Stuart Broad Can End Up With More Wickets Than Me If He Carries On Like This: James Anderson

Stuart Broad, 34, created history on Tuesday [July 28] when he became the second English bowler, fourth seamer, and seventh overall to join the elusive 500 wickets club in Test match cricket. Broad, just like his fellow teammate, dismissed Windies opener, Kraigg Brathwaite, for his record-breaking 500th scalp in the longest format of the game.

Broad is the second youngest bowler [that record is still Muttiah Muralitharan] to claim 500 Test match wickets. Broad is a year younger than James Anderson when he claimed his 500th wicket three years ago. His last 100 wickets have come in a mere 50 innings at an average of 22. Recently, Stuart Broad had alluded to taking inspiration from James Anderson as far as longevity is concerned. Broad is 34 and quite possibly at the height of his powers in the past 12-18 months, and his fellow paceman, with whom he has played a total of 117 Tests and counting feels that the newest entrant to the ‘500 Club’ can leapfrog him in the wicket column.

‘There’s a very good chance he will get more wickets than me if he carries on like this. I heard him say the other day why can’t he carry on until he’s my age, and that’s absolutely true. He’s in great shape. He can go on and get as many wickets as he wants,” James Anderson told Sky Sports

Also Read- Michael Atherton Backs Stuart Broad To Reach Milestone Of 600 Test Wickets

‘He’s put a great amount of work in over the past few years’- James Anderson on Stuart Broad

Broad has been lethal with his wobble seam, one that nips back in sharply to either pin the batsman right in front of the wickets or bamboozle his stumps. And, Anderson was full of praise for his partner.

He’s now getting the ball to shape away again, and we’ve seen how lethal he is with that wobble seam that nips back. Obviously, he was disappointed at Southampton. It felt like he’s had a real point to prove, and he has proved that.”

Stuart Broad was dropped from the opening Test in Southampton, a decision that left the fast bowler ‘frustrated and disappointed’. The right-hander came back in a spectacular manner and has taken 15 wickets at 11 in the last two games besides scoring a match-changing 50 in England’s first innings in the 3rd Test. Broad has been absolutely brilliant for England ever since the smashing he received in Australia three winters ago and Anderson heaped high praise on Broad for the amount of work he has put in the past few years.

‘The way he has bowled the past two games has been phenomenal, and an absolute credit to himself and the work he’s put in over the past few years,” James Anderson said.

“I don’t think either of us are that fussed by the wickets tally. What we enjoy doing is winning games and celebrating those moments together. We love bowling together in Tests, we have a really good understanding and bowl well when the other guy is at the other end.” he added.

Tuesday’s feat also makes England the first-ever team to have two fast bowlers with more than 500 Test wickets.

Also Read- Stuart Broad Becomes The 4th Fast Bowler To Join The 500 Test Wicket Club- Twitter Reactions