Anderson within touching distance of Botham record

England

Former captain and fast bowler Sir Ian Botham is eager to see seamer James Anderson become England's leading wicket-taker in Test match cricket later this year.

Former captain and fast bowler Sir Ian Botham is eager to see seamer James Anderson become England's leading wicket-taker in Test match cricket later this year.

Anderson secured 12 wickets in series defeat to Sri Lanka earlier in 2014 – and this month clinched 25 more in three-one victory over India. His career tally has grown to 380, four shy of surpassing Botham's 384.

"I am looking forward to it – it will be a great moment – and I can't think of anyone better to go past me because people don't realise the amount of hard work that goes in to bowl as he does," Botham told <i>Sky Sports</i>.

"Anderson has been the leader of the attack now for the best part of four or five years, so congratulations Jimmy – you're almost there – and we'll enjoy that moment when it comes.'

England's schedule will be lined with limited-overs fixtures, including the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, until April and May 2015's three Tests against the West Indies in Antigua, Grenada and Barbados.

"There is a lot of tough cricket coming but I think you want to be in the mix – you want to be in the hottest place in the kitchen – and Jimmy will want to be leading that attack for a while yet," added Botham.

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