Anderson’s 600 test wickets shows why he is still a force to reckon with

When Anderson took his 500th wicket, bowling West Indian Kraigg Brathwaite at Lord’s in 2017, it seemed improbable that he would get to 600. At that time, it was expected he would have a couple more years left in him before he retired to the bright lights of Burnley. Now, at the occasion of his 600th, he is showing no signs of slowing down or giving the game away. He says he wants to carry on at least until next winter’s Ashes. Perhaps he will go on even longer than that.

How many scalps James Anderson will end up with is anybody’s guess. The only certainly? We won’t see his like again. We won’t I agree. But when he claimed his 600th wicket that was a remarkable feet.

He has focused mainly on test cricket when players want to do wonders in the T20 or the ODI’s. He is a remarkable person. The way he bowls and shapes the angle is still no one can do. He along with Stuart Broad is the stalwart of the game.

While Anderson juggled Test and one-day cricket for the first 12 years of his international career, he has focused exclusively on the Test arena since 2015. He last played an ODI at that year’s World Cup. He has also largely avoided T20 cricket, playing just 44 games in his entire career. By contrast, Rabada, just 25 years old, has already played 81 T20s. While Anderson has given up white-ball to focus on red, many others are now doing the opposite. The Lancastrian has generally saved his best overs for Test cricket. Everyone wants him to retire soon. But as a fan I do not agree. He still has a lot to offer.

The way he claimed the 600th wicket was phenomenal.Just a hint of seam movement in to the batsman on a pitch which had offered nothing of the sort on day four. Azhar Ali’s attempted cut shot was morphed into a too-close-to-prod prod. Caught at first slip. It took Anderson into Test cricket’s 600 club. Only the true greats are allowed in there. This club is really great and he still has a lot to offer.