Ben Sanderson's pride as he reaches 600-wicket milestone for Northants

The 37-year-old brought the 600 up during the Rothesay County Championship Division Two opener with Lancashire, to join an elite club of 14 bowlers to have achieved the feat across all formats.

The big moment arrived on day two against the Red Rose when Loius Kimber caight Tom Bailey on the mid-wicket boundary, although the bowler himself admitted he thought the shot 'was going for six when he hit it'.

Sanderson becomes one of six living bowlers to have gone past 600 wickets for the County, with the others being Jim Griffiths, Paul Taylor, Sarfraz Nawaz, Peter Willey and Brian Crump.

"I am super chuffed with myself, it is a great honour to be one of those players," said Sanderson, who signed for Northants in 2015.

"It is an awesone achievement, I am very proud, and hopefully there are many more to come.

"I have worked really hard to come back from the shoulder injury and a couple of knee problems over the past few years.

"The backroom staff have really put me through my paces over the winter and focused on just getting me as fit as possible, and it has paid off."

Sanderson is one of the most reliable performers in the Northants squad, and he began his season in trademark style with a five-wicket haul in Lancashire's first innings at the County Ground, the 23rd time he has managed that in his career.

He and fellow opening bowler Harry Conway claimed 12 wickets between them in the draw at Wantage Road, and Sanderson admits bowling in tandem with the big Australian is very enjoyable, and something that could bring great rewards over the first six matches of the season.

"Harry creates something all of the time, with his energy," said Sanderson.

"His love for the game lifts everybody up and helps me at the other end as well.

"Having somebody like him always being on the money and attacking just means if we can go at the same end at the same time there will be days when we just run through teams."

Interview by Andrew Radd