James Anderson insists his history-making 700th Test wicket was “nothing to celebrate” after England’s series defeat in India and is already looking to booking his place in the side this summer. (More Cricket News)
Anderson became the first fast bowler to reach the remarkable landmark when he dismissed Kuldeep Yadav in Dh♔aramsala, joining spinners Muttiah Muralit🌃haran and Shane Warne in one of cricket’s most elite clubs.
The 41-year-old seamer has been collecting various records since he first surpassed Sir Ian Botham as England’s leading wicket-taker back in 2015 an🔯d, wi🏅th his big moment coming in an innings defeat and a 4-1 loss overall, he was happy to downplay the significance of an achievement which is unlikely to be matched.
“I didn’t really celebrate, I’ll be🐻 honest. There’s nothing to celebrate,” he told his Tailendeꦦrs podcast.
“My dad was here so I had a drink with my dad, which was nice. He was more exci🌠ted than I was. Maybe I would’ve felt more excited if we’d have won the Test or the series.
“I don’t know how I felt really.”
Anderson has been garlanded with praise, including his former captain Nasser Hussain’s suggestion that 🧸his final career tally will one day go down alongside the great Sir Donald Bradman’s batting average of 99.94, but claimed that was not the kind of of glory he sought.
“That’s irrelevant to me. I don’t get anything out of what other people sayཧ,” he added.
“I don’t play cricket to get personal milestones, I guess. I want to win games. I love playing a team sport, t♑hat’s when I get the biggest buzz. So I’m a little flat because 🥂we lost 4-1 in the series.”
Anderson has been swatting aside questions over when he might hang up his boots for several years but looked fit, held his pace and bowled skilfully enough to leave no question that he would be in contention for yet another domestic season in 2024,𝕴 with Englan𒊎d facing Test series against the West Indies and Sri Lanka.
“I’m really excited for the summer. I’m definitely in the best shapeܫ I’ve ever been in,” he said.
“I’m not getting any worse. I like where my game is at and I still have that enjoyment of turning up every day and trying to𓂃 get bett𒊎er in the nets.
“My place in the team is not a given, so I’ve got to work hard to prove I’m w🍌orth a place in the summer.”
