Shane Warne entered the history books as only the second bowler to claim 500
Test wickets today as Australia marched to a comprehensive 197-run victory in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
The Australian leg-spinner, in his first Test back since serving a one-year ban following a failed drugs test, entered the final day with 496 career victims.
After taking three scalps in the morning session, the Aussie great hit the magical 500 mark by removing Hashan Tillakaratne who was caught by Andrew Symonds at short-midwicket.
Only retired West Indies fast bowler Courtney Walsh has more wickets, and the way Warne is bowling his total of 519 looks well within reach.
Sri Lanka ended up collapsing after lunch to 154 all out in their second innings, with Warne having taken five for 43 in his 15 overs.
He said: "The last 12 months have been very eventful, and I wasn't even expecting to be in the touring party to begin with after playing just one state game before it was selected.
"It would have never been possible without skipper Ricky Ponting, who got me in to the side straight away and got me to bowl a lot of overs.
"I like to dedicate this performance to the faith the selectors had in me, to all the boys, who have helped me enormously in the last 12 months, as well as my parents and friends and my wife and kids."
Filed by Aidan O'Doherty
