Walsh gets to the 500 mark

West Indian Courtney Walsh created history by becoming the first cricketer to take 500 Test wickets on Monday when he trapped South African batsman Jacques Kallis lbw for a duck on day 3 of the second Test at Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.

Walsh, 38, who had made his debut way back in 1984 at the WACA in Perth, Australia, when the legendary Clive Lloyd was the West Indian captain, broke through the magical barrier in his 129th Test match at an average of 24.71.

The Jamaican fast bowler, who had picked up two wickets in the South African first innings to be just two short of the 500 mark, first got opener Gary Kirsten caught behind by wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs for 22.

Two balls later, he got Kallis too, when Australian umpire Darrell Hair declared him out leg before, even though replays showed that the South African had got a thick inside edge on to his pads.

Walsh, however, was jumping for joy as all the West Indian players crowded around their best bowler and bands started playing calypso music in the stands.

Kallis was also Walsh's wicket number 377, overtaking the late Malcolm Marshall as the highest wicket-taker for the West Indies.

The same ground at Port-of-Spain had also been witness to Walsh becoming the first West Indian to take 400 Test wickets when he had dismissed Australian wicket-keeper Ian Healy in 1999.

''It's been a big drain just thinking about it from the beginning of the series,'' said Walsh. ''I'm happy to get this out of the way. I'm just hoping to get through the series here. I don't think 600 is on the cards.''

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