England fast bowler Stuart Broad has announced that he will retire from cricket at the conclusion of the Ashes series against Australia, following the third day of the final Test on Saturday.

At 37 years old, Broad stands as England’s second-highest Test wicket-taker, having claimed 602 victims in 167 matches, with his long-time teammate James Anderson leading the pack with 690 wickets.

Broad revealed his decision to retire to Sky Sports, stating, “Tomorrow – well Monday – will be my last game of cricket. 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.”

Tributes and well-wishes swiftly poured in for Broad, who will retire with the fifth-highest number of wickets in Test history. Former England captain Michael Atherton praised his undeniable greatness, pointing to his memorable performance of 8-15 against Australia at Trent Bridge in 2015 as the defining moment of his career. Broad holds more Ashes wickets for England than any other player, and his ability to elevate his game in crucial moments earned him the admiration of Australia’s Glenn McGrath, who labeled him a “true champion.”

The sentiment was echoed by former England skipper Nasser Hussain, who described Broad as the complete package, showcasing fitness, hunger, skill, and cleverness throughout his career. Alastair Cook, another former England captain and Broad’s teammate, expressed his emotions and surprise at the retirement announcement, hailing Broad as a player who consistently delivered in significant moments.

Richard Gould, the Chief Executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board, praised Broad as one of England’s all-time greats, highlighting his fierce competitiveness and his fitting choice to retire at the end of such a closely contested and thrilling Ashes series.

Australia’s off-spinner Todd Murphy also commended Broad’s relentless fighting spirit and acknowledged his remarkable record, respecting the dedication he brought to the game under any conditions.

Stuart Broad’s retirement marks the end of an illustrious career, leaving behind a legacy of excellence and a lasting impact on the sport of cricket.

Stuart Broad, the self-proclaimed Test “addict,” expressed immense pride as he joined the ranks of cricket’s legendary bowlers, becoming the fifth player to reach the milestone of 600 Test wickets. During the opening day of the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford, the veteran England seamer achieved this remarkable feat by dismissing Australia’s Travis Head.

By having Head caught for 48, Broad secured his position alongside cricket greats like Muttiah Muralitharan (800 Test wickets), Shane Warne (708), James Anderson (688), and Anil Kumble (619) in this elite group. Notably, Broad and Anderson are the only active fast bowlers in this exclusive club.

Having started the match, his 166th Test, with 598 wickets, Broad had already proven his prowess by dismissing David Warner on 17 occasions at this level. His performance on this day added two more wickets, as he sent Usman Khawaja lbw for three before reaching the milestone with Head’s dismissal.

Speaking about the achievement, Broad expressed his delight, especially getting his 600th wicket from the end named after his longtime teammate, James Anderson. He also reflected on the satisfaction of surpassing Glenn McGrath’s tally of 563 Test wickets, whom he idolized during his formative years.

Apart from his remarkable bowling skills, Broad’s contributions as a Test bowler were evident when he overtook Ian Botham as England’s leading Test bowler against Australia, claiming 150 wickets in Ashes clashes. Broad emphasized his addiction to Test cricket, cherishing its competitive and challenging nature.

Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne praised Broad’s endurance and skills, acknowledging the difficulty of facing him in favorable bowling conditions. Labuschagne admired Broad’s ability to tighten the game and patiently wait for opportunities to work out a batsman.

Although Broad initially showed promise as a batsman, his primary focus eventually shifted to bowling. His match-winning spells, where he took five or more wickets 20 times in a Test innings, have become his trademark. One of his most celebrated performances was his exceptional 8-15 at Trent Bridge during England’s victorious 2015 Ashes campaign.

Broad has also been known for generating late seam movement and, although controversial, his refusal to walk when edged to slip in an Ashes match further added to his reputation as a formidable and competitive cricketer.

As a four-time Ashes series winner, Broad acknowledged that playing against Australia brought out the best in him, thriving under the extra scrutiny and the passionate support from fans in both England and Australia.

Stuart Broad of England delivered a crucial blow to Australia’s victory hopes as the thrilling opening Ashes Test at Edgbaston approached a dramatic conclusion. Australia had been steadily progressing at 78-1 while chasing a target of 281 when veteran paceman Broad dismissed Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith, the world’s top-ranked Test batsmen, reducing the Ashes holders to 89-3.

At the end of Monday’s play, the World Test champions stood at 107-3, still requiring 174 runs to win on the final day. Usman Khawaja, who achieved his long-awaited Ashes century with a remarkable 141 in Australia’s first innings total of 386, remained unbeaten on 34. This positioned the left-handed opener to become only the second Australian player, after Kim Hughes in 1980, to bat on all five days of a Test match.

Khawaja, however, should have departed early in the innings when he edged a James Anderson delivery, but wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow and first slip Joe Root failed to make an attempt for the catch. Khawaja and fellow opener David Warner then settled in, having weathered the criticisms of the pitch previously described as “soulless” by Broad.

The breakthrough England desperately needed arrived when Warner was dismissed for 36, falling victim to an excellent seaming delivery from Ollie Robinson, caught by Bairstow. Labuschagne, who endured a golden duck in the first innings, briefly showcased his skills with consecutive reverse-swept fours off off-spinner Moeen Ali. However, Broad ended Labuschagne’s innings at 13 as he edged a delivery outside off stump and was caught behind.

Steve Smith suffered a similar fate, falling for just six runs to the joyous celebration of the crowd. Instead of sending in specialist batsman Travis Head, Australia opted for nightwatchman Scott Boland, who managed to survive 19 balls and ended the day on 13 not out.

Cummins and Lyon Shine

In England’s second innings, Australia captain Pat Cummins and spinner Nathan Lyon shared eight wickets between them, with each taking four scalps, restricting England to a total of 273. England initially appeared capable of building an insurmountable lead, but their aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach, which has been destructive in their recent 11 wins in 13 Tests, cost them wickets on this occasion.

Facing a formidable bowling attack, led by fast bowler Cummins (4-63) and off-spinner Lyon (4-80), England resumed at 28-2 with both Ollie Pope and Joe Root yet to score. Root displayed his intentions right from the start, attempting an audacious reverse scoop off Cummins but narrowly missing his off stump.

Undeterred, Root reverse-ramped Scott Boland for six in the following over. However, Cummins struck back with a thunderbolt yorker that bowled Pope for 14, leaving England at 77-3. Lyon claimed crucial wickets, dismissing Root and Harry Brook, both on 46, as he approached the milestone of 500 Test wickets.

Brook’s mistimed pull off Lyon resulted in a catch by Labuschagne. Ben Stokes also fell in the forties, leg-before-wicket to Cummins for 43. Australia then focused on England’s tail, but the last two wickets added 44 runs before Robinson was caught in the deep off Cummins.

According to Stuart Broad, veteran seamer James Anderson, who is approaching 40, remains deeply passionate about cricket and continues to improve with age. The prolific England duo is expected to play crucial roles in their ninth Ashes campaign.

Anderson’s performance shows no signs of decline, and he continues to excel. With 685 wickets, he is England’s leading bowler in Test matches and recently became the oldest player to top the ICC test rankings. Despite turning 41 next month, Anderson has recovered from a groin injury and confirmed his fitness for the Ashes opener at Edgbaston.

Speaking on the Legends of the Ashes podcast, Broad praised Anderson’s unwavering competitiveness and described him as addicted to cricket. Anderson is driven to train and constantly improve his game, a trait that is evident in his remarkable performances. At 40, he is arguably bowling better than he was four years ago, which is a testament to his dedication and love for the sport.

Anderson and Broad, who were omitted from England’s tour of the West Indies following a disappointing Ashes series in Australia, bring invaluable experience to the team. Their absence was felt during the Caribbean tour, highlighting the significance of their presence in the squad.

While England’s aggressive batting style under captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum has brought them success, having wicket-taking bowlers like Broad and Anderson is crucial to back up the batting firepower. As the most lethal bowling partnership in test history, they have collectively taken 1,017 wickets in 134 tests. England will rely on their combined skills to challenge Australia in the upcoming Ashes series.

Broad also acknowledged that Anderson has grown as a player over the past year, particularly with the new leadership of Stokes and McCullum. Their partnership focuses on analyzing and adapting to the conditions in the early overs of a match, allowing them to make breakthroughs. Effective communication and a constant flow of information have elevated their partnership to a new level.

In a recent statement, Rahul Dravid, the coach of the Indian cricket team, expressed his views on the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia. Dravid emphasized that dismissing Australia’s David Warner requires more than just employing the tactics used by England’s Stuart Broad during the 2019 Ashes.

David Warner has been a remarkable opening batsman of his generation, amassing 8,158 runs at an impressive average of 45.57, including 25 centuries, in 103 Test matches. However, heading into the WTC final and the subsequent five-match Ashes series, Warner has only managed to score a single century in his last 32 innings and has a mediocre record in England.

During the Ashes series in England four years ago, which ended in a 2-2 draw, Warner struggled with an average of less than 10 and fell victim to Stuart Broad seven times, often dismissed while Broad bowled from around the wicket to exploit the left-hander’s weaknesses.

Speaking to reporters at the Oval before the WTC final, Dravid acknowledged Warner’s class as a player and stated that getting him out is not as simple as just adopting Broad’s tactics. Dravid remarked, “He wouldn’t have played a hundred times if it was that simple.” He further added that every batsman has their strengths and weaknesses, and although Warner has been successful, there are ways to counter his game.

Dravid stressed the importance of dismissing Warner early on in the match, recognizing that it could significantly impact the outcome. He also reflected on the significance of reaching the WTC final, considering the hard work put in by the team over the past two years. The inaugural 2021 WTC final saw India losing to New Zealand.

However, Dravid acknowledged the concerns surrounding the future of Test cricket amidst the growing popularity of T20 leagues like the Indian Premier League. He expressed his hope that the WTC final would inspire more teams to engage in Test cricket, despite the challenges posed by scheduling and financial factors. As a former Test cricketer who played 164 matches, Dravid personally expressed his desire to see an increase in the amount of Test cricket being played worldwide.

Two experienced pacers Stuart Broad and James Anderson have returned to the squad after a series break. The two pacers who took the most wickets in world cricket were not on the Windies tour in March.

The ECB has included two experienced pacers and two new players in the squad. England will take to the field in white in the first match on June 2 at Lord’s. For the first time before that match, batsmen Harry Brook and pacer Matthew Pots have been called up to the national team.

Harry Brook has already proved himself by batting well in the county championship. The 23-year-old batsman made his national team debut after playing t20 matches in the Caribbean. In domestic cricket, Brooke has scored 756 runs at an average of 151.60, including 3 centuries and 4 half-centuries.

The 23-year-old pacer is in great rhythm at the Potts County Championships. This pacer played a great ball against Glamorgan. Pots is one of the top bowlers of the season with 35 wickets including seven wickets for 40 runs and 5 wickets in four innings.

England Test squad
Ben Stokes (captain), James Anderson, Johnny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Jack Crowley, Ben Fox, Jack Leach, Alex Lees, Craig Overton, Matthew Potts, Oli Pope and Joe Root.