BROAD SMILES

Stu farewell written in stars as he seals win

- MIKE WALTERS

STUART BROAD rode into the sunset with a Hollywood finish to level the Ashes and leave his captain Ben Stokes claiming: “It was written in the stars.” 

On his last day before retiring, Broad sealed England’s dramatic 49-run win against Australia at The Oval with two wickets in his last 10 balls.

And after a sensational series finished 2-2, with the Aussies taking home the urn but England claiming most of the plaudits, Stokes celebrated his Bazball buccaneers’ approach.

He said: “We didn’t shy away from the momentous event the Ashes is. We talked the talk and also walked the walk out there.”

For the second time in the match, Broad ‘bought’ a wicket by switching the bails – his lucky charm ruse worked a treat as he removed Todd Murphy from the next ball before bringing the curtain down with his 604th Test wicket when Alex Carey was caught behind.