Stuart Broad, the fifth-highest wicket-taker of all time in Test history, announced a shock retirement midway through the fifth Ashes Test at the Kia Oval, taking the cricketing world by surprise.

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Broad reached the landmark of 600 Test wickets last week, joining long-time bowling partner James Anderson as only the second seamer to achieve the feat. He’s also England’s leading wicket-taker in the ongoing Ashes, having taken 20 wickets at 28.15 at the time of the announcement.

Speaking to Sky Sports at the end of the third day’s play, Broad revealed he had made up his mind at 8.30pm the previous evening, making Ben Stokes aware of his decision then, and his England teammates the following morning.

A four-time Ashes winner, Broad told Sky that the ongoing Test will be his “last game of cricket” and that he wanted to “retire on a high”.

There were plenty of reactions on social media from the cricketing community.

 

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