Stuart Broad announced after the third day's play at The Oval that the fifth Ashes Test will be his last, as he revealed his decision to retire from professional cricket, bringing the curtains down on a 17-year international career.
Broad, one of only two pacers to cross 600 Test wickets, along with James Anderson, also became only the third bowler with 150+ Test wickets in the Ashes during the Oval Test. He will finish his career as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket.
Broad currently has 602 wickets in Test cricket and has the opportunity to add to his tally during Australia's chase, while he can also add to his runs tally of 3656 when England resumes their second innings at 389/9. In a career spanning 167 Tests, Broad has so far picked up eight five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul. He last played ODI cricket in 2016, finishing with 178 wickets while in 56 T20I matches, the last of which came in 2014, Broad picked up 65 wickets.
Broad said: "It's been a wonderful ride, a huge privilege to wear the Nottinghamshire and the England badge as much as I have. And, I'm loving cricket as much as I ever have. It's been such a wonderful series to be a part of, and I've always wanted to finish at the top. And this series just feels like it's been one of the most enjoyable and entertaining I've been a part of."
Stuart Broad, there are no words.#EnglandCricket| #Ashes pic.twitter.com/yy2MQmviBk
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 31, 2023
Broad, said he had been thinking about retirement for a couple of weeks and made the decision at 8:30 PM on Friday evening. "I've been thinking about it for a couple of weeks. England vs Australia has always been the pinnacle for me - I have loved the battles with Australia that have come my way and the team's way, I have a love affair with Ashes and I think I wanted my last bat and bowl to be in Ashes cricket,"
said Broad."I told Stokesy last night and told the changing room this morning and to be honest, it just felt the right time and I didn't want friends or Nottinghamshire teammates to see things that might come out, so I prefer to just say it now, and just give it a good crack for the last Australia innings," he said. "I have thought a lot about it, and even up till 8 pm last night, I was 50/50. But when I went up to Stokesy's room and told him, I have felt really happy and content with everything I have achieved."
The 41-year-old seamer would come out to bat alongside Broad on Day 4 of the final Ashes Test – which Broad had announced as his last.
“We both said when we saw that image, if we put one photo in our house of our careers, it would be that one. We have loved playing together. Neither of us could have achieved what we have without the other. It’s incredibly special and I will definitely miss him,” Anderson told Sky Sports.
“Sunday morning was really special – getting to walk out with him on the field, watch him hit his last ball in Test cricket for six,” Anderson added. “The crowd were amazing, the ovation he got was incredible and I felt really lucky to be out there and experience it.”,
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