Stuart Broad has announced that the fifth Test of the Ashes series will be his last professional match. That means Legendary English cricketer Stuart Broad retires from cricket after the final Ashes test.
The decision came to him at about 8.30 pm on a Friday evening during the second Test Day at The Oval. Before playing on Saturday morning, he shared the news with his long-standing teammates James Anderson and Joe Root, and it was apparent he was holding back tears at the time.
Stuart Broad Retires from Cricket: The Journey of a Legend
Stuart Broad is a legendary English fast bowler who holds the record of taking 2nd most wickets in Test cricket for England.
| Personal information | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Stuart Christopher John Broad |
| Born | 24 June 1986 |
| Birthplace | Nottingham, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) |
| Batting style | Left-handed |
| Bowling style |
Right-arm fast-medium |
| Spouse |
Mollie King |
| Children |
2 |
| Education |
Oakham School |
| Awards |
Wisden Cricketer of the Year (2009) ICC Cricketer of the Year (2010) |
Now, take a look at his cricketing career statistics.
| Format | Matches | Wickets | Average | 5-fors | 10-fors | Best bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 166 | 600 | 27.68 | 20 | 3 | 8-15 |
| ODI | 121 | 178 | 30.13 | 1 | 0 | 5-23 |
| First-class | 264 | 948 | 26.71 | 32 | 4 | 8-15 |
Other Notable Records
- Most ducks in Test cricket (39)
- Second-most runs in an innings by a No. 9 batsman in Test cricket (169)
- Holds the world record for most runs conceded in an over in Test cricket (35)
World Rankings
- Test bowling: 11th (April 2023)
- ODI bowling: 29th (April 2023)
- First-class bowling: 1st (April 2023)
Awards
- Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) (2016)
- Wisden Cricketer of the Year (2009)
- ICC Cricketer of the Year (2010)
With 602 Test wickets under his belt, Broad will retire as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in Test history and second among seam bowlers, just behind his teammate Anderson. He achieved the milestone of 600 Test wickets during the Old Trafford Test last week. Broad expressed his love for cricket and the privilege of representing Nottinghamshire and England throughout his career. He mentioned that the Ashes series has always been special to him, and he wanted to finish his career on a high note, especially in such an enjoyable and entertaining series.
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Broad has played in every home Ashes Test since his first series against Australia in 2009, taking an impressive 104 wickets at an average of 26.56 in those 25 Tests. During this series, he surpassed Ian Botham’s longstanding record for Test wickets against Australia, now holding 151 wickets against them.
The cricketer shared that he had been contemplating retirement for a few weeks and finally decided. He wanted to end his career on the Ashes stage and preferred announcing the match’s end to avoid distractions for his teammates. He feels content with his achievements and is excited to give his best in the last innings of the series against Australia.
Stuart Broad’s cricket journey began in August 2006 with a T20I debut against Pakistan. He went on to play 167 Tests for England, making a name for himself as a key player in the Ashes battles. Notably, he played crucial roles in England’s 2009, 2013, and 2015 Ashes series victories. Broad’s character and skills shone through even in challenging situations, as seen in his performance at Brisbane during the 2013-14 Ashes.
Initially aspiring to be an all-rounder like his father, Chris Broad, Stuart showed potential as a batsman. However, a severe injury to his face in 2014 impacted his confidence with the bat. Eventually, he adapted his approach, becoming a dangerous lower-order batsman known for his counter-attacking style and unconventional night watcher tactics.
After retiring, Broad is expected to join Sky Sports as a commentator. However, his immediate priority will be spending time with his fiancee Mollie King and their daughter Annabella, born in November of the previous year.
Regarding his long-standing teammate James Anderson, Broad clarified that Anderson will continue playing, as he is feeling fresh and is looking forward to the upcoming India tour. Both players have decided not to retire together, and Broad expressed his delight at hearing that Anderson will continue playing.
