Stuart Broad takes 500th Test wicket in England's third Test against West Indies
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Stuart Broad takes his 500th Test wicket
Stuart Broad became only the second England bowler to reach 500 Test wickets on the fifth day of the third Test against West Indies at Emirates Old Trafford.
The fast bowler, 34, removed Kraigg Brathwaite to follow team-mate James Anderson in reaching the landmark.
Only six other bowlers in history have taken more wickets than Broad, who is playing in his 140th Test match.
Broad also took the final wicket as England completed a 269-run win.
The hosts began the day needing eight wickets to win the three-game series, which has seen Broad roar back to form after he was not selected for the first Test.
Since then, he has taken 16 wickets in two Tests at an average of 10.93.
"He's a great, not just of English cricket, but of the game," said former England captain Michael Vaughan, who gave Broad his first Test cap against Sri Lanka in 2007.
"He's got 500 wickets, maybe will get to 600 and he has been involved in so many Ashes series wins (four)."
England v West Indies: Stuart Broad's incredible series against the West Indies
Broad trapped Brathwaite lbw to leave West Indies 48-3 in pursuit of a nominal 399 to win the deciding Test.
Anderson also removed Brathwaite, in 2017, to claim his 500th Test wicket.
"Stuart is an absolute credit to himself for the work he's put in the last few years, he is incredible to watch and a real inspiration, not just for the younger members but for me too," said Anderson, who is Test cricket's most successful fast bowler with 589 wickets.
"There's a good chance he'll take more wickets more than me - why can't he play as long as me? He's in good shape and he leads the attack brilliantly and can take as many wickets as he wants."
Leading Test wicket-takers | ||
|---|---|---|
Bowler | Wickets | Tests |
Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka/ICC) | 800 | 133 |
Shane Warne (Australia) | 708 | 145 |
Anil Kumble (India) | 619 | 132 |
James Anderson (England) | 589 | 153 |
Glenn McGrath (Australia) | 563 | 124 |
Courtney Walsh (West Indies) | 519 | 132 |
Stuart Broad (England) | 501 | 140 |
Broad, who is the son of former England batter Chris, has taken two Test hat-tricks in his career - against India in 2011 and Sri Lanka in 2014 - but perhaps his most famous spell of bowling was the 8-15 he took to bowl out Australia for 60 at Trent Bridge in 2015.
It's that ability to take clusters of wickets quickly which he is famed for.
"I'm always amazed at how he can just get the ball and go on a roll," added Anderson. "I don't feel like I've got that in my game - if I get five wickets it takes me a few days to get there normally!"
Broad has taken five wickets in an innings 17 times.
"Just to reflect on this achievement, you think of the long career of Courtney Walsh and he was a tireless bowler," said Test Match Special commentator Daniel Norcross.
"Walsh took 519 wickets spread over quite a few years and he was 38 when he finished. Stuart Broad is only 34."
'We're blessed to have Broad & Anderson' - what you said
Benjamin Robinson: It can't have been easy for Stuart Broad playing his whole career in the shadow of England's greatest but his ability to bowl match-winning spells must never be forgotten.
James: Class from Broad, reaching 500 Test wickets is a brilliant achievement. We've been absolutely blessed with Broad and Anderson. Will be a very sad day when they both retire.
Guy Ainsworth: Broad is odds-on to overtake Anderson in the all-time list. He has the years and the form.
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