Former England pace bowler Stuart Broad stated that it is yet to sink in that he has retired from international cricket. He also suggested that he couldn’t have asked for a better finish to his career as well. However, he had a dream ending to his Test career as he dismissed Todd Murphy and Alex Carey to help England level the five-Test Ashes series as well. Moreover, he finished his career with 604 wickets in 167 Tests at 27.68 apiece.
He told Sky Sports during The Hundred: “Ultimately, I just feel really proud of being able to play for England for as long as I have and experience as much as I have. It probably hasn’t sunk in that I won’t bowl another ball or hit another ball. I think that will probably come in a bit of time. But I knew deep down that I wanted to try and finish at the top and Ashes cricket feels like the top for me. It was a pretty cool way to finish.”
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With the fast-paced nature of the Ashes 2023 affecting him emotionally, the veteran also credited his wife for having his back regardless of his decision as well. The veteran seamer is also the fourth bowler to take 150 wickets in Ashes as well. His best spell of 8/15 also came against Australia only during the 2015 Ashes series in Nottingham.
Stuart Broad further added: “Probably probably a week or so I was thinking about retirement. I was so focused on on the Ashes series. The games were coming so thick and fast. I didn’t really have time to think of anything else. I was quite emotionally tired anyway from what had been a really busy summer so far. But I FaceTimed Mollie on the Friday night and she just said ‘you have got to follow your heart. Just go with whatever you are thinking and I’ll support you either way.'”
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“The Oval was really loud on Monday. The atmosphere was really awesome. To be out there and the little bail flick, getting a couple of wickets. I think I just made it up and I wish I found it 10 years ago because I would have a few more wickets! Weirdly, Stokesy told me before that over, before I got Todd Murphy out, he said ‘this will be your last over because I’m going to get Woody on with the extra pace’,” Stuart Broad concluded.
