On this day in 2013 – James Anderson takes 300th Test wicket to join elite club

The seamer joined compatriots Fred Trueman, Bob Willis and Ian Botham in reaching the milestone.

England’s James Anderson (centre) celebrates taking his 300th Test wicket on May 17, 2013 (Anthony Devlin/PA) (PA Archive)

James Anderson became just the fourth England player to take 300 Test wickets on this day in 2013.

Anderson reached the milestone when he had New Zealand opener Peter Fulton caught at second slip on day two of the first Investec Test at Lord’s.

That saw the 30-year-old paceman join Fred Trueman, Bob Willis and Ian Botham in an exclusive club among Englishmen.

After England had collapsed to 232 all out on the second afternoon of the Lord’s Test, losing their last six for 40, Anderson set about hunting the two wickets he needed to bring up the landmark.

The Lancastrian’s first success came with the final ball of his opening over, finding a little extra bounce on a slow pitch to have dangerous Kiwi opener Hamish Rutherford neatly caught at first slip by Alastair Cook.

England’s lynchpin fast bowler struck again, for the 300th time, when he had Fulton edging to second slip where Graeme Swann claimed a low catch, leaving the Black Caps seven for two.

Botham, part of the Sky Sports commentary team, said: “I am just enjoying the moment. It’s great for Jimmy. It’s something he’ll remember for the rest of his life.

“It’s just another little hurdle that he has gone past but there is loads more to come. He’s exceptional and he can go on if he keeps himself fit.”

Responding to the plaudits he received from Botham and Willis, Anderson said: “I don’t really know how I feel about that.

“It’s quite strange, guys who have done so much in the game and achieved so much – and I watched as a kid – come up and congratulate me on that sort of thing.

“I’m just delighted that I’ve got there, and hope there is plenty more left to come.”

A decade on and the evergreen Anderson is now England’s record wicket-taker with 685 Test scalps to his name.

That sees him sitting third in the all-time list, behind former spinners Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka (800) and Australia’s Shane Warne (708), and the 40-year-old will be hoping to add to his tally during this summer’s Ashes.