Stuart Broad to retire after 5th Ashes Test

England fast bowler Stuart Broad has announced his retirement from professional cricket. The ongoing fifth Test at The Oval against Australia will be his last game. Broad is one of the most prolific bowlers in Test cricket, having picked up over 600 wickets, only the second pacer to this landmark after James Anderson.

He ends his career as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in Tests. Broad has played 167 Tests since debuting against Sri Lanka in 2007. He has also played 121 One-Day Internationals (ODI) and 56 T20 Internationals (T20I) for England and was also part of the T20 World Cup-winning team in 2010. 

"Tomorrow, or Monday, will be my last game of cricket," Broad said while making the announcement on Sky Sports at the end of Day Three of the Oval Test.

"It has been a wonderful ride, a huge privilege to wear the Nottinghamshire and the England badge for as much as I have. I'm loving cricket as much as I have. It has been such a wonderful series to be a part of. I always wanted to finish on top, and this series just feels like it has been the most enjoyable and entertaining I have been a part of."

Broad said that he decided on the second day of the ongoing Test, but it is something he has been thinking about over the last couple of weeks.

"Been thinking about it over the last couple of weeks. England vs Australia has been the pinnacle for me, I have loved the battles with Australia. I've got a love affair with Ashes cricket. I wanted my last bat and ball in Ashes cricket."

"I told Stokesy [Ben Stokes] last night and told the changing room this morning, and to be honest, it just felt the right time, and I didn't want friends or Nottinghamshire team-mates to see things that might come out, so I prefer to just say it now, and just give it a good crack for the last Australia innings," he further added.

"I have thought a lot about it, and even up till 8 PM last night, I was 50/50. But when I went up to Stokesy's room and told him, I have felt really happy since and content with everything I have achieved."

In the ongoing Test, broad also became only the third bowler to pick up 150 Ashes wickets after Australian greats Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.

"I grew up from such a young age being besotted by [Ashes cricket]," he said. "I certainly think as a player, I've had a good record in England against Australia. Ultimately, I think the competitiveness of what Australia bring to cricket brings out the best in me. I love the energy that the crowd brings to it. I know my emotions have to be sky-high for me to be a good bowler.

"It does make me feel proud to have 150 Test wickets against the Aussies, to be in that sort of category with Warnie [Shane Warne] and Glenn [McGrath] above. I've loved every moment of bowling against Australia for sure - apart from Mitchell Johnson bowling at Brisbane, that was horrific."

While Broad is expected to take up a role with Sky Sports following his retirement, he is looking forward to spending time with his young family back home.

"There's quite a long break after this series, so I was getting a lot of time off anyway," he said.

"Even within this Ashes series, I've been home for seven or eight nights, maybe. I feel like I haven't seen Annabella and Mollie as much as I would like to at such a young age. I love everything about being a dad. Did it come into my decision? Potentially. There's certainly something that fills my heart with joy about the fact I'll be spending a bit more time at home."

Broad and James Anderson have over 1,200 Test wickets between them, and it's no secret that they have been key to England's success for over a decade. Broad has backed his bowling partner to continue playing.

 "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 [ahead of] an India tour where he's got a fantastic record. It never felt right for us to go together… I was delighted to hear that Jimmy will keep going and carry on."

"The England & Wales Cricket Board would like to thank Stuart for his incredible dedication and contribution to English Cricket, and we wish him well for the remainder of his final Test match and the future," the ECB said.

Besides his bowling prowess, Broad has proved to be a handy batter, accumulating over 3,600 runs, hitting 13 fifties and a century along the way.