Stuart Broad will retire from cricket at the end of the Ashes series, the pacer said after the third day’s play of the final Test at The Oval on Saturday.
Broad, 37, is England’s second highest Test wicket-taker with 602 victims in 167 matches, behind only his long-time teammate James Anderson, who has 690. He will bow out as the fifth-most prolific bowler in Test history.
Broad made his decision “at about 8.30pm” on Friday evening, and informed his long-standing teammates Anderson and Joe Root of his decision before play on Saturday morning.
“It’s been a wonderful ride, a huge privilege to wear the Nottinghamshire and the England badge as much as I have,” Broad told Sky Sports. “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.
“I’ve been thinking about it for a while, a few weeks,” he added. “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.
“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, since and content with everything I have achieved.”
Anderson to continue
Anderson, however, has “no interest” in retiring from the game any time soon despite his age and poor form in the Ashes series.
The pacer, who turns 41 on Sunday, said he would continue as long as he had the support of Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.
Written with inputs from Reuters
