Broad given emotional guard of honour by Aussies before whacking huge final six
Some sporting moments are simply unforgettable... and what happened at the Oval on Sunday morning definitely falls into that category.
As Stuart Broad strolled out alongside his great partner-in-crime James Anderson, everyone knew they were witnessing history. This was the last time Broad, one of the greatest competitors ever to grace English sport, batted in a cricketing colosseum.
It would be wrong to say there wasn't a dry eye in the house. After all, this crucial Ashes Test is still ongoing. Broad's side still need to find 10 wickets in the next two showery days to ensure the series finishes 2-2 and deny the Aussies a rare triumph on English soil.
Yet those thousands of spectators inside the Oval would've felt pride, joy at being there, and a lot of sadness. Broad's Test career has entertained cricket fans for 16 years, and he leaves the sport as an incomparable beast of a bowler at the very top of his game.
Broad announced his retirement from cricket after Saturday's evening session, leaving fans shocked. Although he's reached the ripe old sporting age of 37, he's still arguably England's best bowler. 20 wickets at 28.15 in this series would suggest as much.
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Yet he's made the right decision - to go out on top. The perfect ending for Broad would be for England to win this Test and for him to claim a five-for. That may still happen, but what unfolded on Sunday morning is something he will forever cherish.
If Broad could pick anyone to bat alongside for one last dance, it would be Anderson. It's hard to imagine Broad without Anderson and vice versa. The two boast the most successful bowling partnership in the history of Test cricket with 1,037 wickets.
That's right... Broad and Anderson are better than Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, Trent Boult and Tim Southee, and Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. A quite remarkable achievement.
Broad received a brilliant reception at the Oval (Getty Images)Is Stuart Broad the greatest cricketer of all time? Let us know in the comments below!
Anderson would've surely been a little emotional as he stood and watched his great mate take the acclaim. The 41-year-old, who celebrates his birthday today, may struggle to continue his Test career without Broad. His final innings might just be around the corner.
Fair play to Australia, too, for giving Broad a guard of honour. The retiring bowler has been a thorn in Australia's side for years, taking 151 Test wickets against them. One newspaper even refused to print his name, such is his villainy down under.
Yet the respect between the Aussies and Broad was obvious on Sunday morning. They may love to hate him, but there are few cricketers they rate more highly.
Broad's final slog with Anderson didn't last long, but no one expected it to. It lasted seven minutes to be precise, but what a glorious seven minutes they were.
Broad hit a huge six off the bowling of Mitchell Starc (Getty Images)Broad tried to smash Mitchell Starc into Stockwell off the second ball of the day with a reckless swipe, only for the ball to hit the inside edge of his bat and roll to safety. It was a sign of things to come, as Broad pinged Starc's final ball of that over for six.
The fun was eventually ended by Todd Murphy, the most inexperienced player on the pitch, who span the ball into Anderson's front pad. Anderson reviewed the decision, and the crowd groaned as the technology proved it to be the right one.
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As Broad and Anderson made their way off the pitch, even more emotion and applause spewed out of the Oval crowd. Broad didn't have long to savour the moment, as his thoughts quickly turned to getting 10 wickets and bowing out with a victory.
This might have been Broad's final bat in cricket, but it isn't his final act. That will come with the ball, an object he's picked up 602 Test wickets with. We don't know exactly how Broad's finale will unfold... but we know it'll be a teary one.
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