Veteran England pace bowler Stuart Broad announced after the third day’s play at The Oval that the fifth Ashes Test is going to be his last, as he announced his retirement from professional cricket. This will bring the curtains down on a 17-year international career as well. However, Broad is one of only two pace bowlers to cross 600 Test wickets, along with James Anderson, who also became only the third bowler with 150+ Test wickets in the Ashes during the Oval Test as well. He will end his career as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the longer format as well.
However, Broad currently has 602 wickets in Test cricket as well. In his career span of 167 Tests, Broad has so far picked up eight five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul as well. He last featured in ODI cricket in 2016, finishing with 178 wickets while in 56 T20I matches, he has picked up 65 wickets as well.
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Speaking to Sky Sports at the end of Day 3, Stuart 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.”
Broad, also said that he had been thinking about this for quite some time now and he made the decision at 8:30 PM on Friday evening as well.
“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 Stuart Broad.
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“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. I have thought a lot about it, and even up till 8pm 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,” Stuart Broad concluded.
