England's James Anderson becomes first fast bowler to pick 600 Test wickets

He reached the milestone in his 156th appearance.

Photo: Twitter/@englandcricket

Southampton: England pacer James Anderson on Tuesday (August 25, 2020) became the first fast bowler to reach 600 Test wickets, by picking up Pakistan's skipper Azhar Ali on the fifth day of the third Test match at Ageas Bowl in Southampton.

He had Azhar Ali caught at slip by his skipper Joe Root to reach the milestone in his 156th appearance.

Scorecard/Clips: https://t.co/fL9aifFjyV#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/jjNlyM1Ty6 — England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 25, 2020

The 38-year old pacer's first Test wicket came on his debut against Zimbabwe when he dismissed Mark Vermeulen at Lords in May 2003. He had picked up 5-73 in his first match.

THE GREATEST!!  pic.twitter.com/eid6wGKKEW

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 25, 2020

Anderson in the white jersey averages 26.77 and has a strike rate of 56.22 with the best bowling figures of 11/71.

Besides 29 fifers, Anderson has 3 ten-wickets hauls to his name in the longest format of the game.

Notably, only three bowlers, all spinners, have taken more Test wickets - Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan (800 in 133 matches), Australia's Shane Warne (708 in 145) and India's Anil Kumble (619 in 132).

Balls bowled to take 600 Test wickets:

Muttiah Muralitharan 
JAMES ANDERSON 
Shane Warne 
Anil Kumble  #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/HTKxQn5CuJ — ICC (@ICC) August 25, 2020

Meanwhile, Pakistan are now 126-3 with Babar Azam batting on 20 along with Asad Shafiq on 8, still trailing by 184 runs after being forced to follow-on.