Stuart Broad couldn’t have scripted his farewell more perfectly
His final shot hit for six. His final ball bowled taking the final wicket of the Ashes.
Stuart Broad couldn’t have scripted his farewell more perfectly.
Few athletes are able to sign off on their terms on such a high.
The fairytale ending did not feature the Ashes urn being lifted. You can’t have it all.
Denying Australia a first series win here since 2001 is sweet enough for the 37-year-old.
Taking the final two wickets – just as Australia still sensed victory at The Oval – completed the England comeback from 2-0 down to draw the thrilling series 2-2.
A fitting climax to a glittering career for the 37-year-old who only settled on retirement on Friday night.
“When you make that decision to move on from the game you wonder what your last ball will be,” Broad said.
“So for it to be a wicket to win an Ashes Test match is pretty cool.”
An exhilarating ending
A 604th and final Test wicket – overshadowing the vital contribution of Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali who took five wickets for 30 runs to quash Australia’s hopes before Broad’s barnstorming finale.
This was a series befitting such an exhilarating ending.
A series that reinvigorated Test cricket, having been cramped into six weeks to ensure England’s nascent Hundred competition had an August window to make an impact.
‘This is what Test cricket needed’
England captain Ben Stokes said: “What a series to be a part of and I genuinely feel this is what Test cricket needed.
“Every Australia shirt and every player that wears an England shirt is an advocate for Test cricket and wants Test cricket to stay alive.”
If this Ashes captivated casual viewers and enticed new fans, then retaining them is the challenge.
Unsatisfactory inflexibility of cricket’s decision-makers cannot help the mission.
England’s inability to beat the weather ultimately cost them winning the Ashes.
Forecast is still bright for the future
Victory was in sight for England at Old Trafford only for the fourth Test to be a washout draw with no reserve days built in to accommodate days completely lost to the weather.
But the forecast is still bright for the future with Brendon McCullum’s Bazball tactics turning England into the entertainers. Their 3,079 runs in the series bettered Australia’s haul by 20.
McCullum said: “What an amazing series to be a part of and probably a fair result. Two incredible teams with contrasting styles – a bit like a heavyweight fight. It lived up to its billing. We stuck to what we wanted to do.”
And what a transformation from the series that began Australia’s five-year hold on the urn – a 4-0 crushing of England that was repeated by them on home soil in 2021-22.
Regaining the urn will now be England’s task in Australia, with Broad watching on.