Veteran England pacer James Anderson surpassed Anil Kumble’s runs conceded tally in Test cricket on Day 2 of the ongoing Test match in Rajkot. Anderson gave 61 runs in 25 overs in the first innings.

In the process, James Anderson has conceded 18,371 runs in Test cricket, surpassing Anil Kumble, who conceded 18,355 in 132 Test matches. Anderson, now playing in his 185th Test, advanced with 18,371 runs conceded. Muttiah Muralitharan is third on the list, with 18180 runs in 133 Tests, followed by Shane Warne (17995) and Stuart Broad (16719).

Anderson (696*) is also the third highest wicket-taker in Test history, after Muralitharan (800) and Warne (708).

Anderson has now bowled 39577 balls in Test cricket. Kumble, on the other hand, has bowled 40,850 balls in the format during his 18-year Test career, having retired from international cricket in 2008. There has been talk that the veteran English pacer is still playing international cricket at the age of 41. He debuted internationally in 2002 and has been playing for over 20 years.

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He spoke to the Telegraph recently saying he doesn’t want to prolong his retirement and hopes to one day wake up and realize it’s time to retire.

“I would like to be able to leave with a good grade. I don’t want to drag it out and people think, ‘Can you just do one?’ morgs [Morgan] Last year I woke up and knew it was time to call it a day. I just hope that’s the case.” Anderson said.

James Anderson is four Test wickets short of 700 wickets

Anderson is now on 696 Test wickets from 185 Test matches. He has some milestones up his sleeve. He hopes to become the only pacer with 700 Test wickets and is 15 away from equaling Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of 200 Test matches. The veteran England pacer has taken 983 international wickets. Only Shane Warne (1001) and Muttiah Muralitharan (1347) have more wickets than him in international cricket.

“I feel privileged to have been in a position where I can make a decision because as a bowler it usually gets out of your hands due to injury or selection. “It will be nice to go out on my own terms, but when that happens, you just have to wait and see.” he added.

James Anderson has taken over 100 wickets against three opponents in Test cricket. He has taken 117 wickets against Australia, 103 against South Africa and 145 against India. He is five short of completing 150 Test wickets against India. The pacer has picked up six wickets so far in the series.

The Test series is 1-1 after the end of the first two games. India scored 446 after opting to bat first in the first two games in Rajkot. Ravichandran Ashwin will no longer take part in the Test match after opting out due to a family emergency.

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