James Anderson: Top 10 Unique Records All Time

As James Anderson’s illustrious career comes to an end. Widely acknowledged one of the greatest bowlers history of the cricket sport.

Here are the top 10 unique records of one of the greats of English cricket.

1. JAMES ANDERSON MOST WICKETS IN TEST CRICKET BY PACER - 704

Anderson finished his Test career with an astounding 704 wickets in 188 matches, making him the highest wicket-taker among pace bowlers in Test cricket history.

He became the first fast bowler to reach 600 Test wickets in 2020, and in March 2024, he extended that record by becoming the first pacer to reach 700 wickets.

Anderson ranks 3rd on the all-time list of Test wicket-takers, behind only spin bowlers Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Shane Warne (708).

2. MOST WICKETS IN INTL CRICKET FOR ENGLAND - 991

Anderson finished his career with 991 wickets across all formats for England (Test, ODI, and T20I).

The majority of his wickets came in Test cricket, where he claimed 704 wickets in 188 matches, making him the leading wicket-taker among fast bowlers in Test history.

In One Day Internationals, Anderson took 269 wickets in 194 matches, making him England’s highest wicket-taker in this format as well.

Although he played fewer T20 Internationals, Anderson added 18 wickets from 19 T20I matches to his tally.

3. LONGEST TEST CAREERS (PLAYERS WHO MADE DEBUT IN OR AFTER 1990) - 21 YRS 53 DAYS 

Making his debut in 2003, Anderson has played Test cricket for over 2 decades, amassing an impressive 188 Test matches. This places him among the top players with the longest Test careers since 1990.

His career span of 21 years is exceptional, especially when compared to other post-1990 debutants.

4. MOST BALLS BOWLED IN TEST BY CAREER - 40037

In his final Test match against the West Indies at Lord’s in July 2024, Anderson achieved yet another remarkable milestone — becoming the first fast bowler in Test cricket history to bowl over 40,000 deliveries.

By the end of his career, Anderson had bowled a staggering 40,037 balls in Test cricket.

To put this into perspective, that’s equivalent to bowling non-stop for about 111 hours or nearly 5 straight days! It’s a testament to his incredible fitness, skill, and dedication to the game.

5. MOST WICKETS BY PACER AT SINGLE GROUND- 123 (LORDS GROUND)

The “Home of Cricket” has truly become Anderson’s playground over the years, with the English pace ace claiming an incredible 123 wickets at this iconic venue.

Think about it — 123 wickets at a single ground! That’s more than some bowlers take in their entire Test careers. For cricket fans, watching Anderson bowl at Lord’s has been a treat.

6. MOST BALLS BOWLED IN CAREER IN INTL CRICKET - 50043 (4TH MOST)

In his final Test match against the West Indies at Lord’s in July 2024, Anderson achieved yet another remarkable milestone — becoming the fourth bowler in history to deliver over 50,000 balls in international cricket.

By the end of his career, Anderson had bowled a staggering 50,043 deliveries across all formats of international cricket.

7. MOST ODI WICKETS FOR ENGLAND- 269

With 269 wickets, Anderson stands tall as England’s all-time leading wicket-taker in One Day Internationals.

To put it in perspective, the next closest England bowler is Darren Gough with 235 wickets, and he retired way back in 2006.

Among current players, Adil Rashid is the nearest challenger with 199 wickets, but he’s still 70 wickets behind Anderson’s mark. Anderson’s ODI career spanned from 2002 to 2015, during which he played 194 matches.

With an economy rate of 4.92, he was also adept at keeping things tight in an era when ODI scoring rates were steadily climbing.

8. MOST FIFERS FOR ENGLAND IN TESTS- 32 (5 WKT HAUL)

James Anderson’s 32 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket are a testament to his incredible skill, longevity, and consistency as a fast bowler.

He surpassed Ian Botham’s previous record of 27 back in 2020, and has continued to add to his tally since then.

Each of these 32 five-wicket hauls tells a story — of Anderson’s meticulous preparation, his cunning plans to dismiss batsmen.

9. MOST NOT OUTS IN TESTS

James Anderson’s record for the most not outs in Test cricket is truly remarkable. With 114 not outs to his name, Anderson has far surpassed the previous record of 61 held by Courtney Walsh.

As a tail ender who’s spent most of his career batting at number 11, Anderson has often been left stranded when England’s innings came to an end.

10. JOINT-MOST PLAYER OF THE SERIES FOR ENGLAND IN TEST

James Anderson’s incredible Test career just keeps getting more impressive, doesn’t it?

With 8 Player of the Series awards under his belt, he’s now tied for the most by any England player in Test cricket. That’s right, the same number as the legendary all-rounder Ian Botham.

FAQs

How many Test wickets did James Anderson take in his career?

James Anderson finished his Test career with 704 wickets in 188 matches. This makes him the highest wicket-taker among fast bowlers in Test cricket history.

What is James Anderson’s most notable bowling record?

Anderson is the first and only fast bowler to take 600 and later 700 Test wickets. He surpassed Glenn McGrath’s previous record of 563 wickets to become the most successful pace bowler in Test cricket.

How long did James Anderson’s international career last?

Anderson’s international career spanned 21 years, from 2002 to 2024. He made his Test debut in 2003 and played his final Test match in July 2024.

What is James Anderson’s record at Lord’s Cricket Ground?

Anderson took 123 wickets in 29 Test matches at Lord’s, making him one of only 4 bowlers to take 100 or more Test wickets at a single venue. This is also the record for most wickets by a pacer at any single ground in Test cricket.

How many five-wicket hauls did James Anderson take in Test cricket?

Anderson took 32 five-wicket hauls in his Test career, which is the 6th-highest in Test cricket history and the most by an English bowler. He also recorded 3 ten-wicket hauls in Test matches.