IT'S taken nearly 30 years but Keith Arnold has finally become Oxfordshire's record wicket taker – and he has no plans to call it day after doing so.
Arnold broke David Laitt's record of 670 wickets in the Minor Counties Championship during Oxon's Western Division clash with Wiltshire at Trowbridge on Sunday.
Banbury Twenty seamer Arnold, now approaching his own half-century in years, had Steve
Bullen caught by Great Tew's Jack Taylor, who is just starting out on his own county career.
"I did think I might not get there, especially when I was injured last season," said 49-year-old Arnold.
"It's been a bit of a struggle to stay fit enough but the body has held up. It's been dragging on for a for a long time but I'm very proud to have done it as David Laitt was a fine bowler."
Arnold made his debut in the Minor Counties Championship for Oxon against Devon in 1980.
"When I first played for the county in 1980 I didn't think I would still be doing so nearly 30 years later! I've enjoyed every minute of it and it's been a great honour," said Arnold, who has played most of his club cricket at Ermont Way.
"I'm not thinking of retiring at the moment.
"There are a lot of players knocking on the door and I don't want to stand in their way, as long as they are good enough! It has, and always will be, a case of taking it one game at a time."
