James Anderson – ‘Nothing to rejoice’ about reaching 700 wickets
Anderson, 41, achieved the feat on the ultimate morning of the collection, when he had Kuldeep Yadav caught behind to turn into solely the third bowler in all of Take a look at cricket to succeed in the 700 mark.
Every of the opposite two, nevertheless, had been spinners – Sri Lanka’s Muthiah Muralidaran (800) and Australia’s Shane Warne, whose former world-record mark of 708 may but be in Anderson’s sights subsequent summer season.
“It was a pleasant second and good to do it at a picturesque floor,” Anderson advised the BBC Tailenders podcast. “My dad was right here so we had a drink, which was good. He was extra excited than I used to be.
“Perhaps I might’ve felt extra excited if we might have received the Take a look at or the collection. It has been a protracted collection, and I do not know the way I really feel.”
Given the altering nature of Take a look at cricket, Anderson’s landmark might by no means be reached by one other seam bowler, however the man himself mentioned that the dialogue about his place within the sport’s historical past was “irrelevant” to him.
“I do not get something out of that,” he mentioned. “I do not get something out of what different individuals say. That is not why I play cricket. I do not play cricket to get the milestones. I wish to win video games. I like enjoying for a crew and that is after I get the largest buzz.
“That is why I am in all probability just a little bit flat now, as a result of we have misplaced 4-1 on this collection. However I actually loved this tour. I have been on excursions to India earlier than the place little cracks begin showing within the crew and that is not occurred this time.
“We have caught collectively very well, we actually get pleasure from being collectively as a gaggle and there’s extra to return from this crew. Clearly we’ll are available in for some criticism as a result of we did have moments the place we did not play significantly properly however India are actually good.”
England don’t play one other Take a look at till the go to of West Indies in July, by which stage Anderson can be weeks away from his forty second birthday. However, having claimed ten wickets at 33.50 in India, Anderson is adamant he has acquired the shape and health to maintain competing for his England place.
“I am actually excited for the summer season,” Anderson mentioned. “I wish to be sure that I am enjoying properly and earn my place within the crew.
“I am not getting any worse,” he added. “I am undoubtedly in one of the best form I’ve ever been in. I like the place my sport is at, and I nonetheless have that enjoyment of turning up on daily basis and attempting to get higher within the nets. My place within the crew will not be a given so I’ve started working arduous to show I am value a spot in the summertime.”
Reflecting on the second of his 700th wicket, Anderson mentioned that his sufferer had predicted that he can be the landmark sufferer.
“Kuldeep edged one down to 3rd man for a single,” Anderson recalled. “As he acquired to the non-striker’s finish, and as I used to be strolling again to my mark, he mentioned, ‘I’ll be your 700th wicket’. He wasn’t saying he was attempting to get out, he was simply saying he had a sense. We each laughed at it.”
Anderson’s 699th wicket had been Kuldeep’s team-mate, Shubman Gill, with whom he had exchanged phrases on the second day.
“I mentioned one thing to him like, ‘Do you get any runs exterior India?’ and he mentioned, ‘It is time to retire’,” Anderson mentioned. “Then two balls later, I acquired him out.”
