T20 in 2009. He has been only focusing on the Test format for the past few years and has been getting better every season. Anderson has taken 371 wickets in 97 matches after turning 30 which is the most by a pace bowler as Courtney Walsh Walsh took 341 wickets in 81 matches after he turned 30. 

Anderson has chances of crossing the 200 Tests mark given his current physical state. He took 4 wickets in the first innings of the ongoing 3rd Test including the wickets of openers David Warner and Marcus Harris which indicates that England will have his services for a lot more years. 

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