Anderson nails Test milestone

ENGLAND seamer James Anderson described it as “surreal” as he became only the sixth bowler to take 500 Test wickets.

The 35-year-old Lancastrian, who began the third and final Test against West Indies on Thursday with 497 wickets, ripped Kraigg Brathwaite’s middle stump out of the ground with a textbook inswinger to reach the landmark in style.

Anderson, whose first wicket also came at Lord’s against Zimbabwe in 2003, took his tally to 501 with another unplayable delivery to bowl Kieran Powell.

A setting sun, purple clouds and the blazing Lord’s floodlights provided a fittingly dramatic backdrop for Anderson’s big moment, which earned him a standing ovation.

“It feels good. It’s a bit surreal. I can’t believe I have this many wickets or I have played this much cricket. I’m a bit relieved to have it out of the way,” he told Sky Sports.

“Ideally I’d have done it yesterday but, from the team’s point of view, we bowled really well.

“It’s a great place to bowl. I got my first wicket here and now I have my 500th.

“My family and friends were in the crowd.”

Anderson is only the third pace bowler to take 500 Test wickets and is only 18 behind former West Indies great Courtney Walsh, the first bowler to reach the landmark.

Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan leads the all-time tally on 800.