Test captain Ben Stokes and Coach Brendon McCullum reportedly persuaded Stuart Broad out of retirement from professional cricket last season, according to fast bowling veteran James Anderson’s of England.
Following England’s victory in The Oval Test, Broad announced his retirement after a distinguished career. The pacer took the final two Australian wickets in a fairytale ending. By winning the Test by 49 runs, the home team tied the Ashes at 2-2.
Anderson discussed his longtime fast bowling partner’s retirement in his column for The Telegraph.
“Before we boarded the team bus for the third day of play, Stuart told me about his retirement while we were having coffee. I was a little taken aback at first, but as it sunk in, it wasn’t a surprise. Last summer, he gave it some thought, but Baz and Stokesy were able to convince him otherwise, the 41-year-old wrote.”
Anderson also disclosed that the England squad sent broad a boxed bottle of champagne as a parting gift, along with individual notes from each player. The seasoned cricketer said the following about what he wrote:
“15 years of cricket had to be condensed into a few phrases, which was difficult. It’s difficult to start, I just wrote. I owe you so much, thank you for the wonderful memories.”
“After giving it some thinking, I might send him a small present in the coming weeks. We discussed the picture of the two of us batting on day five at the Oval. I may get some of those photos blown big. The only image I would like to hang in my home is unquestionably that one, Anderson continued.”
By ending as England’s top wicket-taker in the Ashes 2023, Broad retired from international cricket on a positive note. He took 22 wickets at an average of 28.41 while playing in all five Test matches.
He merited a proper send-off – james Anderson’s on Broad and him not taking a joint retirement
Anderson expressed his opinion about Broad’s retirement, stating that the right-arm pacer received the ideal send-off. He was also relieved that Broad received his individual send-off rather than the two retiring from cricket together.
“The Ashes series was, in his own words, the ideal way to end, if you think back on it. We didn’t go out together at the same time, which was good. He is one of the finest bowlers England has ever produced on his own, therefore he earned his own send-off, Anderson wrote. However, we have always been categorized as a pair.”
Anderson had a lackluster series, taking five wickets in four Tests at an average of 85.40, whereas Broad finished second in the Ashes 2023 in terms of wickets taken.