Stuart Broad admits it is a ‘special’ feeling to finish his career by taking the final two wickets to win an Ashes Test… as the legendary bowler reveals his lasting memory of the game is ‘pure joy and happiness’
- Stuart Broad ended his Test career in fine fashion as England beat Australia
- Broad picked up the final two Australian wickets as the hosts won by 49 runs
- The 37-year-old admitted it was ‘special’ to have a fairytale ending to his career
Stuart Broad admitted it was ‘special’ to have a fairytale ending to his Test career after he picked up the final two wickets as England beat Australia at the Oval to draw the Ashes 2-2.
Starting the final day of the fifth Test on 135-0, Australia needed another 249 runs win the Ashes in England for the first time since 2001.
The hosts were desperate to avoid this and level the series and started superbly, picking up three early wickets before Steve Smith and Travis Head put the Aussies into a strong position.
At one point on Monday evening they needed just 120 to win with seven wickets left before Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali induced a sensational collapse to leave them eight down and still requiring 90.
Despite firm resistance from Todd Murphy and Alex Carey, Broad returned to the attack and dismissed both batters as he finished his legendary career with one stunning final spell to ensure England won by 49 runs.
Stuart Broad admitted it was a ‘special’ finale to his Test career after he picked up the final two wickets as England beat Australia at Oval by 49 runs to draw the Ashes series 2-2
Broad dimsissed both Todd Murphy and Alex Carey (left) to end his career in fairtyale fashion
And speaking after the match, Broad – who finishes his career with a staggering 604 Test wickets at an average of 27.58 – admitted he couldn’t have wished for a better ending.
‘It is special,’ the 37-year-old told Test Match Special. ‘It is a difficult decision to walk away from the game I love but I wanted my last ball to be in an environment that is so special and playing sport I still love – for my lasting memory to be pure joy and happiness.
‘That is how I feel now.’
When speaking to Sky Sports, Broad also admitted he felt very privelleged to have finished on such a high.
He added: ‘To pick up a couple of wickets to end the Test match and contribute to the team was very special.
The legendary bowler admitted his lasting memory of the game was ‘pure joy and happiness’
Broad spent time with his fiancee Mollie King and daughter Annabella on the pitch post-game
‘When you make the decision (to retire) you wonder what your last ball will be and for it to be a wicket to win an Ashes Test match is pretty cool.
‘Woakesy and Moeen set the tone unbelievably and when we got a couple of wickets we really started to believe.
‘The crowd was so loud and we really jumped on that energy.’
Broad ended the series with 22 wickets – only beaten by Mitchell Starc’s 23 – having played all five Tests at the age of 37.
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