Chuffed England premier fast bowler Stuart Broad had to go to bed with one wicket away — to reach a milestone of 500 Test wickets after the end of the third day’s play of the ongoing third Test match — against the West Indies at Old Trafford, Manchester. He might have the restless night, thinking about how to take the much-awaited wicket, to create and celebrate history. But, at the same time, Broad would be aiming for booze to celebrate his remarkable achievement — with his teammates somewhere on the balcony in the blue skies of English summers. This would be a sight to behold for cricket fans worldwide.
The pacer Stuart Broad was ‘frustrated, angry, gutted’ over being dropped from the first Test which England eventually lost by four wickets. He returned in the team in the second Test and his splendid performance silenced all the critics. Recently, the towering fast bowler snared six wickets guiding his side to level the series.
Stuart Board has currently 499 wickets:
The 34-year-old Stuart Broad has currently 499 wickets in 140 Test matches. He will become the second England bowler to pick 500 Test wickets after James Anderson, who has picked 587 wickets in 152 Test matches.
Notably, he is the slowest to reach the landmark. Muttiah Muralitharan completed the feat in 87 matches followed by Anil Kumble (105) and Shane Warne (108). Glenn McGrath picked up his 500th Test wicket in his 110th Test while Courtney Walsh and Anderson breached the mark in their 129th Test match respectively. Overall, he will become the seventh bowler to reach the 500-Test wicket milestone.
Broad has dismissed eight Windies in the third Test:
In the ongoing third Test in Manchester, Broad scalped six wickets in West Indies’ first innings, sending them back to pavilion for 197 runs. Not only with the ball but also with the bat he demolished the visitors, scoring 62 runs off 45 balls. He smacked nine fours and one maximum in his quick-firing innings.
While chasing 399 runs on the third day, Broad picked the prized wicket of John Campbell and night-watchman, Kemar Roach, as Windies lost their two wickets for 10 runs.
The current form of Stuart Broad will be dangerous for the West Indies to survive the mammoth target of 389 runs.