Walsh in Club 400′

PORT-OF-SPAIN, MARCH 6: West Indies fast bowler Courtney Walsh shook off the rust, fought off the niggling injuries and yesterday became ...

PORT-OF-SPAIN, MARCH 6: West Indies fast bowler Courtney Walsh shook off the rust, fought off the niggling injuries and yesterday became just the third person in the history of Test cricket to reach 400 wickets.

The 36-year-old in his 107th Test and 15th year on the international circuit, took three wickets on the opening day of the first Cable & Wireless Test against Australia, reaching the landmark with the leg before dismissal of Ian Healy 45 minutes before the close. He joins Indian all-rounder Kapil Dev (434) and New Zealander Sir Richard Hadlee (431), both fast bowlers, as the others to achieve the feat.

“When I started, I said that 200 wickets in a West Indies team would have been a good achievement,” said Walsh after the day’s play. “But to get 400, I’m very happy with that.

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“I’m a little bit rusty because I haven’t played a lot of cricket lately,” said Walsh, whose career began against Australia at Perth in November, 1984.Walsh had just one regret on a day that West Indies dominated toleave Australia 174 for six. “The only disappointment is that my mum is on her way down here now (from Jamaica) and it happened before she got here,” Walsh said.

But he was touched by the support of an animated first-day crowd of about 18,000.

And does he now have his eyes on Kapil Dev and Sir Richard?

“If I was to say no, I would be lying. But the first thing on my mind right now is to try and win against Australia. If we can do that and I can get some wickets, I can inch a bit closer,” Walsh added.