Broad smiles as England duo produce 5-star effort
STUART Broad secured his place among the pantheon of great pace bowlers with a 500th Test wicket before a brilliant five-for from Chris Woakes powered England to a 2-1 series win over the West Indies.
Broad had spent two successive nights lingering on 499 but ensured his wait would not carry on beyond this third Test, pinning Kraigg Brathwaite lbw in the morning session for his landmark scalp then returning to put the finishing touch on a 269-run victory.
As well as making him just the seventh bowler in history to reach the remarkable landmark – and the trajectory of the sport gives every reason to believe he might also be the last – Broad’s first-innings 62 and match figures of 10 for 67 ensured it would be England who won the last ever tussle for the soonto-be-retired Wisden Trophy.
The 34-year-old enjoyed his moment, 13 years and 140 caps in the making, though the eerie silence of a ‘bio-secured’ Emirates Old Trafford was hardly befitting of a feat as lofty as this one.
The empty stands will not concern Broad, though, and he should rightly cherish his elevation to an elite group of seamers that includes his long-time partner James Anderson,
Courtney Walsh and Glenn Mcgrath as its only previous members.
It is no spoiler to reveal that Warwickshire’s Woakes will not be joining their number, standing as he does on 106 wickets from 35 appearances, but he remains one of the most skilful operators around. He shouldered the responsibility of driving forward the England cause, taking five for 50 in a long unbroken shift that saw the tourists rolled for 129 all out. With one wicket still needed, Broad returned for one last effort and did the job with his first ball, Jermaine Blackwood flapping down leg side, handing him the third 10-wicket match of his career and the first since 2013.
Broad, who was later presented with the man of the series award for England, admitted it had been a long journey to his latest milestone. “When we toured New Zealand in 2018 and I got 400, Sir Richard Hadlee gave me one of his books and wrote ‘now go and get 500.’ I remember reading it and thinking ‘that is a long way away,’ but it feels very special to have got there.
“It’s weird. It’s strange. I see it on TV, there on the screen. It still doesn’t look overly real, but what makes it extra special is taking that sort of milestone wicket in a Test match when that’s led to a Test series win. I think you always remember moments as a player for winning games, so it feels great to have done it
What makes it extra special is taking that sort of milestone wicket in a Test match when that’s led to a Test series win. Stuart Broad
leading to a win.” England captain Joe Root said it had been “a brilliant performance” from his side.
“Ever since that (batting) partnership between Ollie Pope and Jos Buttler, we have been in control. Our bowling was exceptional throughout both innings,” Root said.
“We are really growing as a team, we have always been a hard team to beat in these conditions, but think things are really coming together in these last two Tests.
“We are very pleased – we knew we had a few things to contend with today, not least the weather.”
Root paid tribute to the “unbelievable” efforts of Broad, who also made 62 in the first innings.
“I’m really pleased for him and to get 500 wickets is an incredible achievement,” he said.
“I was training with him in lockdown at Trent Bridge and seeing all the hard work he’s been putting in. To see that hard work pay off, I’m really pleased for him.
“It’s worked out very well leaving him out of the first Test – we’ve had a look at a number of different guys and different combinations. To make this impact on the series over two games is a testament to his ability.”