Recalling the Milestone Wickets in James Anderson's Test Career

James Anderson created a piece of cricketing history in the second Test of the 2015 series against New Zealand.

In taking the first wicket of the match at Headingley, the Lancashire seamer became the first English bowler to reach the milestone of 400 Test wickets.

Anderson started his Test career back in the summer of 2003. Since then, he has gone on to play over a century of matches for his country.

Considering he is still only 32, plus taking into account England's busy schedule in 2015 and beyond, Anderson could go on and reach 500 before he hangs up his bowling boots.

Here we pick out the batsmen who were the bowler's victims for landmark moments, starting with his maiden scalp on debut.

Anderson had already played one-day cricket for England by the time he was named in the starting XI for the first Test against Zimbabwe in the summer of 2003.

He produced some highlights in the match at Lord's too, and not just those in his hair.

The fresh-faced seamer claimed a five-wicket haul on debut, in the process becoming the first Englishman to do so in their maiden appearance since Dominic Cork in 1995, per Paul Coupar of Wisden (h/t ESPN Cricinfo).

His first was Mark Vermeulen, the Zimbabwe batsman emphatically bowled as he failed to get far enough forward in defence.

While Anderson failed to take a wicket second time around as the tourists were forced to follow-on, England still eased to an innings victory.

James Anderson reached three figures when he snared Jacques Kallis in the summer of 2008.

The century came up in South Africa's first innings of the fourth and final Test of the series, which took place at the Oval.

The tourists already held an unassailable 2-0 lead, though the match was far from a dead rubber.

Kevin Pietersen took charge of England for the first time, the batsman handed the reins after Michael Vaughan had stepped down as captain following defeat in the third Test.

Anderson helped give the new skipper a perfect start, trapping all-rounder Kallis lbw for just two.

South Africa were bowled out for 194 and, with Pietersen leading from the front with a century, the hosts went on to win the match by six wickets.

James Anderson's 200th wicket arrived during England's successful Ashes tour of 2010/11.

However, the milestone came in the one game the tourists lost during the five-match series, at the WACA in Perth.

Anderson had tail-ender Peter Siddle caught at second slip by Paul Collingwood in Australia's second innings, though by that stage the hosts already held a sizeable lead.

Set 391 for victory, England were bowled out for 123 in just 37 overs. Anderson was thrust in as a nightwatchman, making three before becoming one of Ryan Harris' six second-innings wickets.

Victory squared the series, though England would win the next two matches to retain the miniature urn.

Anderson joined the 300 club at the start of the English summer in 2013, with Lord's again the venue for a career highlight.

At the same venue where he took his first wicket, he reached his triple ton by dismissing Peter Fulton for two in New Zealand's first innings of the opening Test.

Graeme Swann held on to the catch at second slip, meaning his good friend Anderson became just the fourth bowler representing England to make it to 300 Test victims.

However, his achievement ended up being overshadowed by a superb spell from Stuart Broad.

Set 239 for victory, the Black Caps were dismissed for just 68. Broad claimed seven for 44 in just 11 overs, Anderson backing him up with two wickets at the other end.

Anderson became England's leading wicket-taker in Test cricket on the tour to the Caribbean in 2015.

Denesh Ramdin was the man to become No. 384 for the Lancastrian, the West Indies captain caught at first slip by opposite number Alastair Cook on the Day 5 of the first Test.

Fortunately, Anderson had made sure his family were present at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua to see the historic moment.

Sir Ian Botham, who had previously held the record, was also there to congratulate the man who had overtaken him.

Anderson told Sky Sports (h/t ESPN Cricinfo) of his delight at his personal achievement:

I'm hugely proud, great to have my family here, to take the record from an English legend is a huge moment.

I love taking wickets, I love playing for England and that's all I'm bothered about. You pick up milestones along the way but it's a dream come true to play for England. Hopefully I can carry on for a few more years.

England were unable to make it a double celebration by winning the match however, as Jason Holder's maiden Test century helped the hosts hold on for a draw.

Martin Guptill had the honour of being Anderson's 400th Test wicket.

The New Zealand opener was caught at second slip by Ian Bell to depart for a duck on Day 1 of the second Test.

The magical moment for Anderson also came on enemy territory—the Burnley-born bowler was given a standing ovation by the crowd at Headingley, the home of Lancashire's archrivals Yorkshire.

He is just the 12th bowler to achieve the feat, though he still has some way to go to catch Muttiah Muralitharan's record of 800 wickets!

Anderson said of reaching 400, per Stephan Shemilt of BBC Sport: "It's a nice feeling and a proud moment for me. 

"You see the guys that have got 400 in the past, bowlers I've admired over the years. It's surreal to be with them."