[Watch] When 20-year-old James Anderson took five-wicket haul on Test debut vs Zimbabwe

England legend James Anderson made his Test debut on this day in 2003 in the first Test of the two-match series against Zimbabwe at Lord's.

Anderson showcased incredible skills in his first-ever bowling performance in the English whites, producing prodigious swing with an impeccable line and length.

At the age of just 20, the star England pacer took 5/73 in Zimbabwe's first innings, including the wicket of skipper Heath Streak to bundle out the visitors for just 147 after the hosts had posted a mammoth 472 batting first.

Here is a video of Anderson's sensational bowling display on Test debut:

Twenty years later, James Anderson has played an unprecedented 179 Tests for England, picking up 685 wickets at an average of 25.99 with 32 five-wicket hauls.

The 40-year-old is England's leading wicket-taker in Tests and third all-time behind only Sri Lankan Wizard Muthiah Muralidaran and Australian late great Shane Warne.

Anderson is currently the top-ranked Test bowler in the ICC Rankings for bowlers. He is also the only pacer in the history of Test Cricket to breach the 600-wicket mark.

James Anderson is also the first Pacer in Test Cricket to take 50 wickets against all the other seven major Test-playing nations - Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and West Indies.

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"In one of my first games, I bowled five wides in the first over" - James Anderson recalls the start of his cricketing journey

England pacer James Anderson looked back on his incredible 20-year career in Test Cricket with less than a month remaining for the prestigious Ashes series to begin at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

Anderson is set to become the first England player since Brian Close in 1976 to enter the third decade of his Test career.

Reflecting on his 20-year Test Career, Anderson spoke to BBC Sport about how the journey started.

"My dad was second team captain at Burnley, he said. "He was alright, an all-rounder. I'd watch Botham's Ashes on video, then when dad was playing I'd get on to the field at tea, trying to hit some balls from mum. I was constantly trying to do impressions or emulate people. In cricket I'd have been trying to bowl like Darren Gough against the garage door."

"It was very hard cricket. In one of my first games I bowled five wides in the first over and thought 'this is never going to end'," he added. I" soon learned, at 15, that nerves are good. They brought the best out of me. That stood me in good stead."

Anderson boasts spectacular numbers in Ashes over his illustrious career, picking up 112 wickets in 35 matches, with his best bowling figures being 6/47 in the third Test at Edgbaston in 2015.

The 40-year-old has formed the most lethal bowling partnership in Test cricket history with Stuart Broad, and the pair have combined to take 1,159 wickets between them.

England will take on Australia at Ebasbaston to try and regain the Ashes on June 16.