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.
This story is from the August 01, 2023 edition of Irish Daily Mirror.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 01, 2023 edition of Irish Daily Mirror.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
THREE-FLOWING FOOTBALL!
Klopp has come up with a new dynamic triple threat on counter
MOORE'S MERRIER
Late, late leveller lifts new boss Darren
WE'VE GAT A GREAT CHANCE
Tompkins and Davies praise Gatland's clear vision and reckon 'the sky's the limit' for Wales
BYRNE: DON'T SEND ME TO BRITISH JAIL
Kinahan mobster fights extradition to UK over 'human rights'
Bruce wife: Our family's dementia heartache
'STAR MAY NOT BE AWARE HE HAS IT'
Killer Letby retrial over 'attempted murder of baby girl'
But heartache for other families
Garda chief confirms officer injured by Dail mob
A GARDA chief said an officer was injured in last week's Dail protests by a far-right mob.
Sophia so good
Hollywood great Loren doing well'after broken hip surgery
Eternal no more
Louise is accused of 'throwing bandmates under a bus' after quitting reunion in bitter row
Our lives will never be the same again..
Family mourns 'hero and son' struck by car