West Indies fast bowler Courtney Walsh made history yesterday, when he became the first man to take 500 test wickets. The West Indies fast bowler dismissed Gary Kirsten and Jacques Kallis in the space of three balls to reach the historic milestone during the third day of the second Test with South Africa in Port of Spain.
It was his 129th Test in his 17th year of five-day cricket, but Courtney Walsh was feeling nervous until he became the first man to take 500 Test wickets. "I felt a bit nervous because I started thinking about it before the match," said the Jamaican veteran. "I just tried to focus on the game and the job we have to do. It came quickly and I'm thankful for that."
Walsh, 38, notched up 500 with two wickets in the same over. First he had opener Kirsten caught behind by Ridley Jacobs for 22, and two balls later Kallis went leg before without scoring. After a short, agonising delay, the umpire's finger went up and the crowd at the Queen's Park Oval, where Walsh took his 400th Test wicket almost two years ago, went wild and Walsh was mobbed by his team-mates. (PA)
Filed by Seán Folan
