James Anderson Breaks Courtney Walsh’s 17-Year-Old Record, Bowls Most Balls By Seam Bowler In Test Cricket

James Anderson's world record would have been more memorable if not for Sodhi-Wagner's block-a-thon

By: Arun Rawal |
April 3, 2018 12:57 pm

James Anderson is England’s highest wicket-taker in Test cricket and now he has broken a world record as a seam bowler. Anderson bowled his 30,020th delivery to surpass former West Indies fast bowler Courtney Walsh’s number of balls bowled in Test cricket (30,019). The English fast bowler achieved this feat in the second Test against New Zealand at Hagley Oval, Christchurch.

Before the second Test, Anderson had bowled 29,774 deliveries. He bowled a total of 50 overs in the second Test and took five wickets. Anderson is also the fourth on the list of highest wicket-takers in Test cricket.

The 35-year-old has taken 531 wickets so far and is only 33 wickets behind former Australian seam bowler Glenn McGrath’s tally of 563 wickets. The English bowler can get past McGrath’s tally as Pakistan is going to tour England for two tests in May. If not against Pakistan, Anderson might have another go to surpass Australia in November when England tours Sri Lanka for three Tests.

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Walsh is the fifth bowler on the list with 519 wickets from 132 Tests. However, as for the number of balls bowled, Anderson is way behind spinners Muttiah Muralitharan (44,039 balls), Anil Kumble (40,850 balls) and Shane Warne (40,705 balls).

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However, he could not mop up the tail quickly and New Zealand tailenders Ish Sodhi and Neil Wagner were able to draw the match. Sodhi scored his maiden Test fifty (56 runs from 168 deliveries) whereas Wagner held on to one end with 7 runs from 103 deliveries. Their 37-run partnership from 31.2 overs helped New Zealand draw the Test.