James Anderson reflected on his 700th Test wicket, revealing a light-hearted moment shared with Kuldeep Yadav during the England versus India test series.

Veteran English pacer James Anderson recently returned from the India versus England Test series and spoke candidly on the BBC’s ‘Tailenders’ podcast. He shared several interesting stories, including a memorable conversation with Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav during the final Test.

The incident occurred on the third day of the match, during the morning session. “Kuldeep edged one down to third man for a single. As he got to the non-striker’s end, and as I was walking back to my mark, he said, ‘I’m going to be your 700th wicket’. He wasn’t saying he was trying to get out, he was just saying he had a feeling. We both laughed at it,” Anderson recalled.

This light-hearted exchange added a touch of camaraderie to a fiercely contested series. Anderson also noted the feeling of achieving the milestone on scenic ground, with his father present to celebrate the occasion. “It was a nice moment, and it was nice to do it on a picturesque ground. 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 won the test or the series. It’s been a long series, and I don’t know how I feel,” Anderson said.

Despite England’s struggles, Anderson remains confident in his form. He finished the series with 10 wickets at an average of 33.50. “I’m not getting any worse. I’m definitely in the best shape I’ve ever been in. I like where my game is at, and I still have that enjoyment of turning up every day and trying to get better in the nets. My place in the team is not a given, so I’ve got to work hard to prove I’m worth a place in the summer,” he concluded.

With just nine wickets away from surpassing the legendary Shane Warne for the second-highest wicket tally in Test history, Anderson remains focused on his goals and might play the next Test series against the West Indies in July.

Last Updated on March 13, 2024