Anderson bowling honoured by Queen

Swing 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 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," Anderson OBE said.

"These achievements wouldn't have been possible without the help and support of my family, friends and everyone at Burnley CC, Lancashire CCC and England."

The honour caps an impressive 12 months for the 32-year-old right-armer after he overtook Sir 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 OBE became the the first England bowler to take 400 Test wickets – Test cricket's 12th overall – in the Headingley defeat to New Zealand.

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Anderson OBE is mobbed by teammates after wicket 400 // Getty Images

Showing his allround capability, Anderson OBE set a new world record 10th-wicket partnership with Joe Root in the 2014 season when he added 198 runs against India at Trent Bridge. It eclipsed the mark set 12 months prior by Phillip Hughes and Ashton Agar.

Botham was the last England cricketer to be knighted, in 2007, with that award bestowed by the monarchy for his services to charity. He was also named an OBE in 1992 for both his cricket and charity achievements.

ECB Chief Executive Officer Tom Harrison congratulated Anderson OBE on his award.

"We have been privileged to watch Jimmy Anderson's talent develop and flourish in recent years; he is undoubtedly the finest England fast bowler of his generation; a master of the art of swing bowling and surely one of the greatest cricketers to ever wear the three Lions," said Harrison.

"What a marvellous reward this is for all he has given to both England and Lancashire."

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England's 2005 squad with British royalty // Getty Images

Anderson's OBE outranks the Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire handed out to all squad members of England's victorious 2005 Ashes squad a decade ago.

That award gave fodder to the Australians during their 2006-07 whitewash, with Paul Collingwood famously sledged by Shane Warne, after he contributed scores of 7 and 10 and bowling four overs after playing just the one Test in the 2005 series.

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Kevin Pietersen with his MBE for the Ashes win // Getty Images