New Delhi: English cricketer Stuart Broad padded up and came out to bat Sunday for the final time on the fourth day of the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval.
In a post-third-day announcement, Broad, 37, shocked fans when he announced his retirement from international cricket on Saturday, bringing the curtains down on an illustrious 17-year international career.
Television visuals showed Broad and fellow England pacer James Anderson walk down to the ground amid claps from cheering fans at the start of the day’s play.
Australian cricketers formed a guard of honour for their rival, who made his Test debut against Sri Lanka way back in 2007. Anderson stayed behind the boundary line to allow Broad get his richly deserved honour from their traditional cricketing rival.
For the final time with the bat…@StuartBroad8 and @Jimmy9 head out to the middle together 🤩
A special moment 🥰#EnglandCricket | #Ashes pic.twitter.com/6sL5K7vuQL
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 30, 2023
Delighting his fans, Broad pulled Australian pacer Mitchell Starc for a six in his last ball he faced with the bat in the longest format of the game, as Anderson was dismissed to wrap up England’s final innings.
His final ball faced in Test Cricket? 🤔
A MASSIVE six! ❤️@StuartBroad8 🙌 pic.twitter.com/jHg99Q2nAi
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 30, 2023
Setting a target of 384 for Australia to win the Ashes final Test, England will be looking for a win to level the Test series. A win would be a fitting tribute to Broad.
“Tomorrow or Monday will be my last game of cricket,” Broad told SkySports. “It’s been a wonderful ride, a huge privilege to wear the Nottinghamshire and England badge for as much as I have.”
“I’ve been thinking about it for a couple of weeks…England versus Australia has always been sort of the pinnacle for me,” he said, regarding his decision to bid adieu to international cricket.
With 602 wickets before he stepped out to bowl for the final innings, Broad is the fifth most successful bowler in Test history. He along with the evergreen James Anderson formed a formidable fast bowling partnership that was instrumental in England’s resurgence as a Test power.
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