Anderson ploughs past 1,000 wickets

CRICKET: James Anderson claimed his 1,000th first-class wicket and career-best figures of 7-19 as history was made on day two of Lancashire’s LV= Insurance County Championship Group Three match with Kent at Old Trafford.

Anderson’s exploits ensured the visitors were dismissed for just 74 in a shade over two hours after the players finally took to the field at 2pm on the second day following almost incessant rain throughout the first four sessions of the game.

Taking the new ball, 38-yearold Anderson took a wicket in each of his first three overs before adding four more as Kent’s top order were blown away in an extraordinary spell from the Burnley-born bowler

His previous best figures were his 7-42 for England against West Indies in 2017, with 610 more wickets so far coming in a Test career that makes him his country’s highest-ever wickettaker in the longest format.

Zak Crawley edged to Rob Jones at second slip without scoring, Jordan Cox edged to Luke Wells at first slip for one and Ollie Robinson feathered one through to wicketkeeper Dane Vilas for none as Anderson produced three near-identical examples of his mastery of swing and reduced Kent to five for three.

Former Yorkshire batsman Jack Leaning became Anderson’s 999th victim when he edged to Jones for two before the stage was set for South African Heino Kuhn to become the 1,000th scalp, 19 years after Surrey’s Ian Ward was the first.

Matt Milnes and Harry Podmore were the two other victims to fall to Anderson.