Rain frustrates Broad’s bid for 500 wickets

Rain covers protect the pitch on the fourth day of the third Test between England and the West Indies at Old Trafford

AFP - Rain kept Stuart Broad waiting for his 500th Test wicket as bad weather frustrated England’s bid for a series-clinching win over the West Indies at Old Trafford yesterday.

Play was due to start at 11:00 a.m. local time on the fourth day of the decisive third Test but persistent rain meant the pitch and square remained fully covered.

Broad is just one wicket away from becoming only the seventh bowler to join the ‘500 club’ after taking all six West Indies wickets that fell on Sunday.

The 34-year-old paceman returned first innings figures of six for 31 as the West Indies were bundled out for 197 in reply to England’s 369, which included Broad’s dashing 62.

And after England made 226 for two declared in their second innings, featuring Rory Burns’ 90 and fifties from Captain Joe Root and Dom Sibley, there was still time for Broad to strike twice by removing John Campbell and night-watchman Kemar Roach.

That left Broad, controversially omitted from the West Indies’ win in the series opener at Southampton, on 499 Test wickets. The only bowlers with more than 600 Test wickets are a trio of former spinners - Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Australian Shane Warne (708) and India’s Anil Kumble (619).

The only seamers ahead of Broad are his longtime England new-ball colleague James Anderson (589 wickets) and Australia’s Glenn McGrath (563) and the West Indies’ Courtney Walsh (519), both of whom are retired.