Once James Anderson goes past my record, it will never be broken: Glenn McGrath

England's James Anderson walks off the field after losing the third Test cricket match between England and India at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. (Photo: AFP)


Australian bowling great Glenn McGrath believes once star England pacer James Anderson goes past his records as the highest wicket-taker pace bowler in the history of Test cricket, it would not be broken ever.

Jimmy had taken 557 wickets in the longest format of the game and he is just six fewer than the former pace bowling sensation McGrath. Jimmy Anderson will have a chance to go pass Glenn in the fourth Test against India, which starts on Thursday.

“Jimmy Anderson deserves everything he gets, and even though he is an Englishman I will be delighted for him when he goes past my record and becomes the most prolific fast bowler in Test history,” Glenn McGrath wrote in Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper, adding, “I have an awful lot of respect for Jimmy. Good luck to him. I believe once he goes past me he will never be beaten.”

“Records are nice and I’ve been very proud to have taken more wickets than any fast bowler in Test history, but any high is there to be beaten and I will be equally proud of Jimmy when he goes past me because the fast bowlers’ union has to stick together, whichever country we come from.”

The 36-year-old James Anderson has represented England in 141 Tests, having made his debut in 2003.

Anderson is currently on the fifth spot in the list of highest Test wicket-takers. The first slot in the prestigious list is reserved by Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who had taken 800 wickets, ahead of Australia’s Shane Warne (708) and India’s Anil Kumble (619). McGrath (563) is fourth in the list followed by Jimmy (557).