James Anderson says he has “nothing to celebrate” after becoming the first seam bowler to reach 700 Test wickets, because he was unable to prevent the innings defeat in Dharmasala that capped England’s 4-1 series loss. Anderson, 41, achieved the feat on the final morning of the series, when he had Kuldeep Yadav caught behind to become only the third bowler in all of Test cricket to reach the 700 mark. “It was a nice moment and nice to do it at a picturesque ground,” Anderson told the BBC Tailenders podcast. “My dad was here so we had a drink, which was nice. He was more excited than I was. “Maybe I would’ve felt more excited if we’d have won the Test or the series. It’s been a long series, and I don’t know how I feel.”
Each of the other two, however, were spinners – Sri Lanka’s Muthiah Muralidaran (800) and Australia’s Shane Warne, whose former world-record mark of 708 could yet be in Anderson’s sights next summer. Given the changing nature of Test cricket, Anderson’s landmark may never be reached by another seam bowler, but the man himself said that the discussion about his place in the sport’s history was “irrelevant” to him. “I don’t get anything out of that,” he said. “I don’t get anything out of what other people say. That’s not why I play cricket. I don’t play cricket to get the milestones. I want to win games. I love playing for a team and that’s when I get the biggest buzz.
England do not play another Test until the visit of West Indies in July, by which stage Anderson will be weeks away from his 42nd birthday. But, having claimed ten wickets at 33.50 in India, Anderson is adamant he has got the form and fitness to keep competing for his England place. “I’m really excited for the summer,” said Anderson. “I want to make sure I’m playing well and earn my place in the team. “I’m not getting any worse,” he added. “I’m definitely in the best shape I’ve ever been in. I like where my game is at, and I still have that enjoyment of turning up every day and trying to get better in the nets. My place in the team is not a given so I’ve got to work hard to prove I’m worth a place in the summer.”
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