- 37-year-old will end career after the fifth Ashes Test
- ‘I knew I wanted to finish playing cricket at the very top’
Stuart Broad will lace up his boots, knot his headband and reach for his wide-brimmed hat for perhaps the final time on Sunday, after announcing that this fifth Ashes Test will be his last game in professional cricket.
Having been mulling over the decision for a couple of weeks Broad made up his mind and broke the news to Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum on Friday night, and informed the rest of the changing-room on Saturday morning. “I knew deep down that I wanted to finish playing cricket at the very top,” the 37-year-old said. “Part of me wanted to know that I could still do it. I’ve had a love affair with the Ashes my whole life and the thought of being able to bowl my last ball against Australia is something that fills me with joy. So that’s come to fruition. And it’s been the most enjoyable series, the most entertaining series, the most edge-of-the-seat series that I can remember. I just feel in a fantastic place as a player, as a person, and just feel very happy and content at the moment.”
