Farewell Stuart Broad: The Ultimate Ashes Warrior

The noise was growing from the outside. Many saw it coming. The remarkable partnership of James Anderson and Stuart Broad – one of the best in the history of Test cricket was meant to break up sooner than later. In the end, it is the four-year-younger Stuart Broad who decided to hang his boots at the end of the fifth and final Ashes Test being played at the Oval.

Broad announced his retirement at the end of the 3rd day play of the 5th Ashes Test at the Oval bringing the curtains down on a 17-year international career.

Speaking to the host broadcaster Broad said: "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 at the top. And this series just feels like it's been one of the most enjoyable and entertaining I've been a part of."

After his limited-overs career got to an abrupt end, Broad was a certain fixture in the English Test side taking the team to new heights forming a formidable pair with James Anderson who himself turned 41 on the fourth day of the Oval Test and wants to continue playing for some more time.

Broad’s impact in England’s Test team is resonated with the fact he has been part of 75 victories taking 326 wickets at a spectacular average of 21.02 and a strike rate of 43.5 with eleven five wicket hauls. Whenever Broad has taken ten wickets in a Test, England has ended up winning that game. With over 600 wickets to his name, Broad has etched his name among the greats of the game with a distinctive average and strike rate to his name.

The Broad-Anderson pair is the most successful bowling pair in the history of Test cricket. Together they have taken 1037 wickets (Anderson 537 + Broad 500) in 138 matches where the pair have played together. Playing in his 167th and final Test match, Broad has 602 Test wickets to his name at an astonishing average of 27.67, 20 five-wicket hauls, 3 ten-wicket hauls and a terrific bowling strike rate of 55.77.

Broad has left an indelible legacy and impact on English test cricket. He is the second pacer after his long-time running-mate James Anderson to pick 600 wickets in Test cricket. Among the English bowlers who have picked up a minimum of 200 Test wickets, Fred Trueman, Bob Willis, James Anderson, John Snow and Stuart Broad make a formidable club to pick a wicket under an average of 28 runs and a strike rate of 60 balls. Broad is ahead of other English greats like Sir Ian Botham, Andrew Caddick and Andrew Flintoff.

With an impeccable record in the Ashes series which is inarguably the fiercest rivalry in Tests, Broad has 153 wickets to his name, an England record. Broad sits behind ‘his heroes’ Shane Warne (195) and Glenn McGrath (157) with 151 wickets in the Ashes and has one of the best strike rates in the list of top 10 Ashes bowlers as he picks up at least one wicket in 54.5 balls conceding 29 runs against Aussies. Broad also has 47 Test scalps to his name on Australian soil.

Broad also has the distinction of dismissing Australia opener David Warner 17 times in 57 innings and is behind the pair of Glenn McGrath-Michael Atherton and Alec Bedser-Arthur Morris in the list of bowlers claiming a batter on the most number of occasions. The Warner-Broad rivalry was always an important aspect of the Ashes that fans looked forward to.

With an impeccable line and length, England will surely miss the accuracy that Broad brought in with his balanced and disciplined bowling. Broad is the only England bowler to take more than 100 wickets LBW and more than 100 dismissals bowled. Broad is the eighth overall bowler with the most wickets bowled and is 4th in the list of English bowlers.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting hailed Broad as the ultimate Ashes warrior, saying that all the England pacer's best cricket was played during the iconic series. Ponting said it was the perfect time for Broad to make his exit from the game.