India vs England: Glenn McGrath Backs James Anderson to Breach 600-Wicket Mark

James Anderson went past Glenn McGrath's tally of 563 Test wickets on Tuesday when he dismissed India's Mohammed Shami on the fifth day of the fifth and final Test at The Oval. Shami's was the last wicket to fall as England won the game by 118 runs and clinched the five-match series 4-1.

Legendary Australian pacer Glenn McGrath has backed England’s James Anderson, who broke the record for the most wickets by a fast bowler in Tests at The Oval, to break the 600-wicket mark

Anderson went past McGrath’s tally of 563 Test wickets on Tuesday when he dismissed India’s Mohammed Shami on the fifth day of the fifth and final Test at The Oval. Shami’s was the last wicket to fall as England won the game by 118 runs and clinched the five-match series 4-1.

The English pacer is now behind the spin trio of Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Shane Warne (708) and India’s Anil Kumble (619) in the list of Test bowlers with most wickets.

“Just to see Jimmy now, he looks fit and keen and running around, it depends on what he wants to do. He has gone past me and I think the next bar is 600 Test wickets,” McGrath was quoted as saying by the ‘BBC’.

“If he can get to 600 Test wickets, that’s an incredible effort, and if he is still got that drive, that passion to get yourself up, to put the hard work in off the field to carry you through on the field… if he has still got that desire, then he can play as long as he wants,” he said.

McGrath believes Anderson, who is 36 at present, is not yet done and the next target for him will definitely be Kumble’s record.

“I think he’s still got little bit left in the tank yet,” McGrath said. “I’d like to see Jimmy go and get 600 and then whether he wants to try and knock off one of these dodgy spinners that are still at the top of the tree. I think Kumble is about 619. That’s within range,” the former Australian fast bowler added.

(With PTI inputs)