Stuart Broad has announced his retirement at the Oval on the 3rd day of the 5th Test Match against Australia.
It's a full circle in the 37 year olds cricket career as he discusses the first series he was in at the Oval and his decision to retire and his final test at the Oval.
He is looking forward to spending more time with his Family with his schedule opening up! Hopes to get into playing 5-a-side football and playing more golf.
It's a full circle in the 37 year olds cricket career as he discusses the first series he was in at the Oval and his decision to retire and his final test at the Oval.
He is looking forward to spending more time with his Family with his schedule opening up! Hopes to get into playing 5-a-side football and playing more golf.
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00:00 >> Thank you. We will keep getting done by that. Thank you. I appreciate it. Thank you.
00:29 >> Sky, Sky Sports News. Rory will go with you.
00:35 >> Okay.
00:37 >> Camera's all going to back, Rory. Rory, over to you, sir.
00:45 >> So, congratulations on the career, which is nearly done. Can you just tell us how you've felt since you started telling people, Stoke, see the team, the world?
00:55 >> I feel great, to be honest. Yeah, I mean, it's -- I've probably been thinking for a couple of weeks. And, you know, even up until last night, I was still just sort of sat in my room, umming and erring and speaking to Molly.
01:08 And, yeah, I just -- half eight, I just text Stokes and say, can I come see you? And walked in, shook his hand, and said, that's me. You know, thanks for everything you've done for me.
01:21 And, yeah, I feel really great. And I feel even better that we've had a brilliant day today. I feel -- you know, I was a bit nervous this morning thinking, you know, if we lose early wickets, you know, I could feel a bit devastated.
01:35 But to see the guys play the way they did today, entertain the way they did, and I thought the atmosphere here today was awesome. You know, it felt so good.
01:42 And put ourselves in a position that, you know, I wished we could be in to try and chase 10 wickets for an Ashes win. Well, Ashes Test match win.
01:52 >> You've seen over 16 years or whatever it is, so many people come in and out of the set up. And some leave on their own terms, some don't leave on their own terms.
02:02 Was that part of the vibe for you? Do you feel a sense of satisfaction that this is you walking away with a great series behind you and some pretty strong cricket team in these last few weeks?
02:12 >> Yeah, 100%. I knew deep down that I wanted to finish playing cricket at the very top. And part of me wanted to know that I could still do it when I eventually stopped.
02:24 So I think I've had a love affair with the Ashes my whole life. And the thought of being able to bowl my last ball and face my last ball versus Australia is something that fills me with joy.
02:40 So, you know, that's come to fruition. And ultimately, I set myself a goal in April that I'd be available for the captain or try and be fit and available for the captain for five Ashes Test matches.
02:54 And to play all of them is just a really special feeling and to be a part of them. And it's been the most enjoyable series, the most entertaining series, the most edge of the seat series that I can remember.
03:05 And ultimately, I've got such... I'm in love with the game. I still love playing the game. I love being part of the changing room. And I think I wanted to have those memories leaving the game.
03:19 And, you know, I think that that will definitely make me stay in love with the game of cricket for the rest of my life.
03:26 >> You're coming over nice and calm and collected and chilled here. Do you think tomorrow's going to be a different batter you've got?
03:32 >> It's all a blur in my own mind. Don't worry. I just said to Danny after doing an interview outside, I can't remember one word I said.
03:38 Yeah, I mean, it's certainly emotional. You know, I told Stokesy and Baz last night and felt calm and, you know, sort of uplifted by telling someone outside of my bubble and then tried to tell Ruti this morning and just couldn't say a word.
03:57 You know, I tried to just I just shook his hand again and said, that's me. And then that was all that come out. Like, I just couldn't get any words out. And we just had a hug.
04:03 And then I told the boys in the changing room straight away when we got to the ground. I actually had to, you know, the little football game we play, I'm the chairperson.
04:11 So the decision maker. So I had to pass the chair over to Ben Duckett. So that's how I started it. And then just said, look, boys, this will be my last game.
04:20 >> And I think you're going to Sky or into the box now.
04:25 >> I'm going to the golf course. Well, actually, I think I'm going to go to the golf course. I'm going to babysitting duties, I think, for Annabella.
04:31 But no, to be honest, I've got you know, I've got I've got I think it's 12 days coming up through the hundred and a few of the ODIs, which have been in for six months or so, which is really exciting to have in the diary.
04:44 And then the winter, there's there's obviously nothing at the moment because I was I wasn't sure what my winter plans were.
04:51 So a bit of time with the family and see where the wind blows.
04:59 >> Stuart, are you glad you got a bat today? And can you just talk about walking off with Jimmy at the end there, both not out and kind of the thought of what tomorrow or Monday could hold in terms of that?
05:09 And you're all you're great, mate. Yeah, I mean, I walked out to bat and Woody was out there with a big beaming smile and he just said, this is a great honour like that.
05:16 And that partnership would last about four balls. And then, you know, it was brilliant being out with Jimmy.
05:24 It's reverse sweep, his slog sweep. I think he enjoyed it. Didn't enjoy Starks bounce so much that it went on the arm.
05:30 But yeah, I think I don't know what we'll do tomorrow. I don't know if we're going to bat on or get bowling straight away.
05:36 But if we do, what a pleasure to walk out there with Jimmy with bat in hand and then probably straight away with ball in hand.
05:44 And just finishing up here specifically, obviously, it's a place where a lot of great careers have ended.
05:49 But it also was kind of where your career got a kickstart in 2009.
05:54 It was the Inanashis test. Is there a sense of full circle at all there?
05:58 I mean, that was yeah, that was you're dead right.
06:01 That was when I felt like I belonged on the international stage.
06:04 The first time I'd really bowled a spell that changed a game and got important wickets.
06:10 And the Oval's, you know, generally the last test of the summer throughout my career.
06:15 So it holds incredible memories. I think it's one of the greatest grounds in the world.
06:19 The crowd today sort of, you know, made that even more strong in my mind, how great this place is.
06:28 And we've got some brilliant memories of winning series here.
06:31 Obviously, we're not going to win this series, but we can still finish with a brilliant result here.
06:37 And I think ultimately, if we can get this series to 2-2, we can hold our heads up very high of how we've gone about it.
06:43 Because I think we've all really enjoyed being a part of this series.
06:47 And although we didn't get it quite right in the first couple of games, I think we've been spectacular since Leeds.
06:53 So, you know, the Oval is certainly up there in the top five grounds.
07:00 And it'll be a pleasure to bowl my final ball here.
07:03 Assuming you don't declare overnight, tomorrow could be your final day in Test cricket.
07:16 How perfect is it that you could get to bat, bowl and field?
07:21 I'd prefer just to bowl and field, to be honest.
07:24 But yeah, it's, you know, it's...
07:27 It felt weird walking out to bat, to be honest, you know, thinking I start putting my pads on and Zach Crawley went,
07:34 "You won't miss putting your pads on, will you?" I was like, "No, no, not at all."
07:38 But actually, I loved being out there. It was a pleasure to be out there with two great mates.
07:46 And Warkoff, Pasmo, who gave me a big sort of fist tap with her gloves and just said, "Have a great time, mate. Love every moment."
07:54 And, you know, ultimately, to be honest, one of the reasons that swung my decision was I look around this changing room,
08:03 both players and management, I've played so much cricket with the people in this changing room.
08:08 And it still feels very much like my changing room.
08:12 We've got great friends and great memories within that. And I actually wanted to leave the game with a group of...
08:18 playing with a group of players that I've got so much respect for and, you know, two guys at the top, Baz and Stokesy,
08:26 who have made the last 14 months of my career an absolute joy.
08:29 And I've learned so much about leadership, management, how to go about managing people and off those two.
08:36 And I just feel in a fantastic place as a player, as a person, and just feel very happy and content at the moment.
08:44 Stuart, I guess the first time you kind of came to prominence in world cricket, and I'm sorry to bring it up,
08:51 was the Yuvraj Singh 6-6s, at least in India that clip gets played every day.
08:55 Looking back at it 16 years later, can you relate to the person, the bowler, the hair and everything from back then?
09:02 And just can you talk about your evolution from there?
09:05 Yeah, I mean, it was obviously a pretty tough day of what would have been 21, 22.
09:10 I learned loads. I pretty much based a whole mental routine through that experience,
09:17 knowing that I was left very short as an international performer in that moment.
09:22 You know, I'd rushed my preparation. I didn't have any sort of pre-ball routine.
09:29 I didn't have any focus particularly. And I started building my sort of warrior mode, that I call it, around after that experience.
09:38 So ultimately, of course, I wish that didn't happen. I think what really helped me was it was a dead rubber.
09:44 So I didn't feel like I'd sort of knocked us out of the World Cup or something.
09:47 But I think it's steeled me up to make me the competitor I am to this day and has driven me forward a huge amount.
09:54 And yeah, I think you obviously go through massive peaks and troughs.
10:00 And when I look at someone like Stokes, his career, he's done that sort of thing as well, and most players have.
10:07 But ultimately, I think it's that bounce back ability and that ability to be able to put poor days behind you.
10:13 Because certainly one thing over the past, whatever, 15, 16 years, you have a lot more bad days and good days in cricket.
10:20 So you have to be able to deal with them to make sure your good days can flourish.
10:24 Stuart, I just wonder what Jimmy's reaction was when you told him and whether you think it might affect his own plans.
10:35 Jimmy will carry on, definitely. And he's feeling really good and fresh.
10:42 And there's a bit of a break after this series with an India tour where he's got a fantastic record.
10:47 And ultimately, I think it never felt quite right for the two of us to go together.
10:55 I think we needed some sort of crossover and not that that really came into my decision making.
11:00 But I was delighted to hear that Jimmy was going to keep going and carry on because I think it's nice that there'll be sort of one half of that partnership still within the changing room.
11:12 And until it sort of gets passed over whenever Jimmy decides that his time's up.
11:18 Stuart, how much has the advent of fatherhood had an impact on this decision?
11:27 Great question. It's a difficult one to answer, really, because there's quite a long break after this series.
11:37 So I was getting a lot of time off anyway. But, you know, even within this series, I played Ireland in the first week in June.
11:47 I think I've been home for seven, eight nights, maybe.
11:51 And because Molly works Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, she's not been able to travel.
11:55 So I feel like I haven't seen Annabella and Molly as much as I would like to at such a young age, particularly.
12:02 And I love everything about being a dad. And I'm certainly going to throw all my time and effort into being a great dad.
12:11 And did it come into my decision? Potentially. Potentially.
12:18 You know, there's certainly something that fills my heart with joy that I'll be able to spend a bit more time at home.
12:23 Stuart, the 151 wickets you've taken against Australia is the most of any bowler in history.
12:29 A, do you think they'll be relieved that you're not going around again?
12:32 And B, is there anything you think that...
12:34 Why do you think you've had the wood over Australia so much, particularly in these conditions?
12:39 I mean, I think there's something in my sort of family history with Ashes cricket.
12:44 You know, I grew up from such a young age just being besotted by it.
12:47 And ultimately, I grew sort of my influential years as a kid playing cricket.
12:53 We weren't winning many Ashes tests. And I think that grew my hunger and desire to want to be part of a team that could win against Australia.
13:03 You know, I certainly think as a player, I've had a good record in England against Australia.
13:09 You know, they're such a beast of a team at home. They've been very difficult to get near apart from 10-11.
13:15 But ultimately, I think the competitiveness of what Australia bring to cricket brings out the best in me.
13:22 I love that eye-to-eye battle. I love the energy the crowd brings and the battle and the rivalry that the crowd brings to it.
13:32 And I think... I know my emotions have to be sky high for me to be a good bowler.
13:39 And my competitive spirit has to be sky high for me to be a good bowler.
13:42 And I can promise you every single time I've run in with the ball in my hand against Australia, they've been there.
13:46 So, you know, it does make me feel proud to have 150 test wickets against the Aussies, to be in that sort of category, you know, with Warnie and Glenn above.
13:59 And I've loved every minute against Australia, for sure. Apart from Mitchell Johnson bowling at Brisbane, that was horrific.
14:08 Stuart, you just talked about that competitiveness and how it brings out the best in you.
14:15 How much are you going to miss that competition? Because there's been no one potentially more fiercely competitive than you in England, sure.
14:23 Yeah, I mean, I think having spoken to a few teammates that have moved on from the game, that is certainly something that's quite hard to replace.
14:32 Probably start off by playing a bit of five-a-side football on a Monday night to see how that goes.
14:37 You're not allowed to do that as an England cricketer, but from Sunday or from Monday, I might be able to.
14:42 So I think you have to find different ways to, you know, fuel your competitive instinct because you can't just do nothing and expect your competitive instinct to go away.
14:52 So I might try and convince Molly it has to be golf competitions or something, but I'm not sure she'll fall for that.
14:58 Strictly?
14:59 Not strictly, no. The thought of dancing in front of 11 million people gives me the shudders.
15:06 Stuart, I think a lot of us are going to remember you for things, there's the milestones and the cricket stuff.
15:12 You've also given us the celeb repeal, the jazz hands, the night talk.
15:17 There's all of those other things that have come along with the performance.
15:21 But how do you hope that everyone remembers you when they look back at your career?
15:28 When I was a kid growing up, I had sporting idols of the likes of Martin Johnson and Stuart Pearce.
15:34 And when I watched them, what I wanted was, I loved their passion and their drive.
15:39 And I never looked at them and thought I could do better in that show.
15:44 I could give more for that shirt.
15:45 And I think ultimately how I've played my sport is I'd never want anyone in the crowd or watching at home or listening on the radio to think he's not putting in or he's not giving absolutely everything.
15:57 He's not putting his heart and soul into it.
15:59 I know I'm not the most skilful player that's played.
16:02 I know that I need every inch of my competitive spirit and my drive and my effort to get anything out of my ability.
16:10 And I would say every day I've pulled on a Nottingham shirt and an England shirt.
16:16 I've given my heart and soul.
16:18 And I can't think that there'd be too many cricket fans out there that would think I've slacked off for a moment.
16:26 Thanks, George. Thank you, guys.
16:42 Appreciate it.
16:43 [Applause]
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