James Anderson became only the fourth England bowler to take 300 Test wickets when he dismissed New Zealand’s Peter Fulton on the second day of the first Test at Lord’s on Friday.
Lancashire seamer Anderson joined Ian Botham (383), Bob Willis (325) and the late Fred Trueman (307), the first man in history to take 300 Test wickets, in the select quartet of England bowlers to have reached the landmark.
The 30-year-old Anderson started this match needing two more wickets for his 300th in Tests.
And, after England had been bowled out for 232 in their first innings on Friday, he reached the milestone with a new-ball burst of two wickets for no runs in 17 balls to reduce New Zealand to seven for two.
Hamish Rutherford became his 299th Test wicket, with the aid of a fine first slip catch by England captain Alastair Cook, before another full length ball took Fulton’s outside edge and was well-held by second slip Graeme Swann.
Below is how Anderson’s record compares to that of his fellow England 300 club members (player, career span, matches, wickets, best innings bowling, best match bowling, average, five wickets in an innings, 10 wickets in a match):
Ian Botham 1977-1992 102 383 8/34 13/106 28.40 27 4
Bob Willis 1971-1984 90 325 8/43 9/92 25.20 16 0
Fred Trueman 1952-1965 67 307 8/31 12/119 21.57 17 3
James Anderson 2003-present 81 300 7/43 11/71 30.43 12 1
Note: Anderson’s figures as at his 300th wicket
England's Anderson takes 300th Test wicket
