James Anderson breaks Ian Botham's record: Bowler dismisses Dinesh Ramdin to become England's leading Test wicket-taker with 384

Anderson struck with the second ball of his fourth over to dismiss Samuels

James Anderson celebrates becoming England's leading Test wicket-taker (Getty Images)

James Anderson surpassed Sir Ian Botham as England's top Test wicket-taker with a 384th career scalp as the tourists pushed for victory in the final session of the series opener against West Indies.

Anderson marked his 100th cap in grand fashion, moving level with the great all-rounder when Marlon Samuels was caught at gully and breaking new ground when captain Alastair Cook snapped up Denesh Ramdin at slip.

Anderson celebrated his new landmark by sprinting up the pitch, arms outstretched, after taking England within three wickets of the winning line.

Burnley boy Anderson was still at primary school when Botham set the record at 383, but now stands on top of the pile and ready to set a new mark for his successors to follow.

James Anderson celebrates becoming England's leading Test wicket-taker (Getty Images)

Only 13 players in the history of the game have taken more wickets than 32-year-old Anderson, all of them greats and only nine of them seam bowlers.

The ball that took him level owed as much to Samuels' fuzzy thinking as Anderson's guile, but the one that took him over the line was a peach.

Too close to leave, full enough to beg a shot and shading away off the pitch.

There was still work to do when it came high off the edge of Ramdin's bat but Cook was up to it, tumbling to to his left and smothering the ball with both hands.

Anderson, not always given to outpourings of emotion, was electric as he dashed up the field and pumped his arms, while a selection of friends and family cheered him from a balcony.