James Anderson’s remarkable Test career has come to a close following the conclusion of England’s series opener against West Indies at Lord’s.
The 41-year-old retires as the leading Test wicket-taker among seam bowlers, behind only spin greats Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne in the overall list.
Anderson and his long-time new-ball partner Stuart Broad are two of only five bowlers ever to take 600 or more Test wickets, a list headed by Sri Lanka spinner Muralitharan’s remarkable 800.
Warne is next up with 708 for Australia, with Anderson following on 704, Anil Kumble 619 and Broad 604. Anderson’s average of 26.45 ranks third in that group behind Muralitharan (22.73) and Warne (25.42), with Broad at 27.68 and Kumble 29.65.
Anderson has 32 five-wicket hauls, 12 more than Broad but behind the three spinners and seventh overall in Test cricket. Muralitharan is again out in front with a scarcely believable 67, with Warne’s 37 ranking second among all Test bowlers. Kumble took 35.
Four other bowlers have taken over 500 wickets – Australia seamer Glenn McGrath and spinner Nathan Lyon, with 563 and 530 respectively, West Indies great Courtney Walsh on 519 and India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who reached 516 after taking 26 in the five-Test series against England.
Following Anderson’s retirement, Ashwin and Lyon are the only bowlers in the top 10 Test wicket-takers still playing.
