England's James Anderson became the sixth bowler and first Englishman to take 500 Test wickets when he clean bowled West Indies' Kraigg Brathwaite for four on day two of the third Test at Lord's.
Anderson began the match on 497 and took the wickets of Brathwaite and Kyle Hope before Ben Stokes ran through the visitors in the first innings with a six- wicket spell.
After England were bowled out for 194 on Saturday (NZT), giving them a lead of 71, Anderson took the new ball again and produced an unplayable inswinger to reach the milestone in style.
Anderson, whose first wicket also came at Lord's against Zimbabwe in 2003, took his tally to 501 later with another unplayable delivery to bowl Kieran Powell as West Indies ended the day on 3-93 in their second innings - a lead of 22.
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.
Australia's Glenn McGrath is the other quickie on the list with 563 and Anderson hopes to get nearer to both of them.
"I'm loving it at the moment and want to keep playing as long as possible," he said.
"If I can keep going for another two or three years I might get somewhere near."
Anderson's 501 wickets have come at an average of 27.7 with 330 wickets coming at home compared to 171 on foreign soil.
The three leaders on the all-time list are Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Australian legspinner Shane Warne (708) and Indian legspinner Anil Kumble (619).
West Indies finished day two on 93-3, a lead of 22-runs.
Reuters
