England bowler Stuart Broad has announced he will retire from Test cricket after the Ashes.
The 37-year-old, who claimed his 600th Test wicket last week, confirmed the decision at stumps on day three of the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval.
Broad, who made his international debut back in 2006, will finish his Test career as the fifth-leading wicket-taker in history. He has claimed 602 scalps at 27.66, but could add to that tally in the second innings at The Oval.
“Monday will be my last game of cricket,” Broad told Sky Sports on Saturday evening.
“It’s been a wonderful ride, a huge privilege to wear the Nottinghamshire and the England badge as much as I have and 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 it on top. This series feels like one of the most enjoyable and entertaining I’ve been a part of.
“(I decided) at about 8.30 last night. I’ve been thinking about it for the last few weeks but England v Australia has always been the pinnacle for me. I’ve loved the battles with Australia I’ve had personally and as a team.
“I’ve got a love affair with Ashes cricket and I think I wanted my last bat and bowl to be in the Ashes.
“I told Stokesy last night and told the changing room this morning and to be honest, it felt the right time. I didn’t want friends or teammates at Nottinghamshire to see things that might come out so I prefer to just say it and give it a good crack for the last Australia innings.”
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Broad is England’s leading wicket-taker in Ashes cricket with 151 victims at 28.93, including a career-best of 8-15 at Trent Bridge in 2015. He is a four-time Ashes champion also winning a T20 World Cup title in 2010.
“I’m a bit emotional and a bit surprised,” former England captain Alastair Cook said on BBC Test Match Special,
“But if you look at the schedule for Stuart Broad. You have India away, Sri Lanka and West Indies next summer. No offence to those sides but Broad is about big moments. So for him to get through to another big moment is probably another two-and-a-half years.
“The one player to deliver, alongside Ben Stokes, in the big moments is Stuart Broad. And what a feeling that must be for a player.”
