Gough proved inspiration behind Anderson’s success

James Anderson admits that surpassing childhood hero Darren Gough as England’s leading one-day wicket-taker is a special achievement.

Swing king Anderson drew level with Gough on 234 ODI scalps during the NatWest Series against New Zealand and made the record his own with three wickets in Saturday’s Champions’ Trophy win over Australia.

Anderson’s performance in that match offered ample evidence as to why the 30-year-old has become his country’s most decorated bowler with 10 overs of probing line and length augmented by occasionally devastating movement through the air.

The Lancastrian has grown used to collecting landmarks, becoming just the fourth Englishman to take 300 Test wickets earlier this year and then moving level with the great Fred Trueman on 307.

Young bowlers all over the country will be dreaming of replicating Anderson’s achievements in the future, but in his own formative days he admits he was inspired by looking across the Pennines to Yorkshire favourite Gough.

“I used to look up to Goughie when I watched him bowl as a kid and I ended up playing for England with him as well, so that makes it extra special,” said Anderson.

“It’s good fun breaking records and I’m delighted with this one, but more importantly we’re delighted to get off to a winning start in this tournament.

“Although it’s a bit different to reaching 300 Test wickets last month, it still means a lot because I started my international career in one-day cricket and I’m very happy with what I’ve achieved since then.

“Funnily enough, I probably got the wicket which broke Goughie’s record with the worst ball I bowled all day – a long hop outside off stump – but that’s the way it goes sometimes.”

Although England’s 48-run win over Australia was ostensibly about the Champions Trophy and nothing else, matches between the old rivals rarely come without added significance – especially at the start of an Ashes summer.

Amazingly, back-to-back Ashes tours in both countries mean England and Australia will meet 25 more times across three formats between now and the end of January.

Whether or not the opening skirmish at Edgbaston has any role to play in the psychological battle between the teams is open to debate, but Anderson was keen to play down any link.

“People talk about this being the first of 26 international matches against Australia in the next few months, but most of them are still way off the radar,” he said.

“They might not be playing well at the moment, but they are a strong side and we know they are still dangerous – they always are.”

Perhaps the only major concern from England’s tournament opener is the fitness of Graeme Swann.

The spinner was expected to play against Australia but was a surprising omission when Alastair Cook revealed at the toss that he was suffering from a sore back.

James Tredwell was typically reliable in the understudy role, 
but England will be hoping for Swann to reach full fitness before Thursday’s encounter against Sri Lanka.

Moving to top of England’s elite

Seam bowler James Anderson became England’s leading wicket-taker in one-day internationals with his three Australian victims at Edgbaston on Saturday.

The Lancastrian heads a list of only eight bowlers to have taken 100 wickets or more 
in 50-over cricket for England:

237: James Anderson (170 matches)

234: Darren Gough (158)

168: Andrew Flintoff (138)

155: Stuart Broad (98)

145: Ian Botham (116)

115: Phil DeFreitas (103)

111: Paul Collingwood (197)

103: Graeme Swann (78)