Ashes 2023: Stuart Broad to retire from all cricket at the end of Test

It may have come too late to save David Warner’s career - but his great Ashes nemesis Stuart Broad has announced his intention to retire from all cricket at the end of this Test.

England great Stuart Broad will retire from all forms of cricket at the end of The Ashes.

Broad, 37, who has taken more Ashes wickets than any other England player, made the announcement after play on day three of the fifth and final Ashes Test at The Oval.

Broad revealed that he made the decision on Friday night after stumps on day two when he informed England captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.

“I knew deep down that I wanted to finish playing cricket at the very top. And part of me wanted to know that I could still do it when I eventually stopped,” Broad said.

“I’ve had a love affair with the ashes my whole life and the thought of being able to bowl my last ball and face my last ball versus Australia is something that fills me with joy.

“So you know that that’s come to fruition and ultimately, I’d set myself a goal in April that I’d be available for the captain or try and be fit and available for the captain for five Ashes Test matches.

The iconic picture of Stuart Broad celebrating the wicket of Adam Voges during the 2015 Ashes. Picture: Getty Images

“And it’s been the most enjoyable series, most entertaining series. The most edge of the seat series that I can remember. And ultimately, I’m in love with the game. I still love playing the game. I love being part of the changing room and I think I wanted to have those memories leaving the game and I think that that will definitely make me stay in love with the game of cricket for the rest of my life.”

He last week became the fifth player in history to reach the 600 Test wicket milestone, having made his debut in Sri Lanka in late 2007.

Ever the pantomime villain, Broad has been a regular tormentor of Australia, delivering telling spells across multiple Ashes series.

His 8-15 at Trent Bridge in the 2015 Ashes was his piece de resistance, but his first critical intervention came with a five-wicket haul in the decisive fifth Test of the 2009 series.

An ironman, Broad has played in every home Ashes Test across five straight series.

Things get tense between Broad and Mitchell Johnson during the 2009 Ashes Test in Birmingham. Picture: Getty Images

Then it was Michael Clarke’s turn to exchange words with Broad in the fourth Test of the 2009 series. Picture: AFP PHOTO

He is England’s leading wicket-taker in this series, continuing to wreak havoc and removing old rival David Warner three times across the first four Tests, taking his career head-to-head Test record to 17 dismissals of the Australian opener.

The Broad-Warner combination is two shy of Glenn McGrath’s Test-record 19 dismissals of Michael Atherton.

Perhaps Broad’s most famous Ashes involvement came in 2013 when he infamously stood his ground after edging Ashton Agar to slip during the first Test at Nottingham.

Broad became an instant public enemy in Australia and was abused relentlessly by Australian crowds the following summer, seemingly taking it all in his stride.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Matches: 1️⃣6️⃣7️⃣
☝️ Wickets: 6️⃣0️⃣2️⃣
🏏 Runs: 3️⃣6️⃣5️⃣4️⃣

🏆 4x Ashes wins
🌍 1x T20 World Cup

🎖️ MBE for services to cricket

Thank you, Broady ❤️

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 29, 2023

“My influential years as a as a kid playing cricket, we weren’t winning many Ashes Tests and I think that grew my hunger and desire to want it to be part of a team that could that could win against Australia,” Broad said.

“I certainly think as a player I’ve had a good record in England against Australia. They’re such a beast of a team at home.

“Ultimately, I think the competitiveness of what Australia bring to cricket brings out the best in me, I love that.”

His mischievous streak has endured, with Broad’s decision to flip the bails at the striker’s end at The Oval on Friday to bring about a change of fortune precipitating a Marnus Labuschagne nick off the following ball.

It’s fair to say not all Australian fans grew to love Broad.

The son of former England opener and now ICC match referee Chris Broad, Stuart made headlines ahead of this Ashes series when he told the Daily Mail that the 2021-22 series in Australia had been “void” because of oppressive pandemic-related restrictions.

Along with long-time new ball partner Jimmy Anderson, Broad had in recent years become a Test specialist.

Broad said he was glad Anderson would not yet bow out.

“Jimmy will carry on definitely,” Broad said.

“He’s feeling really good and fresh and there’s a bit of a break after this series with an India tour where he’s got a fantastic record. Ultimately, I think it never felt quite right for the two of us to go together. I think we needed some sort of crossover and not that that really came into my decision making but I was delighted to hear that Jimmy was going to keep going and carry on because I think it’s nice that there’ll be sort of one half of that partnership still within the changing room until it, it sort of gets passed over whenever Jimmy decides that (his) time’s up.”

A useful lower-order batter early in his career, Broad made 169 in a Test against Pakistan at Lord’s in 2010.

Before he made his Test debut, Broad was notably hit for six sixes by India’s Yuvraj Singh in a Twenty20 international in 2007.