Image Credit- BCCI
After becoming the
first seam bowler to surpass 700 Test wickets, James Anderson believes he has
“nothing to celebrate” because he could not save England’s innings
loss in Dharmasala, which ended their 4-1 series defeat.
The 41-year-old Anderson became just the third bowler in Test cricket history
to reach 700 when he got Kuldeep Yadav caught behind on the last morning of the
series.
The other two, though, were all spinners: Australia’s Shane Warne (708), who
set a previous world record earlier in the summer, and Sri Lanka’s Muthiah
Muralidaran (800), who is still a threat to Anderson.
“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.”
Although Anderson’s
record may never be surpassed by another seam bowler due to the evolving nature
of Test cricket, he declared the debate over his place in the annals of the
game to be “irrelevant”.
“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.
“That’s why I’m probably a little bit flat now, because we’ve lost 4-1 in
this series. But I really enjoyed this tour. I’ve been on tours to India before
where little cracks start appearing in the team and that’s not happened this
time.
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,” Anderson said. “I want to
make sure I’m playing well and earn my place in the team.