Media playback is not supported on this device Pint-sized TMS: England win series as Blofeld says goodbye

Third Investec Test, Lord's, day three West Indies 123 & 177: S Hope 62, Anderson 7-42 England 194 & 107-1: Westley 44*, Stoneman 40* England won by nine wickets Scorecard

James Anderson took a career-best 7-42 to lead England to a series-clinching nine-wicket victory over West Indies in the third and deciding Test at Lord's.

Anderson, who took his 500th Test wicket on Friday, claimed five more on day three as West Indies were bowled out for 177, despite 62 from Shai Hope.

Set 107, England were taken to their target by an unbroken stand of 72 between Mark Stoneman and Tom Westley.

The 2-1 series win follows a 3-1 success against South Africa.

Not only does it extend an unbeaten home record against West Indies that dates back to 1988, but also sends England off on their defence of the Ashes on the back of two Test series wins in Joe Root's first summer as captain.

England play one Twenty20 and five one-day internationals against the Windies to conclude the home summer before travelling to Australia in October.

Media playback is not supported on this device 'Thank you all for listening!' Blofeld bows out from TMS

Job done against improving West Indies

When England hammered a woeful West Indies in the day-night Test at Edgbaston, the series looked likely to be neither a spectacle nor decent preparation for a trip down under.

However, a wonderful display by the tourists in the second Test at Headingley not only restored some faith in the Caribbean side as a Test force, but also set up the pressure situation of a series decider at Lord's.

In the end, the low-scoring affair in bowler-friendly conditions has seen England prove themselves as the superior team, even if the scarcity of runs has done little to help the hosts further their search for top-order batsmen.

Opener Stoneman and number five Dawid Malan have probably done enough to ensure their places in an Ashes squad that is due to be announced when the domestic season finishes at the end of September.

The place of number three Westley is less certain, with the likes of Haseeb Hameed, Keaton Jennings and Alex Hales looking for runs in the final weeks of the County Championship in order to press their claims.

Awesome Anderson hits new heights

Media playback is not supported on this device Anderson completes five-wicket haul

After the celebrations of becoming only the sixth bowler to reach 500 Test wickets on the second evening, Anderson found himself in trouble with umpire Marais Erasmus for encroaching on to the pitch in his follow-through.

Two warnings left him on the brink or being removed from the attack and necessitated a switch from the Pavilion End to the Nursery End.

However, that only helped the 35-year-old Lancastrian move the ball down the slope and he found the edge of Roston Chase's bat with the fourth delivery of the morning.

Jermaine Blackwood fell in similar fashion, leaving the impressive Shai Hope, the leading runscorer in the series and the last of the recognised batsmen to defy England almost single-handedly.

It took a special delivery to remove the 23-year-old, angled in and nipping away to give a third catch of the day to wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow and, after that, West Indies were as good as beaten.

Devendra Bishoo and Kemar Roach were both bowled as Anderson bettered the 7-43 he took against New Zealand at Trent Bridge in 2008. The 39 Test wickets he took this season are the most he has taken in a home Test summer.

Looking ahead to the Ashes

Tom Westley (left) and Mark Stoneman have both made their Test debuts this summer

If England are looking for improvements to make for their defence of the Ashes, catching would probably be included on the list.

Punished for drops at Headingley, their victory here may have come sooner had they not spilled three chances of varying difficulty in the morning session.

Stuart Broad put down the most straightforward at mid-off and missed a tough, diving caught-and-bowled opportunity, while Alastair Cook shelled a sharp one at gully off Moeen Ali. Both sides dropped 26 catches between them in the series.

That, though, is a less of a concern when compared to England's batting, even if Stoneman and Westley were assured in navigating England to their target.

Left-hander Stoneman was strong square of the wicket on both sides to follow up the maiden half-century he made in the second Test with an unbeaten 40 that included the winning runs.

Westley arrived after Cook was pinned lbw by the spin of Bishoo and characteristically favoured mid-wicket as well as playing attractive cover drives in 44 not out, his first double-figure score in six attempts.

Bye, bye Blowers

Media playback is not supported on this device Farewell Blowers! Legendary commentator's favourite TMS moments

This was the last match behind the microphone for BBC Test Match Special's Henry Blofeld, who ended his career by thanking the listeners.

As he completed his final commentary stint, he was given a standing ovation by the Lord's crowd.

He later embarked on a lap of honour at the end of play and was even invited to join the celebrations in the England dressing room.

'Two or three Ashes places up for grabs' - what they said

England captain Joe Root: "I'm very pleased. It's been a great week. It was a challenging wicket. We're really pleased that we came out on top.

"It's important we enjoy this, enjoy tonight and enjoy what a summer it's been. It's a great opportunity for this group of players to do something special in Australia."

England coach Trevor Bayliss on the Ashes squad: "There are two or three positions that will take more time than the others. I can't see us going outside the people we have played in the last 12-18 months.

"The guys that have come in in the last series or two have been in tough conditions. They have had to do some hard yards. They would have liked to have scored a few more runs, but they've shown something also."

Former England captain Michael Vaughan: "This series has surprised us. None of us gave West Indies any chance after Edgbaston.

"Full credit to them, and we're going to see Shai Hope for many, many years. It's been a good series to watch, even though it's finished quickly."

West Indies captain Jason Holder: "I'm really proud of the guys. I've seen a lot of fight, which I haven't seen for a long time. Hopefully we can carry on putting in some good performances.

"In recent series, we've won a game away from home and we've really competed. We're not too far away from clinching a series win."

Anderson the master - the stats</s>Jimmy Anderson has become the first English cricketer in history to take 500 Test wickets after his dismissal of West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite.

The 35-year-old came into the third Test on 497, but it was soon 498 when Brathwaite was caught behind by Jonny Bairstow.

In truth, Brathwaite's first-innings dismissal could and should have come earlier were it not for a dropped catch by captain Alistair Cook at first slip.

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.

n incredible 498 then turned to 499 when Kyle Hope was again caught behind by Bairstow, who dived admirably to collect.

And the 500 was secured in the West Indies' second innings, having been left agonisingly on 499 after the first innings.

And it was the dismissal of Brathwaite which brought up the 500 — clean bowled three overs into the second innings before the Lord's crowd erupted.

Full and straight, nipping back in and Brathwaite prods forward tentatively before it jags through the gate and castles him for the milestone wicket.

Anderson's 500 Test wickets make him the best bowler in English history, and he sits sixth in the list of all-time Test wicket-takers.

Muttiah Muralitharan leads the way with 800, while fellow spinner Shane Warne is second with 708.

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.

There is only one pace bowler ahead of Anderson, though: legendary Australian Glenn McGrath on 563.

The Burnley Express made his Test debut against Zimbabwe — also at Lord's — in May 2003 at the age of only 21.

Zimbabwe opener Mark Vermeulen became his first victim as he took five wickets in his maiden innings in international cricket.

Eleven years later he became England's most prolific bowler on home soil, when he dismissed Shikhar Dhawan to overtake Fred Trueman's record of 229 wickets in England.

However, he had to wait until April 2015 to become his country's highest overall wicket-taker.

The Lancashire-born bowler dismissed Denesh Ramdin in Antigua to secure his 384th wicket and surpass the previous record held by Ian Botham.

Anderson's 500th wicket came in his 129th match.</s>England pacer, James Anderson has created history as he becomes the first English cricketer and only the sixth bowler in the world to take 500 wickets in test cricket.</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 (AP)

LONDON: James Anderson became the first England bowler to take 500 Test wickets and just the sixth in history when he dismissed West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite on the second day of the third Test at Lord's on Friday.

Anderson, who started West Indies' second innings on 499 Test wickets, reached the landmark when, with the last delivery of his second over, he bowled Brathwaite between bat and pad for four with a big inswinger from the Pavilion End that demolished the right-hander's middle stump.

A capacity crowd at Lord's rose to give Anderson a standing ovation, with the Lancashire swing bowler having started his Test career by taking five wickets in his debut innings against Zimbabwe at the 'home of cricket' in 2003.

Anderson is just the sixth bowler and only the third paceman to have taken 500 Test wickets.

His landmark wicket strengthened England's bid for a 2-1 series-clinching win in this three-match contest.

And he produced an even better delivery to bowl Kieran Powell (45) for his 501st Test wicket, spearing the ball in towards the left-hander only to have it move away late and clip the top of off stump.

West Indies were 93 for three at Friday's close -- just 22 runs ahead -- with Anderson having taken two for 17 in nine overs.

- 'Surreal' -

 "It feels good -- it's a bit surreal still; I can't quite believe that I've got this many wickets or played as much as I have but I'm more relieved to get it out of the way, to be honest," Anderson told Sky Sports.

As for his 500th Test wicket, he said: "I'd swung a few in the previous over so I thought I'd try a wobble and it nipped down the slope.

"Lord's is a great place to bowl -- you've got the slope and try to swing it up it or try to use it to your advantage as a bowler.

Anderson added: "It was an amazing ovation. It's such a special place for me --- to get my first (Test) wicket and my 500th here is something that will live with me for a long time.

"I've got my family and friends here so that makes it even more special."

Anderson is the only active cricketer in the '500 club', with the spin trio of Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan (800 Test wickets), Australia's Shane Warne (708), India's Anil Kumble (619), as well as Australia seamer Glenn McGrath (563) and West Indies fast bowler Courtney Walsh (519) now all retired.

Walsh, the first bowler to 500 Test wickets back in 2001, also took 129 matches to reach the landmark figure.

McGrath is the only other seamer to reach 500 and he, like Anderson, also did it at Lord's in the opening Ashes clash of 2005.</s>LONDON — Fourteen wickets fell on the first day, giving the series-deciding third test between England and West Indies the feel of a lottery at Lord's on Thursday.

West Indies was 123 all out in its first innings and England 46-4 in reply as the batsmen floundered on a pitch that initially appeared good enough for the West Indians to opt to bat on first.

But a day that started in bright sunshine became overcast and showery, and the quick bowlers took advantage.

Ben Stokes took 6-22 for England in a sizzling spell of swing bowling to dent West Indies' hopes of a first series win in England since 1988 and the era of Viv Richards.

Although it appeared West Indies was heading for an embarrassment similar to the innings defeat in the first test, the touring fast bowlers replied in kind.

Captain Jason Holder and Kemar Roach had two wickets each as England lost Mark Stoneman (1), Alastair Cook (10), Tom Westley (8) and, crucially, captain Joe Root (1) before stumps were called early for bad light.

The procession of wickets left England trailing by 77 runs with six wickets left, and facing a scrap in its last test before the Ashes in Australia at the end of the year.

James Anderson took two wickets in a rain-shortened first session to move to 499 career test wickets and one shy of becoming just the sixth player to 500.

But he wasn't given a chance after lunch as Stokes ripped through the West Indies lineup.

Stokes removed six of the last seven batsmen, and his first strike started a collapse of 7-55 by the tourists. Swinging the ball both ways, he was near-unplayable in his 14.3 overs, epitomized by deliveries that bowled Roston Chase and Jason Holder and gave them no chance.</s>LONDON — Only Ben Stokes defied the conditions as wickets continued to tumble in the final test between England and West Indies on Friday — two of them to James Anderson to see him become just the sixth bowler to pass 500 test wickets.

West Indies emerged with a 22-run lead after a rain-affected day which kept conditions ideal for the quick bowlers at Lord's. The tourists only had seven wickets left in their second innings after reaching 93-3 at stumps.

Nine wickets fell on Friday after 14 went down on the first day on Thursday and a result appears inevitable in the series-decider.

Either England will seal a second straight series win of the summer to set it up for its next contest, the Ashes in Australia at the end of the year.

Or West Indies will win its first series in England in nearly 30 years. The last time the West Indies won in England, the great Viv Richards was in the team.

Shai Hope was 35 not out for West Indies at the close on Day 2, and key to its hopes of building a significant enough lead give it a chance of victory. Roston Chase was 3 not out.

Anderson went to 500 in his second over of West Indies' second innings when he bowled Kraigg Brathwaite with a ball that seamed back into the right-hander and clattered into middle stump.

It put Anderson alongside Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, Anil Kumble, Glenn McGrath and Courtney Walsh as the only bowlers to take 500 test wickets. Anderson is the first Englishman to reach the mark, and just the third quick bowler.

"It's a bit surreal," said the 35-year-old Anderson, who's played for England for 14 years. "I can't quite believe I've got this many wickets or played as much cricket as I have. I'm more relieved to get to get it out of the way, to be honest."

Anderson followed up with an even better ball to remove Kieran Powell for 45, beating the opener to clip the bail off the off stump.</s>London (AP) — Only Ben Stokes defied the conditions as wickets continued to tumble in the final test between England and West Indies on Friday — two of them to James Anderson to see him become just the sixth bowler to pass 500 test wickets.

West Indies emerged with a 22-run lead after a rain-affected day which kept conditions ideal for the quick bowlers at Lord’s. The tourists only had seven wickets left in their second innings after reaching 93-3 at stumps.

Nine wickets fell on Friday after 14 went down on the first day on Thursday and a result appears inevitable in the series-decider.

Either England will seal a second straight series win of the summer to set them up for their next contest, the Ashes in Australia at the end of the year.

Or West Indies will win their first series in England in nearly 30 years. The last time the West Indies won in England, the great Viv Richards was in the team.

Shai Hope was 35 not out for West Indies at the close on Day 2, and key to the tourists’ hopes of building a significant enough lead give them a chance of victory. Roston Chase was 3 not out.

Anderson went to 500 in his second over of West Indies’ second innings when he bowled Kraigg Brathwaite with a ball that seamed back into the right-hander and clattered into middle stump.

It put Anderson alongside Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, Anil Kumble, Glenn McGrath and Courtney Walsh as the only bowlers to take 500 test wickets. Anderson is the first Englishman to reach the mark, and just the third quick bowler.

“It’s a bit surreal,” said the 35-year-old Anderson, who’s played for England for 14 years. “I can’t quite believe I’ve got this many wickets or played as much cricket as I have. I’m more relieved to get to get it out of the way, to be honest.”

Anderson followed up with an even better ball to remove Kieran Powell for 45, beating the opener to clip the bail off the off stump.

Hope hit six fours, settling the West Indies after Anderson and Stuart Broad had threatened to run through them for a second time in the test.

So far, only one batsman has come close to conquering the Lord’s pitch and the opposition fast bowlers, though.

Earlier, Stokes followed up his 6-22 in West Indies’ first innings to hit 60 in England’s 194 all out. That was easily the best performance with the bat in the match and gave England a 71-run first-innings lead.

Stokes’ score came off 74 balls with 10 fours, a rattling strike rate as he threw caution to the wind and helped England fight back after resuming on 46-4.

West Indies could have kept the lead to much less, but allowed England to put together partnerships of 29 for the ninth wicket and, gratingly for the tourists, 31 for the last wicket. Broad made 38 from No. 10.

Kemar Roach finished with 5-72 and captain Jason Holder 4-54 as West Indies needed just three bowlers to bowl out England.</s>Cricket - England vs West Indies - Third Test - London, Britain - September 9, 2017. England's James Anderson and team mates celebrate after winning the Investec Test Series. Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

LONDON (Reuters) - England seamer James Anderson has reclaimed his number one ranking in test matches after his career-best seven for 42 sealed a 2-1 series victory against West Indies on Saturday.

The 35-year-old, who became the first English bowler, and only sixth ever, to reach 500 test wickets on Friday, moved above India's Ravindra Jadeja.

He is the oldest bowler to top the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings since Muttiah Muralitharan in 2009.

Anderson took nine wickets in the series-deciding third test at Lord's which England won by nine wickets.

Ben Stokes, who produced a masterful spell of swing bowling to take six wickets in West Indies first innings before a vital 60 with the bat in a low-scoring game, replaced team mate Moeen Ali in fourth spot on the all-rounder's rankings.

West Indies batsman Shai Hope, the top scorer in the series including two superb hundreds at Headingley, moved up 11 spots in the batting rankings to 30th.</s>London: England beat West Indies by nine wickets to win the third Test at Lord`s on Saturday.

Victory saw England take the three-match series 2-1.

England, set just 107 for victory, finished on 107 for one as they won with more than two days to spare.

Mark Stoneman was 40 not out and Tom Westley 44 not out.

Earlier, James Anderson took his Test-best innings figures of seven for 42, a haul that included his 500th Test wicket, as West Indies were dismissed for 177 in their second innings.

This was the second time this series that a match had ended inside three days after England won the first Test -- the inaugural day/night Test in Britain -- by an innings and 209 runs at Edgbaston last month.

West Indies, however, then recorded a shock five-wicket win in the second Test at Headingley.</s>It was a moment that so many sports stars dream of but only the greatest achieve. That career-defining moment where you join the greats of your sport.

Well, James ‘Jimmy’ Anderson is now in that group. Yesterday, he took his 500th Test wicket on day two of the final Test against the West Indies. Even sweeter still, it was on home soil at Lord’s.

He surpassed Sir Ian Botham’s record of 383 Test wickets against the same opponents in 2015 and now he is the first England bowler to ever achieve the feat, Kraigg Brathwaite the victim on this occasion.

“It’s surreal thinking about how much cricket I’ve played and where I’ve got to in the game,” he said.

Anderson remains some way off the record of 800 Test wickets, a record held since 2010 by Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka.

But the 35-year-old is also in good company in the 500 club with Shane Warne (708 wickets), Anil Kumble (619 wickets), Glenn McGrath (563 wickets) and Courtney Walsh (519 wickets).

Being the character he is, Anderson will already have his sights on those above him.

To celebrate his incredible achievement the Lancashire bowler has revealed the top five wickets of his international career so far in a piece for The Telegraph.

First up was the dismissal of Brad Haddin in a tightly fought Ashes contest in 2013.

“I bowled an off cutter to Haddin and I didn’t even hear a nick but the other guys went up,” he reflects. “It was my 10th of the game and the reason you play is to take wickets in tense victories. It is probably my best performance for England.”

The original decision was given not out but after a video review it was given. Cue Jimmy and co. going crazy.

His second was came in 2nd Test against Austalia in Adelaide in 2010 where he enticed Ricky Ponting to nick it and Graeme Swann took a two handed catch.

"We always tried to bowl full at Ponting when he first came to the crease thinking he would go for the drive. The ball was pitched exactly where I wanted. He did not try and play a drive, he just pushed at it quite hard and nicked it. Swanny took a great two handed diving catch at second slip."

Skip to 4:00 in the video below:

The dismissal of Dinesh Ramdin in April 2015 won't be remembered by everyone but to Anderson it was a very memorable moment.

"A special one just because it took me past Sir Ian Botham’s record for number of Test wickets for England. I had friends and family out there and the pressure was on to do it in this match.

"The game itself was a bore draw but I will never forget it because of everything that surrounded it personally. The game was drifting and I was worried it wouldn’t happen for me. Broady told me to bowl a leg cutter. I did and bowled a pretty average ball. I did not like it. He said bowl it again. So I did and he edged it. Cooky took a good catch at first slip."

Anderson's career best spell of 7-43 vs New Zealand in2008 had to feature somewhere so it makes his pearling delivery to Brendon McCullum is a favourite.

"I took 7-43 in the first innings which remain my best Test figures to this day. I bowled McCullum with an outswinger which he tried to hit through the leg side. It swung, he missed it and it hit the top of off stump."

Skip to 1:17 to see it below:

The final wicket to make Anderson's top five is that of MS Dhoni in December 2012 in Calcutta where England's leading-wicket taker expertly put a plan into practice against the former India captain.

"In the second innings I got Yuvraj Singh and Dhoni in quick succession. Yuvraj was bowled with one that reversed in, kept a little low and was from around the wicket. But it is the Dhoni one that sticks in my mind.

"I bowled a couple of big inswingers to him first. They were a bit wide and he left them. He was waiting for another inswinger. I bowled an outswinger that did not do a huge amount but because of the two before that had come in, he played at it and edged it to first slip."

“To get key players out in a Test win is what you remember years later,” Anderson concluded. He will now be remembered as a key player in England Test history as he stands alone as the all-time leader.

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In cricket, England defeat the West Indies by nine wickets to win the three-match series. England bowler Jimmy Anderson takes 7–42 and becomes only the third fast bowler in history to take 500 Test wickets.