English Pacer Achieves Historic Milestone by Becoming Test World Number One

James Anderson’s illustrious career continues to touch new heights as he overtook England captain Pat Cummins and India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to become the No.1 bowler in the latest ICC men’s Test rankings.

Anderson tops the list after taking seven wickets for England in an emphatic 267-run victory over New Zealand at Mount Maunganui last week, capping the four-year reign of the evergreen 40-year-old Cummins. – Ranked Test Bowler.

It is the sixth time that Anderson has claimed the title as the premier bowler in the Test rankings, with the right-armer having first touched the heights in May 2016 when he overtook teammates Stuart Broad and Ashwin. Kar had got top billing in a prestigious international. A career that began in 2003.

Most recently, Anderson held the top ranking for five months in 2018, with the veteran speedster losing the top spot to South Africa’s pace spearhead, Kagiso Rabada, in November of the same year.

But the old adage that life begins at 40 certainly rings true for Anderson, who has been given a new lease of life under new coach Brendon McCullum as England have registered 10 wins in their last 11 Tests. .

Anderson has been instrumental in the majority of those victories and the England legend has now amassed a total of 682 Test scalps and is third in the list of Test wickets behind spin duo Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Shane Warne (708). are on .

At the age of 40 years and 207 days, he is also the oldest bowler to hold the top ranking since Australian great Clary Grimmett in 1936.

Although Anderson’s lead at the top is very slim, Ashwin is in second place with a total of 864 rating points, just two rating points behind the England pacer.

Cummins dropped to third place with 858 rating points, but could still regain top billing with some strong performances during Australia’s ongoing Test series against India.