Longevity is something that fast bowlers have struggled to achieve in the game of cricket. Fitness is always of prime importance and when you’re running in at full speed ball after ball, pacers tend to not have long careers and the biggest achievements. Say for example, the top two leading wicket-takers in Test cricket were both spinners, in Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne.
However, James Anderson and Stuart Broad from England have set the standards for longevity as a pacer, both retiring from limited overs cricket many years ago, while continuing to play only the longest format. Today, the 36-year old Broad went on to achieve yet another massive milestone in his glorious Test career, picking up the 550th wicket of his Test career!
Stuart Broad gets to 550 Test wickets
It was Day 2 of the fifth and final Test match between England and India, with the hosts behind 1-2 in the 5-match series, resuming after 9 months due to a Covid-19 outbreak. The game was being played at Edgbaston where the hosts were trying to level the series, both teams playing almost completely different squads and both with new captains than what it was a few months ago.
While he didn’t have any success in his first few spells on Day 1, he struck early on Day 2 just before the new ball could become available. It was the 80th over of the 1st innings for India and Ravindra Jadeja was batting alongside Mohammed Shami when Broad finally got the breakthrough, in a rather unlikely way too.
SEE ALSO: List of top online sports betting websites
Currently playing in his 156th Test match, Broad is easily one of the best Test players that this country has seen. He played his last T20I in 2014 and last ODI in 2016, and has managed to maintain his fitness to remain one of the top Test bowlers even at his current age. His bowling statistics are second to none in the longest format, with a best innings bowling performance of 8/15 against Australia in 2015.
He has been good with the bat at times as well, which he may have to do later in this game too. His batting stats show a century and as many as 13 career fifties. He’s at the fag end of his career but we’re loving the way this guy has been bowling, and we think he’ll be aiming for 600 wickets as well!
Stuart Broad completes 550 Test wickets. Becomes 3rd pacer after Glenn McGrath and his bowling partner James Anderson to reach the landmark.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 2, 2022
Coming to the wicket, Shami just began having fun at the crease and Jadeja had just got a century as well. It was getting a bit frustrating to see runs being added on, and Stokes threw the ball to his experienced bowler, Broad. England had adopted the short ball policy against Shami and that’s how he fell too, trying to ramp one over third man, but only finding Jack Leach positioned there who took a good catch.
For more updates from the 2022 India tour of England and the world of cricket and other sports, stay tuned to ReadScoops.com.
Register on 10Cric and get 100% first deposit bonus on this betting platform.
