England's James Anderson has become only the third bowler - and the first seamer - to claim 700 test wickets in the fifth and final test against India at Dharamsala.
Already the most successful fast bowler in test cricket's history, Anderson, 41, entered his 187th test two wickets short of the 700 mark, but cleanbowled Shubman Gill and Kuldeep Yadav became his 700th victim on day three of the contest, when the batter was caught behind.
He held the ball aloft, while his teammates mobbed him.
The travelling 'Barmy Army' fans gave him a standing ovation, as Anderson led his team off the field at the innings break at the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium.
Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan leads the all-time chart with 800 wickets from 133 tests, followed by Australia spin great Shane Warne (708).
While Anderson is immensely skillful, his remarkable longevity, attributed to his smooth action, as a fast-bowler continues to amaze the followers of the game.
"At the foothills of the Himalayas, James Anderson has reached the insurmountable summit for a fast bowler in test match cricket," former England bowler Steven Finn told the BBC.
"Nobody will ever take more than 700 test wickets as a fast bowler. He's a remarkable man and player, and he's still going."
Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar has praised Anderson's "stellar achievement" on Twitter.
"A fast-bowler playing for 22 years and performing so consistently to be able to take 700 wickets would have sounded like fiction, until Anderson actually made it happen," Tendulkar wrote.
Former England captain Alastair Cook has also marvelled at the seamer's durability.
"I sat in a selection meeting 10 years ago and we were discussing... when we were going to rest and rotate him, because he can't keep playing all those test matches," Cook told TNT Sports. "His hunger to get better and win games of cricket for England is unbelievable.
"The physical challenges he has overcome to be able to play 190 test matches is a joke and his skill is a joke."
Anderson made his England debut in a one-day international against Zimbabwe in 2002 and played his first test five months later against Australia.
In his 22 years in international cricket, the Lancashire player has established himself as a complete bowler, who can make the ball talk with his command on swing-bowling - both traditional and reverse.
Reuters
