James Anderson becomes oldest Test No.1 bowler in 87 years

Not since Clarrie Grimmett in 1936 has an older man sat at the summit of the ICC rankings, after the Lancashire seamer took seven wickets in England's 267-run first Test win over New Zealand

James Anderson is back at the top of the ICC Test bowling rankings at the ripe old age of 40.

England's all-time leading wicket-taker has replaced Australia captain Pat Cummins at the summit following the first Test victory over New Zealand at Mount Maunganui.

The Lancashire seamer took match figures of 7 for 54 - figures which moved his average below 26 for the first time in 20 years - to help secure a 267-run victory, a Test that also saw him and Stuart Broad become Test cricket's most successful bowling partnership.

They became the first seam pair to reach 1,000 wickets in international red-ball matches they have played together and later surpassed Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath in the all-time standings.

It was a memorable Test for Anderson and Broad (Phil Walter/Getty Images)

He becomes the oldest man since Australia's Clarrie Grimmett in 1936 to lead the Test bowling rankings, and the fifth oldest ever. 

It is the sixth time Anderson, who has taken 682 wickets in 178 Tests, has topped the standings. 

He is the format's most successful fast bowler and is third in the all-time list behind Murali Muralitharan (800) and Shane Warne (708).  

Elsewhere, India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has moved to second in the Test rankings after taking six wickets in the second Test victory over Australia in Delhi.

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