Alastair Cook admitted to suffering from a bout of nerves before passing Graham Gooch as England's highest Test run scorer.
Cook surpassed Gooch's mark of 8,900 runs in the second Test with New Zealand at Headingley on Saturday, achieving the feat with a square-driven four that took him beyond 31 for his innings.
The England captain went on to make 75 as he put on an opening partnership of 177 with Adam Lyth, who scored his maiden Test century at his home ground before being run out for 107.
Lyth's dismissal sparked a fightback from New Zealand, who had earlier been bowled out for 350, with the tourists taking three further wickets in eight overs with the new ball as England closed on 253-5.
"I've never been nervous in the twenties before but I was nervous today," Cook said. "It was an amazing moment. I probably don't deserve to be on top of the list in terms of the way I play but to be there with the runs I've scored is very nice.
"The madness of it is that I queued for Gooch's autograph time and time again watching him play at Essex. Now it's incredibly special to go past my mentor and friend. I wanted to do it with an innings rather than to scrape over the line.
"We got off to a good start with the bat. Losing five [wickets] for 76 was disappointing but that is Test cricket – it can ebb and flow and the new ball under lights was tough, make no mistake.
"There is a lot of hard work to do but we have some good players to come. Get past their score, we can then put some pressure on them."
Lyth followed in the footsteps of Joe Root in becoming the second Yorkshireman to score a first Test hundred at Headingley.
He added: "Getting a hundred [means] you know you can do it at this level. Hopefully there are a few more runs to come. It was very special to get a hundred here in front of my home fans and family.
"A couple of years ago I didn't deserve the England shirt but I've worked hard and I think I deserve it now."