England great James Anderson has chalked up another landmark in his phenomenal career by claiming his 600th Test wicket. (More Cricket News)
James Anderson has become the first seamer in Test history to reach 600 wickets. Here, we look back at some of his finest performances
England great James Anderson has chalked up another landmark in his phenomenal career by claiming his 600th Test wicket. (More Cricket News)
Pakistan captain Azhar Ali became the 600th victim of Anderson's career on the fifth day of the third and final Test, edging to England captain Joe Root at slip.
Already the most prolific fast bowler in the history of the game, Anderson lies fourth on the all-time list, with India leg-spinner Anil Kumble (619) next in his sights.
Here, we look back at six of the Lancastrian's finest performances at the highest level.
5-73 vs Zimbabwe, Lord's 2003
Anderson burst on to the scene as a skiddy, tearaway paceman in limited overs cricket, impressing in England's largely forgettable 2003 World Cup campaign. His debut in the longest format was already keenly anticipated when it came around and Anderson did not disappoint. Mark Vermeulen was bowled to become number one of 600 and the 20-year-old wasted little time in getting his name on the famed Lord's honours board.
7-43 vs New Zealand, Trent Bridge 2008
The boundless promise of those early years subsided into struggles for form and fitness, with Anderson in and out of the Test side. A turning point arrived on the tour of New Zealand in 2008, when captain Michael Vaughan entrusted Anderson and his great ally Stuart Broad at the expense of experienced new-ball duo Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard.
By the time the Black Caps came to England for a return series later that year Anderson's second coming was off and running. A masterful display of swing bowling in Nottingham reduced New Zealand to rubble. Then career-best figures of 7-43 accounted for each of the top seven as the tourists were forced to follow-on and England won by an innings.
4-51 vs Australia, Adelaide Oval 2010
If Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott's Brisbane run-fest to secure an opening draw in the 2010-11 Ashes put a spring in England's step, it was Anderson's stunning new-ball burst at Adelaide that set them on the way to a historic success. Within his first two overs of the match, Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke were back in the sheds with Australia 2-3. They never recovered during what proved to be an innings defeat and the Ashes were retained when Anderson led an even more emphatic demolition in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
3-89 & 3-38 vs India, Kolkata 2012
If the 2010-11 Ashes did much to dismiss the notion that Anderson was a bowler who could only do it in home conditions, there could be no doubt after his imperious showing in India, spearheading the attack as Cook's side came from 1-0 down to claim a stunning series win. A seven-wicket victory in Kolkata settled the issue, with Anderson imperious as he counted Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni among his victims. He went on to be named man of the match in the drawn fourth Test.
5-85 & 5-73 vs Australia, Trent Bridge 2013
The first Test of back-to-back Ashes series went to the wire, with Australia determined to regain the urn. Thankfully for England, their main man stood tall. Anderson claimed five wickets in each innings – his delivery to bowl Aussie skipper Clarke for a duck on the first evening was an absolute screamer. As Australia closed to within 15 runs of victory on day five, it was somewhat inevitably Anderson who persuaded Brad Haddin to feather behind, getting Cook's men over the line.
5-40 vs South Africa, Newlands 2020
By now 37 and established as England's all-time wicket taker and a member of Test cricket's exclusive 500 club, Anderson went into the recent tour of South Africa with a point to prove. Injury had all-but ruled him out of a drawn Ashes series on home soil and the tourists arrived in Cape Town 1-0 down. Despite 269 all out giving him little to work with, Anderson conjured a first-innings lead for England through a display of his enduring brilliance. He ended with seven in the match as a march towards a fine series triumph began.