Stuart Broad pines for the noise of the crowd after joining the 500 club

While he was watched on by his dad Chris - the ICC match referee - the rest of those who have followed his exploits in an England shirt over the past 14 years were unable to attend because of the ECB's behind-closed-doors bio-security protocols

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For a man who revels in front of big crowds, Stuart Broad admitted to some disappointment at the gentle atmosphere in which he claimed his milestone 500th Test wicket.

Broad trapped Kraigg Brathwaite lbw early on the final day of the third Test against the West Indies to elevate himself into an elite group of bowlers.

While he was watched on by his dad Chris - the ICC match referee - the rest of those who have followed his exploits in an England shirt over the past 14 years were unable to attend because of the ECB’s behind-closed-doors bio-security protocols.

That meant Broad had to make do with a compilation of good wishes from friends and family, put together by the production team at Sky, to mark his achievement.

“Watching it there, playing in front of crowds, makes you a little bit emotional and looking forward to playing in front of crowds again,” Broad said after the broadcaster showed him a highlights reel of his best Test performances.

“It was great to have dad here. It is a little bit of a shame that, after 12 or 13 years of playing when I’ve had friends and family supporting me around the world, supporting great days and bad days, they can’t be here to give a little wave to.

PLAYER RATINGS - England v West Indies, 3rd Test

“But it was great to have dad here and I’m sure my mum, sister, Mol (Broad’s girlfriend Mollie King) and her family were watching at home.”

Broad is one of just seven players to have ever broken the 500 barrier, and in a curious twist of fate his 500th victim was the same man who fell to Jimmy Anderson when England’s record-wicket taker reached the landmark in 2017.

Anderson predicted that would be the case.

“He came to me yesterday afternoon when we were batting and said ‘you know who it’s going to be, don’t you?’ And I said ‘go on…’,” Broad explained.

“‘Brathwaite… he was my 500th.’ I said ‘no way’. The stars would have to align so much for that to happen. That will be a quiz question in a few years, won’t it.”

“It’s strange. I see it on TV on the screen and it still doesn’t feel overly real. What makes it extra special is taking that sort of milestone wicket in a Test match win that’s led to a Test series win.

“It’s very special, looking at (the list). When we toured New Zealand in 2018, Sir Richard Hadlee gave me one of his books and in it he wrote ‘now go and get 500’ and I remember reading it and thinking it’s a long way away. It’s very special to have got there.”

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