News Sports Cricket James Anderson breaks Kapil Dev’s record with his five-wicket haul against Lanka

James Anderson breaks Kapil Dev’s record with his five-wicket haul against Lanka

England’s pace battery James Anderson broke Kapil Dev’s record to become the sixth highest wicket-taker in Test cricket when he picked up 5/16 to bundle Sri Lanka out for 91.

James Anderson Image Source : PTIJames Anderson

New Delhi: England’s pace battery James Anderson broke Kapil Dev’s record to become the sixth highest wicket-taker in Test cricket when he picked up 5/16 to bundle Sri Lanka out for 91. 

With this five-wicket haul, Anderson surpassed Kapil Dev’s record of 434 wickets in Test cricket, which he held for nearly a decade. 

Anderson dismissed Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews as his 435th wicket after he was adjudged leg before.    

Kapil took 227 innings to scalp 434 Test wickets while the England pacer reached the coveted landmark in his 213th innings. Anderson now has 438 Test wickets from 114 matches at an average of 29.18.

This was the 19th time Anderson has taken a five-wicket haul in Tests – the third most by an England bowler. Ian Botham has 27 five-wicket hauls whereas Syney Bomes has taken 24 five-wicket hauls in just 27 Test matches.

With 438 wickets, Anderson stands at sixth position in the list of highest wicket taking bowlers in Test cricket. Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, Anil Kumble, Glenn McGrath and Courtney Walsh are the other bowlers ahead of him.