SA vs ENG: James Anderson becomes the first cricketer to play 100 Tests at home

Aug 26, 2022

SA vs ENG: James Anderson becomes the first cricketer to play 100 Tests at home Image

James Anderson, the seasoned England fast bowler, added another achievement to his resume on Thursday when he became the first cricketer in sport history to play 100 Test matches at home. 

During the second Test match between England and South Africa in Manchester, the 40-year-old bowler reached a significant milestone. 

While 72 players have participated in more than 100 Test matches throughout their careers, no one has played in more than 100 home Tests. With 94 appearances in India, Sachin Tendulkar, the only player with 200 Test appearances, trails Anderson in the list.

In his 19-year Test career, Anderson is now the only elite player with 100 at-home appearances in the game's longest format. Over the course of his career, he has taken part in 172 Test matches.

Alastair Cook, a former teammate, is fifth with 89 home Tests, while Stuart Broad, another England teammate, is fourth on the list with 91 appearances. 

With 174 Test outings, Anderson trails Tendulkar in overall appearances. The only other England players with more than 150 Test appearances are Cook and Broad. 

Sarel Erwee of South Africa was dismissed by the veteran after being caught behind in the fifth over as he began his 100th Test at home. At Old Trafford in Manchester, the site of the second Test of the three-match series that is a part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023, the fast bowler has, incidentally, never taken a five-wicket haul.