Stuart Broad received a guard of honour from Australia as he strode out to bat one for one last time in Test cricket.
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Broad, 37, announced his imminent retirement from the professional game after play on day three. He finishes his career as one of just two seamers to take more than 600 Test wickets, the other being his longtime bowling partner James Anderson, who accompanied Broad to the crease on the fourth morning.
Explaining his decision to retire in the Mail on Sunday, Broad said: “I made my decision to retire on Friday evening and, while I didn’t want it to be a distraction for today’s push for victory, I also thought that once I’d told Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum my friends should be the next to know.
“People will ask why now, and to be honest, ultimately, I really wanted to go out at the top of my own game and in an England versus Australia Test.”
No England bowler has more Ashes wickets than Broad.
Broad walked out to bat at the start of day four with Anderson for company as England resumed the day on 389-9 in their second innings, leading Australia by 377. They were greeted by a guard of honour from the Australia team and a rapturous standing ovation from a packed house at the Kia Oval.
Broad added all six runs to be added to the England lead, the runs coming from a pull over mid-wicket off Mitchell Starc for six. It turned out to be the final ball he faced in Test cricket as Anderson fell lbw to Todd Murphy in the following over.
You can watch the moment Stuart Broad and James Anderson walked out to a standing ovation from the Kia Oval below:
Stuart Broad makes his way to the pitch with Jimmy Anderson 🥺💫 pic.twitter.com/dpDJ5eoSt5
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 30, 2023
