The 26-year-old became the fourth youngest player in England's history to reach 100 Test wickets.

And what a way to do it, dismissing potent all-rounder Jacques Kallis with a rip-snorter of a delivery to trap him lbw.

Only Derek Underwood, Sir Ian Botham and Steve Harmison – who bowled well in tandem with Anderson on his Test return – have reached the century at a younger age.

And match figures of 5-127 for the former Burnley pace ace seemed to put the Three Lions on course for victory in the final Test against South Africa.

With the series already lost, with the Springboks leading 2-0 with one to play, the pressure was off England and new skipper Kevin Pietersen at the Brit Oval.

And Anderson stood up to the plate, taking 3-42 in the first innings to skittle the visitors for 194.

That also included Anderson taking the catch of Graeme Smith for 46 at fine leg off Steve Harmison, as the pair bowled well together in the opening stages.

And he added to that with 2-85 in the second innings, as South Africa put up a gallant effort to set England anywhere near a challenging total to win the game.

Ahead of the final day's play, England needed 197 for victory, with the score yet to get up and running after just eight balls of the innings.

But with Anderson's work seemingly done for this Test series, he can look back on a job well done, and another milestone achieved.