MANCHESTER: Stuart Broad on Wednesday became only the second pacer to amass 600 Test wickets during the fourth Ashes Test against Australia on Wednesday.
Right-arm pacer Broad achieved the milestone when he removed Australia’s Travis Head in the 50th over of Australia’s first innings.
He started the fourth Ashes Test with 598 Test wickets to his name but soon moved to 599 when he removed Usman Khawaja lbw before getting Head caught by Joe Root at the boundary.
“Never in my dreams did I think this would be a thing,” said Broad.
“Michael Vaughan was the skipper that gave me my first cap and my ultimate feeling there in Sri Lanka was never that this was the end game but instead that I wanted to win series and create memories.
“Some players feel like they have achieved what they wanted to after getting a Test cap and I’ve been fortunate enough to create memories. Never did I think I would be up there with the greats of the game.”
Notably, Stuart Broad is only the second pacer to take 600 wickets in Test cricket. His countrymate James Anderson was the first quick to achieve this feat.
Broad is now fifth on the list of highest wicket-taker while Anderson sits well at third.
Sri Lanka’s legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan tops the list with 800 wickets, followed by Shane Warne (708), James Anderson (688) and Anil India’s Anil Kumble (619).
Stuart Broad, 37, is the highest wicket-taker in the ongoing Ashes series with 18 wickets and has performed consistently well for England.
Broad’s 600 wickets have come at an average of 27.57 and consist of 20 five-wicket and three 10-wicket hauls. He has the most number of wickets against Australia (149) in 39 matches.
Australia are currently leading the Ashes 2-1, having won the first two Tests before England made a comeback at Headingley to keep the series alive.
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