James Anderson joins elite 600-wicket club

SOUTHAMPTON: England great James Anderson has joined elite 600-wicket club on day-five of the ongoing third Test of the series in Southampton on Tuesday.

The 38-year-old removed Pakistan captain Azhar Ali (31) to claim his landmark wicket to become the only pacer in cricket history to reach the magical figure.

Australia’s legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne (708 wickets) was the first bowler ever to reach the mark in 2005, when he dismissed Marcus Trescothick. Spin wizard from Sri Lanka, Muttiah Muralitharan (800 wickets) achieved the same feat in March 2006 by dismissing Khaled Mashud. India’s Anil Kumble (619 wickets) reached 600-wicket club in January 2008, when he removed Andrew Symonds.

Earlier, Anderson, who started the fourth day's play of the third Test with 598 wickets at this level, induced an edge from Shan Masood, then on three, but wicketkeeper Jos Buttler floored a seemingly routine chance.

It was the fourth dropped catch in 37 balls off Anderson and the closest the hosts came to a wicket in the session.

Pakistan were 41 without loss after being made to follow-on when rain stopped play at 12:21 pm local time (1121 GMT) and saw the umpires take an early lunch.

Masood was 13 not out and Abid Ali 22 not out, with Pakistan still 269 runs adrift of England's mammoth first innings 583-8 declared.

England are 1-0 up in the three-match contest and will win their first Test series against Pakistan in a decade if they avoid defeat in Southampton.