London, June 13 (IANS) Fast bowler James Anderson has been honoured by the Queen after becoming England cricket’s leading Test wicket-taker.
Anderson was named an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the annual Queen’s birthday honours list.
“This means an enormous amount to me and my family. I’m very proud of my recent achievements and this just caps it off. These achievements wouldn’t have been possible without the help and support of my family, friends and everyone at Burnley, Lancashire and England,” Anderson was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au on Saturday.
The honour caps an impressive 12 months for the 32-year-old right-armer after he overtook Ian Botham’s mark of 383 scalps to become his country’s leading Test wicket-taker during England’s drawn series in the West Indies.
Anderson became the the first England bowler to take 400 Test wickets – Test cricket’s 12th overall – in the Headingley defeat to New Zealand.