IT has been a remarkable two months for James Anderson, and those who helped him at the very start of his cricket career have never been far from his mind.

A former prodigy at Burnley Cricket Club, Anderson has gone on to incredible success.

In April, he surpassed the legendary Sir Ian Botham to become England’s leading Test wicket-taker of all time.

Earlier this month, that achievement was honoured by an OBE.

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“It’s been an amazing few months for me and my family,” Anderson told the Lancashire Telegraph, as he paid a visit to his old school Blessed Trinity RC College as part of National Cricket Week.

“Everything has happened at once. I wasn’t expecting the OBE at all, it’s still a bit of a shock really.

“My mum cried, my dad sort of wasn’t that fussed! No, they’re very proud, I never expected anything like that so it was a very proud moment.”

Breaking the Test wicket record meant a lot too. Botham was the hero of Anderson’s father, Michael.

“It probably meant more to my dad than it did to me,” Anderson says.

“He was very proud and it’s such a huge achievement.

“I still can’t quite believe that I’ve managed to achieve that. It leaves me speechless.

“I think certainly in the last few months it makes you think about everything that has gone on in your journey. I’m just thankful to everyone who has been a part of it.

“I didn’t play much at school so without the people at Burnley, the coaches we had at Burnley, I wouldn’t have been able to progress the way I did.

“The same goes for Lancashire County Cricket Club and then on to England.

“Without the people who have been involved and have helped me on the way, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve what I have done.

“It’s something that I think about a lot and I’m very grateful for.

“I feel really fortunate to do this as a job. I’ve loved every minute of it and if it ended tomorrow I’d be so happy with what I’ve achieved and everything that has gone with it.”

Anderson’s return to his old school served as an inspiration to pupils to follow in his footsteps.

Among his own inspirations though, there was a surprise name.

“Boris Becker was my real hero,” Anderson said of the German former tennis star.

“I used to try to copy him and dive around in the living room, volleying against the wall!

“I used to watch all sports on TV, so I took inspiration from a lot of people.

“I was fortunate that my dad went to watch Lancashire quite a bit so I went down there and a couple of the guys, Peter Martin and Glen Chapple, were extremely good bowlers back then. Glen Chapple still is.

“Cricket was on terrestrial TV back then so I could watch a lot of it, and I tried to copy people like Allan Donald and Glenn McGrath as much as I could.

“It would be great for the town if we could produce some more sportsmen. It is a hotbed of sport.

“To see sportsmen come from this area is fantastic.”