Stuart Broad has taken his 500th wicket in Test cricket, becoming only the seventh bowler to do so in the game’s history and the second Englishman, following in the footsteps of his long-time partner in crime James Anderson.
Broad and Anderson fronted England’s attack on the final day of the third and deciding Test against West Indies at Old Trafford on Tuesday morning, and it was Broad who produced the first breakthrough, taking the crucial wicket of Kraigg Brathwaite LBW to clinch number 500.
Brathwaite was also Anderson’s 500th victim, clean bowled at Lord’s, and Anderson was quick to celebrate with his teammate. Broad raised the ball to an empty stadium although his father, the former England opening batsman Chris Broad, was watching on from a director’s box.
Only three fast bowlers have achieved the feat before Broad. Windies’ great Courtney Walsh collected 519 from 132 games, Australia’s Glenn McGrath took 563 in 124 matches, and Anderson’s haul of 589 and counting has come from 153 Tests.
Broad, 34, came into the third and deciding Test against the West Indies at Old Trafford on Friday needing an unlikely nine wickets to reach 500, but rattled off six in the first innings for just 31 runs and picked up two more at the start of West Indies’ second innings on day three.
West Indies need to see out the final day to earn a draw but England are now in pole position to bowl out the tourists and clinch the Wisden Trophy.
Bowlers with 500+ Test wickets
Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lanka 800
Shane Warne, Australia 708
Anil Kumble, India 619
James Anderson, England 589
Glenn McGrath, Australia 563
Courtney Walsh, West Indies 519
Stuart Broad, England 500
