JAMES Anderson's career best score before day four at Trent Bridge was 49 for Burnley in the Lancashire League some 13 years ago.
Such was the paucity of his batting success in the time that followed, he admits he had no idea how to celebrate when he reached a first ever half century in a last wicket stand with Joe Root that sent records tumbling.
Anderson, who has taken 51 Test wickets in Nottingham, belied his recent struggles with the bat to score 81 in a world record partnership of 198.
That helped England claw their way back into the first Test as India closed on 163 for three, a lead of 128 with a day to go.
While thrilled with his efforts, Anderson recognised he has missed the best chance he will ever get to make a century.
He said: "(When I got to 50) Joe said milk it. I didn't know what he meant. I just did the rounds with the bat.
"I've seen people point at the dressing room so I did that as well. I've had a few problems with the bat but I'm a number 11.
"Not a lot is expected of my batting. I went out to just bat for a bit and see what we could do. We needed to eat into their lead.
"We didn't expect to get to where we got to. I did think that if I was ever going to get a 50 it would be on a wicket like this. You feel there are only a certain amount of types of balls that can get you out.
"It's probably the nearest I'll ever get to a hundred. You never know but it's unlikely I will now."
Meanwhile, Root, who finished 154 not out, played down a clash with Ishant Sharma which saw Anderson act as peacemaker after an Indian appeal was rejected.
"He was trying to use what happened as an excuse to get himself and his team fired up and I was trying to get myself fired up. It was quite a surreal moment when Jimmy Anderson is the one to break it up.
"He was playing hard cricket. I played hard cricket. It's nice to get in those battles."
