James Anderson closes in on 600 Test wickets but rain halts England’s charge
James Anderson moved to 597 career scalps with a fourth wicket of the innings on a rain-affected third morning of England’s series decider against Pakistan.
Anderson is on the verge of becoming the first fast bowler in the history of Test cricket to join the elite 600 club – spinners Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne and Anil Kumble are the only others to claim membership – and appears in a hurry to get it done in this final match of the summer.
He has now each wicket in Pakistan’s 41 for four – a desperate response to England’s mighty 583 for eight declared – adding Asad Shafiq with his sixth ball of the day.
Having already seen off Shan Masood, Abid Ali and star man Babar Azam on Saturday evening, Anderson was quick to dial into the same testing line and length, with Shafiq pushing at one in the channel outside off stump to hand Joe Root a regulation slip catch.
That was the last ball before the teams were forced off for 25 minutes by rain, with another mini-session possible prior to a lengthier delay which forced an early lunch at 12.30.
Stuart Broad did his best to back up Anderson’s efforts, rapping touring captain Azhar Ali on the knee-roll and persuading Joe Root to call for DRS. Ball-tracking showed the ball sliding down leg, allowing Azhar to reach the interval alongside new man Fawad Alam.
Fawad got a duck in the second Test, his first appearance at this level in over a decade, and will have been mightily relieved to get off the mark by tapping Anderson for a single from his seventh delivery.
Latest
-
NewsMatthew Potts removes Virat Kohli before India fightback at Edgbaston
James Anderson led from the front with three wickets as India reached tea at 174 for five.
-
NewsSenior ECB official suspended amid Devon Malcolm slur allegation – reports
The ECB has declined to comment on the claims.
-
EnglandJames Anderson strikes as England enjoy early success in rearranged India Test
Zak Crawley caught both of India’s openers at second slip.
-
EnglandHarry Brook named in England’s squads for Twenty20 and ODI series against India
Matt Parkinson has also been drafted in as fellow leg-spinner Adil Rashid will miss both series.
-
EnglandHeather Knight encouraged by Issy Wong and new-look England pace attack
Debutants Wong and Lauren Bell impressed in the drawn Test with South Africa.
-
EnglandHeather Knight renews call for five-day Tests after South Africa draw
The last women’s Test to end in a victory either way was in 2015.
-
EnglandRain forces draw between England and South Africa in Taunton Test
Heather Knight’s side had looked to close in on victory on the final day.
-
EnglandEngland’s hopes of rare home Test victory dashed by bad weather at Taunton
Play against South Africa was eventually called off after four rain delays.
-
EnglandBen Stokes: Workload of bowlers could be a game-changer
The England captain has admitted he deliberately pushed his team-mates to the limit at Headingley.