While the English pacer James Anderson is just six wickets away to equalise legendary Australian pacer Glenn McGrath’s most Test wickets record as a pacer, the Australian believes Anderson will never be beaten once the English pacer will cross him.

The most Test wicket-taker as a pacer, McGrath finished his Test career with 563 wickets in 243 innings (124 Tests) while Anderson has taken 557 wickets in 263 Test innings (141 Test matches) and just seven wickets away to break the record. However, in overall, Anderson will become the fourth most wicket-taking bowler in Test cricket as three former spinners will be still ahead from him (Anil Kumble 619 wickets, Shane Warne 708 wickets and Muttiah Muralitharan 800 wickets).

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McGrath has claimed that he feels proud of Anderson to become the most successful fast bowler in Test history. The Aussie legend further added that Anderson’s record will never be beaten.

McGrath wrote in a column for Daily Mail, “Records are nice and I’ve been very proud to have taken more wickets than any fast bowler in Test history, but any high is there to be beaten and I will be equally proud of Jimmy when he goes past me because the fast bowlers’ union has to stick together, whichever country we come from.

“It is only a matter of time now before he gets there and I will be getting in touch with him as soon as he does to say well done. I have an awful lot of respect for Jimmy. Good luck to him. I believe once he goes past me he will never be beaten.”

McGrath feels Anderson is one of the rare skilful pacers and he compared Anderson’s bowling skill with the legendary Pakistan left-arm pacer Wasim Akram.

The Aussie legend wrote, “I’ve always said Jimmy was class, ever since I played against him in what became my last Test series in 2006-07. I noted how he swung the ball both ways conventionally, because it’s a real art form.

“Not many have been able to do that. I can only really think of Wasim Akram, who is another great of the game, who could do that as skilfully.”

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In several times, Anderson has been criticised for his weak bowling skills in the unsuitable bowling conditions, especially in the overseas conditions. However, McGrath believes that it was the initial problem for the English pacer on which he has worked and solved already.

McGrath penned down on it, “When the ball is swinging he’s as good as anyone out there, but when it isn’t he comes back towards the pack a little bit. That was certainly the case early in his career but he’s developed his skills as he’s gone on and become much more effective overseas.

“When Jimmy plays at home with the Dukes ball he’s second to none, but he has had to learn how to operate overseas with the Kookaburra ball that, to me, is not nearly as good to bowl with. It took him a while but he’s done that now.

“Once Jimmy goes past me it will be interesting to see where he wants to set the bar. With the nature of the game these days, and the amount of Twenty20 cricket, I believe no fast bowler will ever go past him.”