700 Test wickets: James Anderson joins Shane Warne and Mutthiah Muralitharan's exclusive club

In a historic moment during the fifth Test match between India and England in Dharamsala, James Anderson etched his name in cricketing folklore by becoming only the third bowler in history to reach the monumental milestone of 700 Test wickets.

Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne are the only other bowlers to have achieved this remarkable feat, solidifying Anderson's place among the greatest to ever grace the game.

Starting the match with 698 wickets to his name, Anderson wasted no time in making history. He scalped the crucial wickets of Shubman Gill and Kuldeep Yadav during India's first innings, reaching the coveted 700-wicket mark and etching his name in cricketing annals.

At 41 years old, Anderson stands as the oldest player in Test history, a testament to his enduring skill, resilience, and passion for the game. 

Throughout his illustrious career, Anderson has been a nightmare for batsmen across the globe, troubling the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Virat Kohli, and Kane Williamson with his formidable swing and unwavering accuracy. His journey, which began in 2002 against Zimbabwe, has been defined by excellence, dedication, and an insatiable hunger for success. 

700 Test wickets: James Anderson joins Shane Warne and Mutthiah Muralitharan's exclusive club

In all of Test cricket history, Sri Lankan spinner Mutthiah Muralitharan is the game's highest wicket-taker with a staggering tally of 800. The only other player before Anderson to go past 700 is Australian legend Shane Warne, who finished with 708.

In addition to the mark of 700 wickets, Anderson is also closing in on the mark of 1000 international wickets (Test, ODI & T20I). Once again, Warne and Muralitharan are the only ones to achieve the feat so far. If Anderson performs well in the next two Tests, he could reach the mark before he leaves India.