Ashes 2023: Stuart Broad has announced his retirement from professional cricket.

The England great confirmed his decision speaking on Sky Sports at the end of day three of the Kia Oval Test. He said he had made the decision at 8.30pm the previous evening, and had spoken to Ben Stokes soon after and his England teammates the following morning.

Broad is 37 years old, and the subject of how England replace him and James Anderson when their careers come to an end has been an oft-discussed one in recent years. However, Broad has enjoyed an excellent Ashes campaign, playing all six Tests this summer and standing as England’s leading wicket taker in the 2023 Ashes at the time of writing.

He brought up 600 Test wickets this series, also displacing Ian Botham as England’s leading Ashes wicket taker and becoming the first player from his country to cross 150 Ashes wickets during the final Test.

Broad made his debut in 2007 and has gone on to become one of England’s greatest ever bowlers. With just over 600 Test wickets, only Anderson has taken more among fast bowlers from all countries. He is a T20 World Cup winner and won four Ashes series, in 2009, 2010/11, 2013 and 2015.

BREAKING 🚨: Stuart Broad announces he will retire from cricket after the Ashes ends. pic.twitter.com/dNv8EZ0qnC

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 29, 2023

The first and last of those contained two performances which summed him up, with five-for at The Oval in 2009 securing a series win, and figures of 8-15 at Trent Bridge doing the same in 2015. Broad’s signifying trait as a bowler is those ‘knees pumping’ spells in which he tears through a side in a short burst.

Broad confirmed on Sky that he wanted to leave the game on a high.

“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,” he said.

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