Broad scalps 10 in Test, England seal series win

MANCHESTER: Stuart Broad joined one of cricket’s most exclusive clubs when he took his 500th Test wicket on Tuesday as England completed a series-clinching win over the West Indies at Old Trafford. The 34-year-old became just the seventh bowler and fourth pacemen to reach the landmark when he had opener Kraigg Brathwaite plumb lbw for 19 on the fifth day of the third Test.

Broad ended the series when he had Jermaine Blackwood caught behind as the West Indies, set a huge target of 399 for victory, collapsed to a meagre 129 all out in under 38 overs. Broad finished with a match return of 10-67. In between Broad’s strikes, fellow paceman Chris Woakes returned innings figures of 5-50. Victory saw England complete a 2-1 win in a three-match series and regain the Wisden Trophy they lost in the Caribbean last year.

Man-of-the-match Broad, playing in his 140th Test, had been stranded on 499 wickets when, after he had already taken eight in this match, rain washed out the whole of Monday’s fourth day. He reached the 500-mark when a full-length ball struck Brathwaite’s back pad, with the opener not bothering to review umpire Michael Gough’s decision because he was so clearly out.

“It feels amazing,” Broad said of his landmark achievement. “I’m looking forward to playing in front of crowds again,” added Broad. “I want to thank the West Indies too, the sacrifice they’ve made. This summer wouldn’t be happening without them.”

Broad, whose ODI career was effectively ended by England in 2016 to keep him going in Tests, said scheduling would now be the issue for a fast bowler wanting to join him in the ‘500 club’. “Someone is going to have to play a lot of cricket because there is a lot of competition out there, between different T20 leagues franchises, 100-ball. I feel very lucky to have played for England in an era where we’ve played a lot of Test cricket in the summer and a lot in the winter. I think there’s talk of thinning the amount of Tests we play in a summer down.”