England’s Stuart Broad joined one of cricket’s most exclusive clubs when he took his 500th Test wicket yesterday.
The 34-year-old paceman became just the seventh bowler to reach the landmark when he had West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite plumb LBW for 19 at Old Trafford on the fifth and final day of the third Test, with England pushing for a victory that would see them take the series 2-1.
Broad, playing in his 140th Test, had been left stranded on 499 wickets when, after he had already taken eight wickets in the match, rain washed out the whole of Monday’s fourth day.
Photo: Reuters
He was frustrated by some sound batting early yesterday before a fresh burst of rain forced the players off the field for about 16 minutes.
However, soon after play resumed, Broad reached the 500 mark when he dismissed Brathwaite with a full-length delivery that struck the back pad, with the opener not even bothering to review umpire Michael Gough’s decision because he was so clearly out.
Brathwaite’s exit left the West Indies chasing a huge target of 399 for victory, 45-3.
By coincidence Brathwaite was also the dismissed batsman when James Anderson, Broad’s longstanding England new-ball colleague, took his 500th Test wicket, at Lord’s in September 2017.
Broad, controversially omitted from the England side that lost the first Test at Southampton by four wickets, had now taken the first three West Indies wickets to fall in their second innings of this match.
However, any thought he might match England spin great Jim Laker’s feat of taking all 10 wickets in an innings of an Old Trafford Test, against Australia in 1956, ended soon afterward when he caught Shai Hope off Chris Woakes to leave West Indies’ floundering at 71-4.
A second shower 20 minutes before lunch made the interval easy to call.
England needed five more wickets to win the series after reducing the West Indies to 84-5. Roston Chase was 5 not out, with Jermaine Blackwood on 3.
Broad had already taken 6-31 in West Indies’ meager first innings 197 made in reply to England’s 369. Broad scored a dashing 62 runs in that innings, batting at No. 10.
Although no spectators can attend the series, which marks international cricket’s return after the COVID-19 outbreak, Broad’s father, Chris — a former England opening batsman — was at Old Trafford to witness his son’s achievement in his role as the match referee.
The only bowlers with more than 600 Test wickets are a trio of former spinners — Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Australian Shane Warne (708) and India’s Anil Kumble (619).
The only seamers ahead of Broad are Anderson (589 wickets) and Australia’s Glenn McGrath (563) and the West Indies’ Courtney Walsh (519), both of whom are retired.
Additional reporting by staff writer and AP
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