England’s Broad takes 500 Test wickets

The 34-year-old paceman became just the seventh bowler to reach the landmark when he had West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite plumb lbw for 19 at Old Trafford on the fifth and final day of the third Test, with England pushing for a victory that would see them take the series 2-1.

Broad had been left stranded on 499 wickets when, after he had already taken eight wickets in this match, rain washed out the whole of Monday’s fourth day.

He was then frustrated by some sound batting early Tuesday before a fresh burst of rain forced the players off the field for some 16 minutes.

Soon after play resumed, Broad dismissed Brathwaite with a full-length delivery that struck the back pad, with the opener not even bothering to review umpire Michael Gough’s decision because he was so clearly out.

Brathwaite’s exit left the West Indies, chasing a huge target of 399 for victory, 45-3.

By coincidence Brathwaite was also the dismissed batsman when James Anderson, Broad’s longstanding England new-ball colleague, took his 500th Test wicket, at Lord’s in September 2017.

Broad, controversially omitted from the England side that lost the first Test at Southampton by four wickets, had now taken all three West Indies wickets to fall in the second innings of this match.

That followed Broad’s haul of 6-31 in the tourists’ meagre first innings 197.

That was n reply to England’s 369, which featured Broad’s 62 batting at No 10.

Although no spectators are allowed to attend in a bio-secure series that marks international cricket’s return from the coronavirus, Broad’s father Chris — a former England opening batsman — was at Old Trafford to witness his son’s achievement in his role as the match referee.

The only bowlers with more than 600 Test wickets are a trio of former spinners — Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Australian Shane Warne (708) and India’s Anil Kumble (619).

The only seamers ahead of Broad are Anderson (589 wickets) and Australia’s Glenn McGrath (563) and the West Indies’ Courtney Walsh (519), both of whom are retired.