his article was originally crafted by me on 01-09-2023. Reposted for archival purposes.
Two words: The Ashes. Nothing else gets an absolute cricket fan going. There might be several formats in the world of cricket. But the beauty of test cricket is unmatched. If it is happening at the home of cricket, nothing is better. And today we are witnessing the farewell of another legend of the game, a vital cog of test cricket who kept up the standards of the format.
Stuart Christopher John Broad. A cricket enthusiast cannot snub this name if he’s a regular follower of the sport. A few minutes ago, we saw him bid adieu from International cricket in the most stylish way possible. The way the crowd erupted with joy when he took the last wicket of the Ashes series shows what he is to the English cricket fans. That wicket has a peculiarity. It was also his last wicket of the game.
Out of the 167 tests he took part in, the seamer has a stellar statistic of having 604 scalps under his belt which includes 20 fifers. He has often come across criticisms for being a ‘home track bully’ but Broady’s numbers in New Zealand and South African pitches were fine enough to shut them up with averages of 23 and 25. The fact that a man possesses extreme strength in his home ground doesn’t imply his fragility.
Broad has not disappointed the fans or his team in the limited-over formats either. His 65 wickets at an average of 22 in T20Is is often unnoticed. It has been many years since he quit short formats, but his contributions in the chief formats of the game remains unforgettable.
Thus ends the Jimmy-Broady era we cherished to the fullest throughout our childhood. It still sounds unacceptable to see the man hanging up his boots in such fine form. But it also sounds reasonable since he desires to finish at the top. Let’s just leave that ray of hope in us that Broady will come back for Ashes 2025 to entertain us again.
