Seamer James Anderson was thrilled to share joining an exclusive England bowler’s club with his team-mates after entering the international record books.
The Lancashire paceman claimed his 300th Test Match victim when he had New Zealand’s Peter Fulton caught by Graeme Swann on day two of the first Investec Test at Lord’s.
And Anderson – who made his Test debut against Zimbabwe at Lord’s in 2003 – was full of pride after reaching the feat in his 81st Test appearance.
“It’s an emotional moment for me and nice to share with the guys I’ve played with for so long,” he told Sky Sports.
Anderson is already the three lions’ leading wicket taker across all formats after claiming his 529th international scalp in February, surpassing Sir Ian Botham in the process.
And the 30-year-old becomes only the fourth Englishman to hit the 300-wicket milestone behind Botham, Bob Willis and Fred Trueman.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan insists the Burnley-born paceman is on a par with any bowler in world cricket, possessing match-winning capabilities on any type of surface.
“He’s right up there with the best that England have had and he’s right up there with the best in the world,” he said.
“He really has been a most skilful bowler. I wasn’t captain when he was at his best but you could always tell he was the guy that could produce magic.
“He’s been the guy that has led the attack in all conditions. The one tag was that he didn’t bowl well in the subcontinent, but last winter in India he proved that wrong.”
Anderson took career-best figures of 11-71 against Pakistan at Trent Bridge in 2010 before leading the attack as England beat Australia Down Under for the first time in 24 years.
He has some way to go if he is to overhaul Botham’s Test Match tally of 383 while Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan retains the overall record of 800.
Image courtesy of SkySports, via YouTube, with thanks
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