James Anderson became the first England bowler and sixth in history to take 500+ wickets in Tests

James Anderson reaches landmark 500 Test wickets by dismissing Kraigg Brathwaite in England's third Test against the West Indies @ Lord's

England's James Anderson celebrates taking his 500th test wicket on the second day of the third test match between England and the West Indies at Lord's cricket ground in London.

James Anderson removed Kraigg Brathwaite for four to claim 500th Test wicket

James Anderson is just the sixth bowler to take 500 wickets and only the third seamer, reaching the landmark after the same amount of Tests, 129, as Courtney Walsh and on the same Lord's ground as Glenn McGrath.

"King of swing" James Anderson took time to establish himself as England's leading Test bowler but reaching 500 wickets at a sun-drenched Lord's seals his place in cricket history.

It was at the "home of cricket" where the 35-year-old Lancashire paceman made his Test debut against Zimbabwe back in 2003 -- a match in which he took five wickets in the first innings.

Anderson's greatest skill has been an ability to swing the ball late, a quality that has made him highly effective in English conditions, especially at a "swing-friendly" Trent Bridge in Nottingham.

But no one gets to 500 wickets simply by starring on home soil and Anderson's career has featured many memorable away successes -- notably when he led England's attack during their 2010/11 Ashes triumph in Australia.

Burnley-born Anderson, the first English bowler to reach the landmark, had played just three one-day games for Lancashire when he was called into England's limited-overs squad in Australia as cover for Andy Caddick in 2002/03.

Windies legend Courtney Walsh was the first ever to achieve the feat back in 2001 when he had dismisses Jacques Kallis during a Test match in Port of Spain. Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan, Glenn McGrath and Anil Kumble are the other four bowlers on the list. However, both Walsh and Anderson are the only two bowlers to have played most number of Tests to achieve this mark – 129 matches. Incidentally, McGrath too had claimed his 500th at the same venue back in 2005 and there again both the teams were bowled out for a score below 200 runs.

500... IN NUMBERS 

6 - bowlers with 500 Test wickets after Anderson joined Courtney Walsh, Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan, Glenn McGrath and Anil Kumble.

129 - Tests taken for Anderson to reach 500 wickets - the same as West Indies great Walsh. Muralitharan was quickest to the mark in 87 Tests, with the other three ranging from 105 to 110.

27.64 - his Test bowling average. Only Kumble of the 500 club has a higher average, 29.65.

23 - times Anderson has taken five wickets in a Test innings. On three occasions he has gone on to make it a 10-wicket match.

7-43 - his best figures, against New Zealand at Trent Bridge in June 2008

18.95 - Anderson's average at perhaps his favourite Test ground, Trent Bridge. He has taken more wickets at Lord's, 84, but his 60 in Nottingham have come in just nine Tests as opposed to 21 at HQ.

35 - at 35 years and 40 days old, Anderson is the third-youngest man to reach 500 wickets.

2003 - the year Anderson made his Test debut, against Zimbabwe at Lord's.

68 - number of Anderson's Test wickets which came via catches from former England wicketkeeper Matt Prior, the most by any fielder. Current keeper Jonny Bairstow has contributed 32 catches and Alastair Cook 36.

11 - Anderson has dismissed Australia bowler Peter Siddle more times than any other opposing batsman