ENG vs WI 2017: If I Save all my Wickets for Australia I Don't Mind - Stuart Broad 1

Stuart Broad had his ‘best 40 minutes of the bowling of this summer’ on the third day of the historic day-night Test against West Indies, and the England star made the most of it, as he became England’s second-highest Test wicket-taker on the final day of the match at Edgbaston.

The wicket of Shane Dowrich in the evening session of the third day saw Broad surpassing the legendary Ian Botham’s haul of 383 Test wickets. Broad’s bowling partner James Anderson is England’s leading wicket-taker with 492 Test wickets.

“It’s a really special day,” Broad said. “I felt really good in that little spell of bowling [on the final evening]. It was probably the best 40 minutes of bowling I’ve had this summer.”

Broad, who had two catches dropped on the second evening, took three for 34 in the second innings, as England bowled West Indies out for a paltry 135 to win the match by an innings and 209 runs.

The right-arm pacer further hailed Botham before revealing how ‘proud and delighted’ the former England star was after he surpassed him.

“He’s someone who has been a big influence on me, playing with my Dad, watching some of his performances against Australia,” he said. “He is a huge legend of English cricket but someone who has given back to this team. I was fortunate to get my first cap off him in 2007.

“In the past couple of years, he’s spent more and more time in the changing room and guys really listen to him. He’s someone who’s passionate about English cricket and wants us to do well. I could tell he was genuinely proud and delighted that I’ve managed to go passed him. That’s a testament to him,” he added.

Broad has looked in a fine rhythm throughout this summer but does not have the wickets to prove it. He managed just 11 wickets in eight innings against South Africa before the five-wicket haul in the day-nighter.

However, the pacer is not bothered at all, with the lack of wickets and said he wouldn’t mind making up for it during the Ashes later this year.

“I feel like I’ve been threatening and creating chances,” Broad said. “If I save all my wickets for Australia I don’t mind.”

The 31-year old still has plenty of time to add to his already impressive haul and his injury track record in recent times also looks good. He is also up there mentally, as he said he is enjoying being a part of the team and hoped to represent the team in the 2019 Ashes too.

“I still feel like I’ve got quite a lot of cricket left in me,” he said. “I’m really enjoying being a part of this team at the moment. I’d certainly hope that my performances will keep improving so I’d be part of that 2019 Ashes. I’m not someone who looks too far ahead because I think it slows you down as a performer. You don’t know if you’ll have the luck with injuries.

“I play cricket for the competitive side of it. I love that feeling of being in a battle, that feeling with the new ball, getting an opening batsman out and they’re desperate to survive. That’s the reason I play. I’ll play as long as that drive is there. It’s still within me now. As soon as that goes, I’ll know that I’m gone,” he added.