English paceman James Anderson picked up his 30th five-wicket haul in his career overtaking Australian legend Glenn McGrath, who had 29 fifers in Test cricket. The 38-year-old bowler became the second pacer to reach 30-plus five-wicket hauls in an innings of a Test match. New Zealand legend Richard Hadlee is the other seamer.

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Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan has the highest five-wicket hauls (67), followed by legendary Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne (37), former New Zealand fast bowler Richard Hadlee (36), ex-India captain Anil Kumble (35) and former Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath (34).&nbsp;

The Englishman achieved this feat against Sri Lanka as his best Test figures in Asia (6-40) helped the visitors bowl out the hosts for 381. Anderson, who replaced Stuart Broad for the match, took his wicket tally to 606. He already holds the record of most wickets (by pacer) in Test cricket.&nbsp;

Despite this achievement, Sri Lanka managed to pose challenging 381 runs in the first innings.&nbsp;

Dilruwan Perera was the last man out on 67 as the hosts, who trail the two-Test series 1-0 and resumed the day on 229-4, were bowled out in an extended second session and tea was taken in Galle.

Anderson, 38, denied wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella a century after sending him back on 92 to claim his 30th five-wicket haul and second in Sri Lanka -- his previous best was 5-75 in Galle in 2012.

Dickwella made the team fight back with his 16th Test fifty as he put together an 89-run seventh-wicket stand with Perera.

Perera also dug in after Dickwella's wicket and scored his seventh Test half-century to frustrate the England bowlers before falling to Sam Curran.

All the 10 wickets went to the pacemen with Wood taking three scalps.

(Inputs from AFP)

English paceman James Anderson picked up his 30th five-wicket haul in his career overtaking Australian legend Glenn McGrath, who had 29 fifers in Test cricket. The 38-year-old bowler became the second pacer to reach 30-plus five-wicket hauls in an innings of a Test match.

English paceman James Anderson picked up his 30th five-wicket haul in his career overtaking Australian legend Glenn McGrath, who had 29 fifers in Test cricket. The 38-year-old bowler became the second pacer to reach 30-plus five-wicket hauls in an innings of a Test match. New Zealand legend Richard Hadlee is the other seamer. ALSO READ: 6 Indian cricketers got this special gift from Anand Mahindra for their historic win against Australia Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan has the highest five-wicket hauls (67), followed by legendary Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne (37), former New Zealand fast bowler Richard Hadlee (36), ex-India captain Anil Kumble (35) and former Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath (34). The Englishman achieved this feat against Sri Lanka as his best Test figures in Asia (6-40) helped the visitors bowl out the hosts for 381. Anderson, who replaced Stuart Broad for the match, took his wicket tally to 606. He already holds the record of most wickets (by pacer) in Test cricket. Despite this achievement, Sri Lanka managed to pose challenging 381 runs in the first innings. Dilruwan Perera was the last man out on 67 as the hosts, who trail the two-Test series 1-0 and resumed the day on 229-4, were bowled out in an extended second session and tea was taken in Galle. Anderson, 38, denied wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella a century after sending him back on 92 to claim his 30th five-wicket haul and second in Sri Lanka -- his previous best was 5-75 in Galle in 2012. Dickwella made the team fight back with his 16th Test fifty as he put together an 89-run seventh-wicket stand with Perera. Perera also dug in after Dickwella's wicket and scored his seventh Test half-century to frustrate the England bowlers before falling to Sam Curran. All the 10 wickets went to the pacemen with Wood taking three scalps. (Inputs from AFP)

English paceman James Anderson picks up his 30th five-wicket haul in Test career

Bowling greats Anil Kumble and Shane Warne welcomed James Anderson to the elite group of players who have taken 600 Test wickets as tributes to the England star poured in from around the cricketing world on Tuesday.

Anderson become the first fast bowler to reach the landmark when he had Pakistan's Azhar Ali caught by Joe Root on the final day of the third Test at Southampton.

He joins a trio of retired spinners -- Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Australia's Warne (708) and India's Kumble (619).

"Congratulations @jimmy9 on your 600 wickets! Massive effort from a great fast bowler. Welcome to the club," Kumble tweeted.

Former Australia leg-spinner Warne said it was a "proud moment" for the England bowler.

"It's an outstanding achievement from Jimmy Anderson, and his longevity, and he should be extremely proud of what he has just done -- 156 Test matches is a lot of games," he said on Sky Sports.

Anderson's achievement has been 17 years and 156 appearances in the making, a journey that started when he dismissed Zimbabwe's Mark Vermeulen in 2003.

England paceman Stuart Broad, who has long been Anderson's strike partner, hailed his team-mate's longevity.

"You can't really put it into words, it's just phenomenal," Broad told the BBC.

"He has got better with age and is someone who has inspired me throughout my career, watching him.&nbsp;

"The last five years in particular, since leaving South Africa in 2016, he's just gone from strength to strength. He's a role model to follow for every English cricketer and young cricketer coming through."

Former Australia star Glenn McGrath has the second-most Test wickets by a fast bowler, with 563.

Hailing Anderson's landmark, McGrath told the BBC: "Absolutely incredible, I'm a big fan of Jimmy's. Just the fact he's still playing now, in his 156th Test match, which in itself is just incredible.

"The rigours, the stresses that fast bowlers put on their body day in day out, to turn around and front up and just work your backside off is just absolutely incredible.

"Looking through my career, the two that really stand out skill-wise is Jimmy and Wasim Akram. What they can do with the ball, to swing it both ways, it's a real art form."

Andrew Strauss, a former England captain and ex-teammate of Anderson's, told Sky Sports: "You look at that career, you look at that achievement and it is just extraordinary.&nbsp;

"James Anderson, himself, wouldn't believe it if you had said that a few years ago you would get to 600 Test wickets, you would play 156 Test matches and get 29 five-wicket hauls.&nbsp;

"There is still plenty of life in the old dog yet. It doesn't look like he is going anywhere. A great moment for him."

Bowling greats Anil Kumble and Shane Warne welcomed James Anderson to the elite group of players who have taken 600 Test wickets as tributes to the England star poured in from around the cricketing world on Tuesday.

Bowling greats Anil Kumble and Shane Warne welcomed James Anderson to the elite group of players who have taken 600 Test wickets as tributes to the England star poured in from around the cricketing world on Tuesday. Anderson become the first fast bowler to reach the landmark when he had Pakistan's Azhar Ali caught by Joe Root on the final day of the third Test at Southampton. He joins a trio of retired spinners -- Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Australia's Warne (708) and India's Kumble (619). "Congratulations @jimmy9 on your 600 wickets! Massive effort from a great fast bowler. Welcome to the club," Kumble tweeted. Former Australia leg-spinner Warne said it was a "proud moment" for the England bowler. "It's an outstanding achievement from Jimmy Anderson, and his longevity, and he should be extremely proud of what he has just done -- 156 Test matches is a lot of games," he said on Sky Sports. Anderson's achievement has been 17 years and 156 appearances in the making, a journey that started when he dismissed Zimbabwe's Mark Vermeulen in 2003. England paceman Stuart Broad, who has long been Anderson's strike partner, hailed his team-mate's longevity. "You can't really put it into words, it's just phenomenal," Broad told the BBC. "He has got better with age and is someone who has inspired me throughout my career, watching him. "The last five years in particular, since leaving South Africa in 2016, he's just gone from strength to strength. He's a role model to follow for every English cricketer and young cricketer coming through." Former Australia star Glenn McGrath has the second-most Test wickets by a fast bowler, with 563. Hailing Anderson's landmark, McGrath told the BBC: "Absolutely incredible, I'm a big fan of Jimmy's. Just the fact he's still playing now, in his 156th Test match, which in itself is just incredible. "The rigours, the stresses that fast bowlers put on their body day in day out, to turn around and front up and just work your backside off is just absolutely incredible. "Looking through my career, the two that really stand out skill-wise is Jimmy and Wasim Akram. What they can do with the ball, to swing it both ways, it's a real art form." Andrew Strauss, a former England captain and ex-teammate of Anderson's, told Sky Sports: "You look at that career, you look at that achievement and it is just extraordinary. "James Anderson, himself, wouldn't believe it if you had said that a few years ago you would get to 600 Test wickets, you would play 156 Test matches and get 29 five-wicket hauls. "There is still plenty of life in the old dog yet. It doesn't look like he is going anywhere. A great moment for him."

Kumble, Warne welcome England's Anderson to '600 club'

James Anderson on Tuesday became the first fast bowler and fourth bowler overall to pick up 600 Test wickets after the veteran England seamer dismissed Pakistan captain Azhar Ali to achieve the landmark at the Rose Bowl in Southampton.&nbsp;

Others in the list to have picked up 600 Test wickets or more are: Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Shane Warne (708) and Anil Kumble (619)

Anderson, who scalped a fifer in the first innings of the ongoing third Test against Pakistan, had to wait long for his 600th Test wicket after rain gods disrupted the flow of the game on Day 4 and aided to delayed start on Day 5 of the game.&nbsp;

<img alt="James Anderson" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="39ddf1b0-c9de-4f38-b727-4f75f6c9a4ef" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1WQ87B.jpg" />

<h2>James Anderson in Test cricket:</h2>

<ul>
	<li>100th Wicket – Kallis</li>
	<li>200th Wicket - Siddle</li>
	<li>300th Wicket - Fulton</li>
	<li>400th Wicket - Guptill</li>
	<li>500th Wicket - Brathwaite</li>
	<li>600th Wicket - Azhar Ali*</li>
</ul>

However, it didn’t take long for Anderson to complete the historic achievement as the England pacer bowled a length delivery only for Ali to edge it straight to Joe Root in the slip cordon as the English skipper took a comfortable reverse cup.&nbsp;

<h2>600th Test victim of bowlers:</h2>

<ul>
	<li>Shane Warne - Marcus Trescothick in 2005</li>
	<li>Muralitharan - Khaled Mashud in 2006</li>
	<li>Anil Kumble - Andrew Symonds in 2008</li>
	<li>James Anderson - Azhar Ali in 2020</li>
</ul>

Anderson is regarded as one of the greatest pacers to have taken to the cricket field. While there may be some arguments that he hasn’t shine in sub-continents, statistics show he have turned around the theory since learning the trick of reverse swing after 2010.&nbsp;

<h2>Balls to 600th Test wicket &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</h2>

<ul>
	<li>33711 M Muralitharan</li>
	<li>33717 James Anderson</li>
	<li>34919 Shane Warne</li>
	<li>38496 Anil Kumble</li>
</ul>

The King of Swing has been a legendary servant for England cricket and have always lived up to the expectations and the latest achievement just prove how valuable Anderson has been to England and international cricket.&nbsp;

James Anderson on Tuesday became the first fast bowler and fourth bowler overall to pick up 600 Test wickets after the veteran England seamer dismissed Pakistan captain Azhar Ali to achieve the landmark at the Rose Bowl in Southampton.

James Anderson on Tuesday became the first fast bowler and fourth bowler overall to pick up 600 Test wickets after the veteran England seamer dismissed Pakistan captain Azhar Ali to achieve the landmark at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. Others in the list to have picked up 600 Test wickets or more are: Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Shane Warne (708) and Anil Kumble (619) Anderson, who scalped a fifer in the first innings of the ongoing third Test against Pakistan, had to wait long for his 600th Test wicket after rain gods disrupted the flow of the game on Day 4 and aided to delayed start on Day 5 of the game. James Anderson in Test cricket: 100th Wicket – Kallis 200th Wicket - Siddle 300th Wicket - Fulton 400th Wicket - Guptill 500th Wicket - Brathwaite 600th Wicket - Azhar Ali* However, it didn’t take long for Anderson to complete the historic achievement as the England pacer bowled a length delivery only for Ali to edge it straight to Joe Root in the slip cordon as the English skipper took a comfortable reverse cup. 600th Test victim of bowlers: Shane Warne - Marcus Trescothick in 2005 Muralitharan - Khaled Mashud in 2006 Anil Kumble - Andrew Symonds in 2008 James Anderson - Azhar Ali in 2020 Anderson is regarded as one of the greatest pacers to have taken to the cricket field. While there may be some arguments that he hasn’t shine in sub-continents, statistics show he have turned around the theory since learning the trick of reverse swing after 2010. Balls to 600th Test wicket 33711 M Muralitharan 33717 James Anderson 34919 Shane Warne 38496 Anil Kumble The King of Swing has been a legendary servant for England cricket and have always lived up to the expectations and the latest achievement just prove how valuable Anderson has been to England and international cricket.

James Anderson becomes first pacer and fourth bowler to scalp 600 Test wickets