500 Not Out: Stuart Broad is a Legend Now

(Stuart Broad Celebrating his 500th Test Wicket
Photo Courtesy: Twitter)

For all the great things he has achieved, the name Stuart Broad is directly proportional to the iconic moment of Yuvraj Singh hitting him for six sixes in an over at the 2007 T20 World Cup. But on a dull final day of the third Test in Manchester, Broad claimed an incredible milestone of his career. He picked up his 500th Test wicket, joining the league of legends.

He is only the fourth pacer to reach the mark after Courtney Walsh, Glenn McGrath and his fellow teammate James Anderson. Just shows us how difficult it is for a fast bowler to take those many wickets. He is also the second quickest to reach the mark, 12 years and 226 days after making his Test debut against McGrath, who got there in 11 years and 251 days since his debut. Achieving this feat was not a cakewalk for Broad. He had his ups and downs.

The son of a former England opening batsman, Stuart Broad broke into the international circuit at the age of 20, making his ODI debut against Pakistan in August 2006. His early years in international cricket were not memorable. Even after performing well in the debut series, he got omitted from the 2006 Champions Trophy. He got his Test call up for the 2007 tour of Sri Lanka. He usually made it into the playing XI as a replacement for injured players in the first draft of the national team. The quick played a match-winning role in the 2009 Ashes decider. He always seemed to be at the peak of greatness, but somehow, it eluded him.

(Stuart Broad Celebrating
Photo Courtesy: Twitter)

After a prolonged slump in international cricket, Broad’s real hour of glory came in the series against India in 2011 at home. Broad, took 7-94 and scored 74 in the first test match followed by the memorable 6-46 which included a hat-trick. Broad’s bowling in that innings has proven to be his USP right through his career. His ability to pick wickets in clumps. To run through teams in the space of minutes has helped him immensely to get into the list of England's all-time greats. 

As much as this achievement is the outcome of Broad’s talent and potential, credit must go to the selectors. It has more than five years since Broad last played an ODI for England. That meant he has enough time to recover between series and to work on better technique and return as a better bowler.

After being omitted from the first Test, he certainly proved his point in the other two Tests that he still has the passion to contribute to England victories. The challenge for England will be to ensure that the same fired-up version of Broad stays fit until the 2021 Ashes in Australia.