Stuart Broad joins exclusive club of 500 wickets

Broad is the second English bowler and seventh overall to achieve this milestone

English fast bowler Stuart Broad joins exclusive club of 500 Test wickets during the third test against West Indies. Stuart Broad becomes the second English bowler and 7^th overall to achieve this milestone. James Anderson was the first English bowler to achieve this landmark.

He joins the elite club of great bowlers including Muralidharan, Shane Warn, Glenn McGrath, Anil Kumble, Courtney Walsh, and James Anderson. Sri Lankan legend off spinner Muttiah Muralidharan is still leading the club with record breaking 800 wickets. Australian leg spin master Shane Warne is at number two with 708 wickets. Anil Kumble from India stands at number three with 619 wickets.

 The three leading wicket takers are spin bowler. James Anderson needs just 11 more wickets to become the first test fast bowler to take 600 wickets. He has already taken 589 wickets and still is the leading fast bowler. 

       

It was a shame that he achieved this milestone when there were no spectators in the stadium to celebrate his success due to coronavirus. The match was played in the empty stadium in Manchester.  

He took ten wickets in the test and played crucial role in the victory of England team. When he gets the wicket of West Indian batsman Kraigg Braithwaite, he becomes fourth fast bowler in the history of test cricket to complete the 500 wickets.

This was not only Broad’s moment to join an elite club — just six other bowlers of any kind have reached 500 in Tests — but also further vindication after he so publicly voiced his displeasure at being left out of the first match of the series.

He has taken 16 wickets at an average of 10.93 in the two test matches against West Indies. In this match alone he picked up 10-67 to go with the 62 runs he scored in England’s first innings.

 To still be so determined at the age of 34 is typical of such a fierce competitor, whose 140-Test career has been characterised by spectacular spells and has taken part in four Ashes wins.

West Indies, so competitive for much of the tour, remain without a series victory in the UK since 1988 and have now been beaten on seven consecutive trips to this country.

500 wickets club

1. Muttiah Muralidharan   (Sri Lanka) — 800 wickets
2. Shane Warne (Australia) — 708 wickets
3. Anil Kumble (India) — 619 wickets
4. James Anderson (England) — 589 wickets
5. Glenn McGrath (Australia) — 563 wickets
6. Courtney Walsh (West Indies) — 519 wickets
7. Stuart Broad (England) — 500 wickets

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