Steven Finn is disinclined to boast about superseding the great Sir Ian Botham as the youngest England player to take 50 Test wickets.
However, he is immensely proud that his two most recent scalps helped to put the hosts in a position from which they could start the final day of the second npower Test with the ambition to push for an unlikely second successive win over Sri Lanka.
The tourists subsided from 372 for three at start of play to 479 all out and were then unable to stop Alastair Cook (61no) and Jonathan Trott (58) from batting England towards apparent safety at Lord's.
As for his own milestone, Finn was aware he had reached the 50 - but not that he had made history by beating Botham to the feat.
"I knew I'd taken 50 wickets but didn't have a clue I was the youngest to do it," he said.
"But that's not something we're very focused on. We're focused on winning games of cricket, and performing as a unit and as a team.
"No one is really interested in their own personal gain; obviously (they are) in their own personal performance, taking pride in that and contributing to the team.
"Accolades or stats like that are hugely satisfying, but not something I focus on."
Much more important to Finn is that in his 12 Tests so far he has helped England to four series victories, including the Ashes in Australia last winter.
He featured in the first three matches Down Under, but was then relieved of his fast-bowling duties amid suspicions he had run out of a little steam.
After sitting out again in Cardiff last week, he returned here to good effect, on his home ground, in the absence of the injured James Anderson.
"We've achieved exceptional things already, but we're not satisfied with those things," he added.
"We can look back with smiley faces on what we have achieved so far. But we can look with great hunger and desire at what lies ahead for us."
Anderson's convalescence from a side injury meant one more thing for Finn yesterday - that he was the nominated nightwatchman while Cook and Kevin Pietersen were closing out the final hour.
He was not needed in the end, but clearly would not have minded if he had been.
"I had the pads on, the chest pad, thigh pad, the lot, two boxes. I was ready to go out there and do it if I had to.
"But thankfully the two guys out there held their positions and played well.
"I love my batting, and have worked immensely hard on it over the last year to 18 months.
"I feel like I've improved greatly, and if I'd got out there I'm sure I'd be sitting here as a not-out batsman."
England will continue their push today with realistic hopes that Finn's batting prowess ought not to be required after all.
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The tourists subsided from 372 for three at start of play to 479 all out and were then unable to stop Alastair Cook (61no) and Jonathan Trott (58) from batting England towards apparent safety at Lord's.
As for his own milestone, Finn was aware he had reached the 50 - but not that he had made history by beating Botham to the feat.
"I knew I'd taken 50 wickets but didn't have a clue I was the youngest to do it," he said.
"But that's not something we're very focused on. We're focused on winning games of cricket, and performing as a unit and as a team.
"No one is really interested in their own personal gain; obviously (they are) in their own personal performance, taking pride in that and contributing to the team.
"Accolades or stats like that are hugely satisfying, but not something I focus on."
Much more important to Finn is that in his 12 Tests so far he has helped England to four series victories, including the Ashes in Australia last winter.
He featured in the first three matches Down Under, but was then relieved of his fast-bowling duties amid suspicions he had run out of a little steam.
After sitting out again in Cardiff last week, he returned here to good effect, on his home ground, in the absence of the injured James Anderson.
"We've achieved exceptional things already, but we're not satisfied with those things," he added.
"We can look back with smiley faces on what we have achieved so far. But we can look with great hunger and desire at what lies ahead for us."
Anderson's convalescence from a side injury meant one more thing for Finn yesterday - that he was the nominated nightwatchman while Cook and Kevin Pietersen were closing out the final hour.
He was not needed in the end, but clearly would not have minded if he had been.
"I had the pads on, the chest pad, thigh pad, the lot, two boxes. I was ready to go out there and do it if I had to.
"But thankfully the two guys out there held their positions and played well.
"I love my batting, and have worked immensely hard on it over the last year to 18 months.
"I feel like I've improved greatly, and if I'd got out there I'm sure I'd be sitting here as a not-out batsman."
England will continue their push today with realistic hopes that Finn's batting prowess ought not to be required after all.
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