North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda--James Anderson became the leading wicket-taker in English Test cricket history, dismissing West Indies captain Denesh Ramdin after tea on the final day of the first Test at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Friday.
Having drawn level with the previous standard of 383 wickets set by flamboyant former all-rounder Sir Ian Botham earlier in the day when he dismissed Marlon Samuels, Anderson ended a period of growing frustration for himself and his team by having Ramdin caught by his England counterpart, Alastair Cook, at first slip.
That saw him reach 384 victims in what was already a celebratory 100th Test for the 32-year-old seam bowler.
"Great moment for Jimmy and his family..... Congratulations you deserve it .... Awesome !!" Botham said on Twitter.
Botham, writing in his column for Britain's Daily Mirror, said Anderson was the "complete bowler".
"He has been a joy to watch for more than 12 years in an England shirt and I'm absolutely delighted for him that he has finally overtaken me to be No. 1 on the Test wicket takers list out on his own," Botham wrote.
"Because he has been out on his own for years as the leader of England's attack and the finest swing bowler of his generation."
AFP
