Anderson joins fellow seamers Walsh and McGrath in the 500 club

JamesAnderson - Cropped

James Anderson became just the third seamer in history to take 500 Test wickets as he claimed the scalp of Kraigg Brathwaite against West Indies at Lord's on Friday.

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The England bowler joined Australia great Glenn McGrath (563) and Windies icon Courtney Walsh (519) in reaching the milestone. McGrath also took his 500th wicket at Lord's, in the 2005 Ashes.

Only spinners Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Shane Warne (708) and Anil Kumble (619) stand above the vaunted pace trio in the list.

Anderson, having passed Ian Botham (383) as his country's all-time leading wicket-taker in April 2015, came into the third and final Test against West Indies on 497.

He edged closer by having Kraigg Brathwaite and Kyle Hope caught behind on Thursday, before Brathwaite brought up his 500th on Friday.

Below we take a look at how Anderson stacks up against the five most prolific wicket-taking pacemen in Test cricket history.

The 500th wicket for @jimmy9! #ENGvWI #ShotOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/18lVIeB52i

— ICC (@ICC) September 8, 2017

GLENN MCGRATH (AUSTRALIA) - 563 

Line and length – McGrath had a command of the basics of seam bowling like nobody before or since. His pace alone may not have been enough to frighten batsmen, but his sheer consistency and unmatched tactical nous were enough to unsettle even the very best. He brought up his 500th wicket in 111 Tests, with the landmark scalp coming at Lord's, where Marcus Trescothick was the victim, edging to the slips. McGrath's average of 21.64 is the best of any of the sport's top 12 leading wicket-takers.

COURTNEY WALSH (WEST INDIES) - 519

The first man to reach the 500-wicket mark in Tests, Walsh enjoyed a phenomenal 17-year career at the highest level. His new-ball partnership with Curtly Ambrose ranks among the most devastating in cricket history, while Walsh was also able to shine for West Indies either side of his fellow quick's 98 Tests. Renowned for his ability to bowl long spells, the tall and pacy Jamaican remained a potent threat beyond his 38th birthday, claiming 25 wickets in his final series against South Africa.

JAMES ANDERSON (ENGLAND) - 500

Anderson's England career can effectively be split into two parts. After enjoying a rapid rise to prominence as a youngster, his early years in international cricket were blighted by inconsistency, attempts to remodel his action and injury troubles. However, for the past decade, Anderson has led his country's attack with distinction, his development into one of the most skilled bowlers in the world earning deserved praise. He became England's record wicket-taker in April 2015, surpassing Ian Botham, and has continued to thrive thereafter.

And this is how he celebrated it! #ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/hXtNlaUmO7

— ICC (@ICC) September 8, 2017

KAPIL DEV (INDIA) - 434

One of four great all-rounders whose careers overlapped, along with Botham, Imran Khan and Richard Hadlee, Kapil was particularly effective with the ball. His tally of 434 wickets - primarily gained through a mastery of accuracy and swing - has not come under threat from any other Indian seamer. Kapil's career highlight came in 1983, when he led India to a shock World Cup triumph at Lord's. His all-round talents saw him named Wisden's Indian Cricketer of the Century in 2002.

RICHARD HADLEE (NEW ZEALAND) - 431

It was Hadlee who Kapil replaced as Test cricket's most prolific wicket-taker in 1994. Another all-rounder whose most consistent work came with the ball, Hadlee shouldered immense responsibility as New Zealand's standout bowler and rose to the challenge time and time again. Viewed by many as the complete fast bowler, his strike-rate of 50.8 is superior to the seven players who have taken more Test scalps.

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