DIAMOND PAIR

Anderson & Broad pass a grand old milestone

- DEAN WILSON

JIMMY ANDERSON and Stuart Broad celebrated the culmination of their 1001 cricketing odyssey with yet more success in the country where it all began.

The final wicket of New Zealand's first innings 306 fell to Anderson to complete figures of 3-36, and bring the duo level with the most successful partnership in Test history.

How fitting it is that 15 years after they played their first Test together at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, they should return to New Zealand to match Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne at a tick over a thousand wickets.

The record tally was set back in 2007 when England's two chief destroyers rode off into the sunset with a 5-0 Ashes thrashing in their back pockets, allowing batters around the world to sleep a little easier.