Ashes 2023: Stuart Broad becomes second fast bowler to take 600 Test wickets

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Manchester. Veteran England cricketer Stuart Broad on Wednesday became the second fast bowler to take 600 wickets in Test cricket on the opening day of the fourth match of the Ashes 2023 series at Old Trafford.

The 36-year-old Broad achieved the historic feat when he took the wicket of Australian left-hander Travis Head. His England team-mate James Anderson is the only other fast bowler to have taken more than 600 Test wickets.

Overall, Broad is the fifth bowler after Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Australia’s Shane Warne (708), Anderson (688) and India’s Anil Kumble (619) to take 600 wickets in Tests.

Broad started with 598 wickets in the ongoing Old Trafford Test and soon reached 599 when he dismissed Usman Khawaja lbw early in the match. Broad reached his 600th Test wicket in the third session when Head was caught by Joe Root at the boundary.

Former England captain Michael Atherton said on-air, “Broad has now joined his great colleague in that exclusive club where there are only three spinners and two seamers.” It doesn’t matter what kind of bowler you are, to get so many wickets is amazing.

Broad made his Test debut for England against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2007, with Chaminda Vaas his first wicket in this format. So far he has played 166 Test matches and has been a member of four Ashes winning teams.

Atherton said, “To do that as a fast bowler despite the stress and pressure is pretty unbelievable. It’s a very special wicket that Broad will remember for a long time. Even with all the wickets he’s taken, he’s been brilliant.”

Broad’s 600 wickets have come at an average of 27.57 and include 20 five-wicket hauls and three 10-wicket hauls. He has taken the most wickets (149) in 39 matches against Australia and has left behind Ian Botham’s 148 wickets.

Of those 149 wickets against Australia, Broad has dismissed Australia’s veteran left-handed opener David Warner 17 times, against whom the pacer has consistently been on top, including in the current Ashes.

(IANS)

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