Getting hit for six sixes in an over steeled me up: Stuart Broad

Yuvraj Singh hitting Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over at the inaugural ICC World T20 in 2007 seems like ages ago. Nevertheless, it was a turning point in Broad's career, who says it made him a better, tougher bowler. 

Broad, 37, who announced his decision to retire from professional cricket after the fifth Ashes Test against Australia, walks away from the game as one of the fast bowlers of all time. He is only the second bowler after James Anderson to pick up over 600 wickets in Tests and the only Englishman with 150 wickets in the Ashes.

However, looking back at that day in Durban in September 2007, Broad says, "Yeah, it was obviously a pretty tough day. What would I have been: 21, 22? [22] I learnt loads. 

"I pretty much based a whole mental routine through that experience knowing that I was left very short as an international performer at that moment. I'd rushed my preparation. I didn't have any sort of pre-ball routine. I didn't have any focus, particularly, and I started building my 'warrior mode' that I call it after that experience.

"Ultimately, of course, I wish that didn't happen. I think what really helped me was it was a dead rubber, so it didn't feel like I'd knocked us out of the World Cup or something. But I think it steeled me up to make me the competitor I am to this day and has driven me forward a huge amount."

At the end of the day, Broad says cricketers will have more bad days than good, and how they bounce back from setbacks sets them apart from the rest. 

"You obviously go through massive peaks and troughs, and when you look at someone like Stokesy's [Ben Stokes] career, he's done that sort of thing as well. Most players have," Broad, who made his Test debut in 2007, said.

"But ultimately, I think it's that bouncebackability and that ability to be able to put poor days behind you because certainly one thing over the past whatever - 15, 16 years - you have a lot more bad days than good days in cricket, so you have to be able to deal with them to make sure your good days can flourish."

Broad is currently unbeaten at The Oval Test, incidentally with Anderson, his partner-in-crime with the ball over a decade, as England look to level the Ashes series 2-2. The hosts secured a lead of 377 on the third day, and the last pair will hope to stretch it as close as possible to 400, giving them a psychological edge.