James Anderson Eyes Fred Trueman's England record at Lord's Test vs India
James Anderson may be in the news for the wrong reasons but he is close to becoming England's most successful bowler at home. England and India play the second Test at Lord's from Thursday.
James Anderson has been making headlines this week for all the wrong reasons. The England quickie has been in the eye of a storm ever since India complained to the ICC that Anderson had pushed and abused Ravindra Jadeja during the first Test at Nottingham last week.
England captain Alastair Cook sees India's complaint as a tactic to keep the skilful Anderson away from the five-Test series. After all, James Anderson is set to become England's most successful bowler at home. England have also complained against Jadeja.
Anderson requires one more wicket to go past Fred Trueman to own the record for most wickets at home by an England bowler. Both the bowlers have an aggregate of 229 wickets prior to the start of the Lord's Test, from Thursday.
At the end of the first Test at Trent Bridge, Anderson has an aggregate of 61 wickets against India. He requires two more wickets to own the record for most wickets by an England bowler against India. He would go past Bob Willis and Derek Underwood, who have an aggregate of 62 wickets each.
Anderson has an aggregate of 39 wickets against India in England. He needs one more wicket for his 40 wickets. If he gets it, he would then become the third England bowler to capture 40-plus wickets against the Indians in England. Others are - Trueman (53) and Alec Bedser (44).
India skipper MS Dhoni is also approaching some milestone. He needs two more dismissals to establish a new series record for most dismissals. Prior to the Lord's Test, Dhoni has an aggregate of 53 dismissals. The present record is held by Alan Knott of England who had an aggregate of 54 dismissals. (Also read: Dhoni Backs Jadeja)
Dhoni requires two more catches to establish a new series record for most dismissals. Dhoni has an aggregate of 49 catches and share the record with Knott, who pouched 49 catches.
Dhoni is all set to become the first Indian wicket-keeper to aggregate 50 catches against England if he takes a catch at Lord's. Matt Prior has an aggregate of 45 dismissals against India and requires five more for his 50 dismissals.
If Prior gets them, he would then become the second England keeper after Knott to have an aggregate of 50-plus dismissals against India. (Related: England Warn Ballance for Pub Misconduct)
(With inputs from HR Gopala Krishna)