Shane Warne became only the sixth bowler to take 400 test wickets as England, replying to Australia’s first innings of 641 for four declared, reached 313 for seven on the third day of the fifth and final test on Saturday.
The leg-spinner bowled Marcus Trescothick with the fifth ball of the day and had Mark Butcher caught at short leg in his seventh over.
He reached his historic mark in the final session by having Alec Stewart caught by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist for 29, and immediately bagged his 401st as well by trapping Andrew Caddick lbw first ball.
All the bowlers ahead of Warne on the all-time list are pace bowlers or all-rounders who bowled seam. Courtney Walsh of West Indies holds the world record with 519 wickets.
List of bowlers to take 400 test wickets after Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne reached the mark at The Oval in the fifth test against England on Saturday (tests, wickets total):
Courtney Walsh(WI)132 519
Kapil Dev(India) 131 434
Richard Hadlee(NZ) 86 431
Wasim Akram(Pak) 102 414
Curtly Ambrose(WI) 98 405
Shane Warne (Aus) 92 400
- Warne average before the start of the fifth test