Cricket: Anil Kumble welcomes James Anderson to ‘600 club’

Bowling greats Anil Kumble and Shane Warne welcomed James Anderson to the elite group of players who have taken 600 Test wickets, AFP reported.

Anderson become the first fast bowler to reach the landmark when he had Pakistan’s Azhar Ali caught by Joe Root on the final day of the third Test at Southampton.

Tributes poured in from around the cricketing world to Anderson, who joins a trio of retired spinners — Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Australia’s Warne (708) and India’s Kumble (619).

“Congratulations @jimmy9 on your 600 wickets! Massive effort from a great fast bowler. Welcome to the club,” Kumble tweeted.

According to AFP, former Australia leg-spinner Warne said it was a “proud moment” for the England bowler.