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James Anderson And His Amazing 600

England seamer James Anderson became the first fast bowler to reach 600 Test wickets. The hosts and Pakistan played out a rain-affected draw in the final Test of the summer.

After rain caused the players to wait until 4.15pm for play on the final day, the 38-year-old got what he came for, as he reached his milestone. He reached it by removing Azhar Ali, caught at first slip by captain Joe Root.

The Lancashire man made his Test debut 17 years ago and has since earned 156 caps. James Anderson now sits fourth on the all-time list of Test wicket-takers with 600. Only spinners ahead of him in Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, and Anil Kumble.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 25: James Anderson of England acknowledges the changing rooms whilst being applauded by Zak Crawley, Jos Buttler and Rory Burns after taking the wicket of Azhar Ali of Pakistan to reach 600 Test Match Wickets during Day Five of the 3rd #RaiseTheBat Test Match between England and Pakistan at the Ageas Bowl on August 25, 2020 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Despite Anderson’s heroics England could not take the eight wickets required to win on the final afternoon of the Test summer. Root himself took the only other wicket to fall when he removed Asad Shafiq for 21.

Game Ends In Tame Draw

Babar Azam was the main sticking point in the visitors line up, as the classy batsman made his way in some style to an unbeaten 63.

As play entered the final hour shortly after England had taken the new-ball, both teams agreed a continuation was futile and bumped elbows to make the end of the Test match, and with it the series.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 25: Babar Azam of Pakistan hits out watched by Jos Buttler during the third Test match between England and Pakistan at the Ageas Bowl on August 25, 2020 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Philip Brown/Popperfoto/Popperfoto via Getty Images)

England ran out 1-0 winners after winning the first Test match at Emirates Old Trafford. Both test matches at the Ageas Bowl ending in badly rain-affected draws.

Despite the eventual anti-climatic draw, the day and the summer now belong in many ways to James Anderson, a true great of English cricket, the Burnley lad has truly written himself in the record books by becoming the first seam bowler to reach the 600 Test wicket mark.

Jos Buttler was England’s player of the series. Mohammad Rizwan was Pakistan’s player of the series. A good event overall for both wicket keeper batsmen. Buttler was uncharacteristically poor behind the stumps. However, his run-scoring made up for it. Rizwan was good at both roles.

A Look At His Top 5 Bowling Spells In Test Cricket

The focus will now turn to Friday as the two nations turn to white-ball action in the shape of the first of three T20I matches. The T20 series should provide great entertainment for fans. All three games will be played at the Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground.

Also Read – Can England’s T20 Squad Beat A Strong Pakistan Team?

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