Captain Alastair Cook described the moment he became became England's all-time leading Test run-scorer as "special" and "humbling".
The opener made the 32 runs needed in the first innings in the second Test against New Zealand at Headingley to overtake Graham Gooch, and he did so just after lunch when he square-drove Tim Southee for four to reach 33 in his 203rd innings - and 8,902 in aggregate.
Gooch’s 8,900 had stood for 20 years as England’s historic benchmark and Cook was understandably thrilled to usurp his mentor.
“It is a very special day for me personally. I can’t really describe it, to be on top of the list. I don’t deserve to be there with the way I play,” he told Sky Sports.
“You don’t play for the records, but I know I needed 32 runs but to break the record, you want to do it with an innings (that matters). It was an amazing moment, very humbling.
“The last 18 months have been tough personally as a captain. A lot of stuff has gone on the last four or five months, but I have given time to my game and I feel like it is going well.”
Trent Boult and Southee led a New Zealand recovery after Adam Lyth scored his first Test century.
England were cruising on the second day of the second Test while left-handed openers Lyth (107) and captain Cook (75) were sharing a first-wicket stand of 177.
But the departure of Lyth, needlessly run out shortly before the advent of the new ball, sparked a slump that saw four wickets fall late in the day.
At stumps, England were 253 for five in reply to New Zealand’s first innings 350, a deficit of 97 runs.
The new ball saw left-armer Boult take two wickets for 10 runs in four overs and Southee one for seven, also in four overs.
Lyth, 27, was Cook’s sixth opening partner since the retirement of former captain Andrew Strauss, with Nick Compton, Joe Root, Michael Carberry, Sam Robson and Jonathan Trott all given a chance in the problem position.
However, Lyth went some way to making the berth his own ahead of the Ashes series starting in July.
For Lyth, it was extra special to get his first hundred in front of his home fans.
Yesterday also saw England’s first century opening stand in a home Test since Cook and Strauss added 186 against India at Edgbaston on 2011.
Lyth had managed just seven and 12 on debut during England’s 124-run win in the first of this two-Test series at Lord’s.
“It was a fantastic moment for myself and my family. I was very pleased get three figures in front of home crowd,” he said.
“I was a bit nervous. They did bowl very well - I had to wait my time. It was a great moment and one that I will never forget.
“I was more nervous this game than making my debut - I don’t know why.
“Hopefully there are many more games to come.”
England finished the day on 253 for five after the visitors ended their first innings on 350 all out.
“It is pretty even - the last hour brought them back in the game,” Cook added. “They put the ball in right areas.”
In the morning, New Zealand, who resumed on 297 for eight, thrashed 53 runs in just 7.1 overs before they were bowled out. Stuart Broad took the last two wickets to fall, finishing with five for 109.
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