Stuart Broad shares emotional chat with England team-mate Jimmy Anderson in brilliant interview on The Oval’s outfield, as he reflects on remarkable career and final Test win against Australia
Stuart Broad said he will miss being around his friends in the changing room after retiring from cricket.
Broad ended his excellent career in fine style as he bowled England to victory in the fifth Ashes Test against Australia, with the series ending 2-2.
In an emotional chat with team-mate James Anderson, Broad admitted that he will find it difficult not being in the changing room but stressed that he feels he has made the right decision in retiring.
In footage shared by England Cricket, Broad said: ‘We really have played some brilliant cricket throughout this series and it’s been a pleasure to be a part of. I probably think 2-2 is a pretty good result for both teams.’
‘I still feel fit and fell like I’ve bowled really well this summer. Ultimately it’s the changing room part that I’ll really miss. Looking round all of that changing room, management, players, I’ve played so much cricket with everyone in there.’
Stuart Broad discussed his retirement with James Anderson following Monday’s action
‘Even like Zak Crawley, a new player to the team, I’ve been playing with him for four years, a long time.’
Broad added that he will also miss the competitive side of the game but said he will be watching the rest of Anderson’s career with a beer in his hand rather than a ball.
He said: ‘I’ll certainly miss being around my friends and the group of players in there and miss the moments in the changing room, the football in the morning, the keepy-up game, miss the winning of Test matches, I’ll miss those sort of moments. I’ll miss the competitive side massively I’m sure. I ummed and ahhed for a while but once I made the decision I felt really good about it and feel really content.
‘I’m going to watch the rest of your career with a lot of pride, a lot of support, a lot of drive for you, but instead of having a ball in my hand I’ll have a beer in my hand.’
Reflecting on Monday’s action, Broad stated that the England side were energised by the belief of the crowd.
He also praised the performances of Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes.
Broad said: ‘I think Moeen and Woakesy setting the tone after that rain break. Smith was the big one, The Oval started to believe, it felt like the crowd really lifted. You could see in the celebrations our energies were sky high, so by the time I got the ball at seven down, it was swinging nicely, left hander, it almost felt perfect for my style of bowling and jump off the energy of the crowd.’
‘Moeen was so dangerous into the rough and we galvanised as a group. I think this whole series it’s not been easy at any stage, it’s ebbed and flowed, it’s gone Australia’s way, it’s gone our way. Even coming in fourth innings defending 380, you sort of hope you might have them 40-4 and they get 140-0.’
Broad said that he will miss being in the changing room and the competitive nature of matches
The bowler admitted he will enjoy watching games with a beer in his hand rather than a ball
Broad admitted that the fact that he concluded his career with a wicket to win an Ashes Test match was the stuff of dreams.
He said: ‘For me finishing my last ball ever with a wicket to win an Ashes Test match is pretty much the dream way to go. Once I told the guys Saturday morning I thought how my last wicket would be. I’m pretty happy with that.’
On the final day of the fifth Test, Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali took seven wickets between them before Broad removed the final two Australian batters.
Following his retirement, Broad is set to join Sky Sports’ commentary team.