Zaheer enters 300-wicket club in Test cricket

Johannesburg: Pace spearhead Zaheer Khan today became the fourth Indian bowler to claim 300 wickets in Test cricket when he dismissed Jacques Kallis on the fifth and final day of the opening cricket Test against South Africa here today.

The 35-year-old Zaheer, who made his Test debut against Bangladesh in Dhaka in November 2000, picked up the wicket of Kallis, a LBW decision, in the 61st over of South African second innings at the Wanderers here.

The left-arm pacer, who took four wickets in the first innings, waved to the dressing room with the ball in his hand after joining Kapil Dev (434), Anil Kumble (619) and Harbhajan Singh (413) in the elite list. He is the 27th overall in all-time highest wicket-taker list.

Zaheer took 282 wickets in his 200 one-day internationals and 17 wickets in as many Twenty20 internationals.

Plagued by injuries and lack of form, Zaheer lost his place in the national team for most part this year but he worked hard on his fitness and bowling and regained his position in the squad after being selected for the ongoing two-match Test series against South Africa.

After being dropped, Zaheer went on a long fitness programme that involved visits to Brive-La-Gaillarde (France) and Bloemfontein. He, alongwith Yuvraj Singh, trained for 42 days at Metasport Athletic Performance Centre in France.

He played in the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai, playing at Shimoga, Hubli, Chandigarh and Bandra.

Zaheer used to generate 140 plus kmph pace early in his career. As his speed came down over the years, he added more teeth to his bowling by adding reverse swing to his arsenal.

Zaheer was the highest wicket-taker for India in the 2011 World Cup.