ENGLAND pace bowler James Anderson on Saturday (9) became the first seam bowler to take 700 wickets in Test matches in the format's history going back by nearly 150 years when he picked the wicket of India's Kuldeep Yadav in the fifth and final Test match between the two sides at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association in Dharamsala.
Overall, the 41-year-old is the third bowler to enter the elite club. The two others are legendary spinners -- Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka (800 wickets) and the late Shane Warne of Australia (708 scalps).
Here is the list of the top 10 wicket-takers in Test matches after Anderson achieved his feat in his 187th game, which however was less memorable from England's perspective as they were hammered by India by an innings and 64 runs.
Read: Fifth Test: England capitulate to lose series 1-4 even as James Anderson enters '700 Club'
For India, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also had a significant series since he completed his 500 wickets in Tests as the fastest Indian and claimed nine wickets in his 100th match in Dharamsala.
Read: Two assassinations, riots & an industrial disaster: England’s turbulent 1984 cricket tour of India
Top 10 Wicket Takers in Tests
Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) has 800 wickets in 133 matches at an average of 22.72; Five-wicket hauls (FWH) 67
Former Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralidharan in action in 2001. (Photo credit should read -/AFP via Getty Images)
Shane Warne (Australia) has 708 wickets in 145 matches at an average of 25.41; FWH 37
Former Australia leg-spinner Shane Warne bowls in a Test in 1996. (Mandatory Credit: Shaun Botterill/Allsport)
James Anderson (England) has 700 wickets in 187 matches at an average of 26.52; FWH 32
England bowler James Anderson in action. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Anil Kumble (India) has 619 wickets in 132 matches at an average of 29.65; FWH 35
Former India leg-spin bowler Anil Kumble bowls in a Test match in 2004. (Photo by FARJANA K. GODHULY/AFP via Getty Images)
Stuart Broad (England) has 604 wickets in 167 matches at an average of 27.68; FWH 20
Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad in action in a Test match in 2023. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Glenn McGrath (Australia) has 563 wickets in 124 matches at an average of 21.64; FWH 29
Former Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath bowls in a Test match in 2005. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images)
Nathan Lyon (Australia) has 527 wickets in 129 matches at an average of 30.39; FWH 24 (he is currently playing a Test against New Zealand)
Courtney Walsh (West Indies) has 519 wickets in 124 matches at an average of 24.44; FWH 22
Former West Indies pace bowler Courtney in a Test match in 2000. (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)
Ravichandran Ashwin (India) has 516 wickets in 100 matches at an average of 23.75; FWH 36
India off-spinner Ravi Ashwin bowls in a Test match in 2024. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Dale Steyn (South Africa) has 439 wickets in 93 matches at an average of 22.95; FWH 26
Former South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn bowls in a Test match in 2018. (Photo by Carl Fourie/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
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