STUART BROAD completed The Ashes in the only way he knows how - exiting stage left as a winner.
The 37-year-old England pace ace could not have scripted it any better than to take his 604th and final Test scalp in his final cricket match at The Oval to secure an Ashes-levelling win by 49 runs.
Although knowing how mischievously brilliant Broad has been throughout his astonishing career you could not be certain he did not simply bend the game to his will and make sure the final two scalps belonged to him before he strolled off into the sunset.
With his baby daughter watching on in fiancee Mollie King's arms, alongside the rest of his family, they were able to let out the ultimate release of celebration as Broad wheeled away arms outstretched in familiar pose as their hero roared into retirement.
When Alex Carey edged the final ball of this sensational series into Jonny Bairstow's gloves, the curtain was brought down on not only an incredible career but also on a remarkable five-match contest that kept on giving right to the very end - 25 match days after it all began in Birmingham.
Denne historien er fra August 01, 2023-utgaven av Daily Mirror UK.
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Denne historien er fra August 01, 2023-utgaven av Daily Mirror UK.
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