‘I was a little bit unsure, it just felt like the right time’ – Stuart Broad reveals reason behind sudden retirement decision
Stuart Broad has been England’s best bowler in the ongoing Ashes by a distance. He has so far picked up 20 wickets in the series and also joined the 600-wicket club in Test cricket during the fourth Test in Manchester.
The cricket world was shocked when the 37-year-old announced that he would retire from Test cricket after the end of the fifth Ashes Test in London. The revelation came right after the conclusion of play on Day 3. Broad explained that he wasn’t sure about the decision but he received clarity after having a conversation with skipper Ben Stokes the previous night.
“I told Stokesy last night and told the change room this morning. And to be honest, it just felt like the right time. I mean, I thought a lot about it and, you know, even up until, like, eight o’clock last night, I wasn’t 50 to 50 but I was a little bit unsure,” Broad told Sky Sports.
“But once I actually went to Stokes’s room and told him, I just felt really happy ever since, really content with everything that I’ve achieved in the game, and ultimately the decision came down to I know I knew I wanted to leave the game loving cricket and my lasting memories being of a really enjoyable changing room.”
Ben [Stokes] really understood the decision: Stuart Broad
The experienced pacer was asked if Stokes had asked him to reconsider the decision. Stuart Broad stated that the star all-rounder understood his reasons behind the decision. He also hinted that he might not reconsider his decision to retire.
“Ben didn’t you know, he really understood the decision. You know, I hadn’t talked a lot about it. I hadn’t mentioned it to him beforehand, but I wanted to make sure I was. I was clear in my mind. I wasn’t sort of going in for a negotiation. Really needed to be clear before I mentioned it to anyone,” Broad added.
Broad still has a job in hand with the bat and ball in the ongoing fifth Test for England. He survived a couple of deliveries in the final session of Day 3 and will walk out to bat on Day 4 alongside James Anderson. The last-wicket partnership will look to add a few more runs to the already daunting 377-run lead.
