Stuart Broad. (Photo Source: Twitter)
After the fifth Test of the recently concluded Ashes 2023, veteran cricketer Stuart Broad announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. The 37-year-old has represented England in 167 Test matches, picking 604 wickets in the process and has brought a lot of success to the national team in close to two decades.
Notably, the legendary cricketer started his career playing for Leicestershire. Nick Lamb, his first victim in County cricket revealed Broad’s early days as a cricketer and that he was a proper pacer from the very first day, even when he was introduced as a medium pacer to Durham cricketers.
“I was playing for Durham University against Leicestershire, which was his club before he joined Notts, and was his first-class debut. I remember a couple of the boys in my team had played against him at school and told me he was an opening batsman that bowled a little bit of medium pace with the ‘keeper standing up. I think Leicestershire batted first and he came out to bat at 11 and everyone thought ‘why is he playing, he’s a batsman’” Lamb told talkSport.
“When they came out to bowl and it took him two balls to get me out, it wasn’t very hard. I think the first ball thudded against my thigh pad as I didn’t see it. I turned round to the lads thinking ‘this is not slow/medium pace like you told me’” the cricketer added.
Interestingly, Broad announced his retirement after having a stellar season. He was the leading wicket-taker of the series and played a vital role in helping England level the series at the Oval. With two wickets remaining, the home team was under a bit of pressure as Alex Carey and Todd Murphy were building a good partnership. That’s when Ben Stokes introduced Broad into the attack and it took him three overs to clean Australia’s batting unit and hand a 49-run win to England.