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Stuart Broad retirement: Statistical review of the English legend's career

Stuart Broad wanted to retire while he was at the top of his game. Statistically, he has done that. In the last two years, he has played 17 matches and taken 76 wickets at an average of around 25

Stuart Broad

Stuart Broad retirement news: England vs Australia 5th Ashes Test to be his last match.

Abhishek Singh New Delhi
Stuart Broad, one of the greatest fast bowlers to have ever played Test cricket decided to call it quits on the third day of the fifth Ashes Test between England and Australia at the Oval. 
 
Broad said that he wanted to quit on his own terms and when was at the top of his game. The right-arm pacer completed 600 Test wickets in this series itself to become only the second fast bowler in history behind his compatriot James Anderson to achieve that feat
"This series has just felt like it’s been one of the most enjoyable and entertaining and I always wanted to finish at the top,” Broad told broadcasters Sky Sports at the end of Day 3. 
 
 
The pacer is indeed at the top of his game. In the last two years, he has played 17 matches and taken 76 wickets at an average of around 25 which is great for someone aged 37. He has been among the top-five wicket-takers in the red-ball format between 2019-2023 except in 2021, when he took 12 wickest in 7 matches. 

Table showing leading wicket-takers in World Test Championship Since 2019 till date

Player Span Matches Wickets Average
NM Lyon (AUS) 2019-2023 35* 151 28.26
R Ashwin (IND) 2019-2023 27 132 20.03
PJ Cummins (AUS) 2019-2023 31* 130 21.97
SCJ Broad (ENG) 2019-2023 29* 115 23.23
TG Southee (NZ) 2019-2023 24 106 26.15

Apart from being the fifth-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket and the second-highest wicket-taker for England, Broad is also the second-highest wicket-taker among fast bowlers in Test cricket. He has played the second-most number of games for any fast bowler in the game as well. 

Table showing players with most wickets in Test cricket 

Player Country Wickets Matches Career Span
Muthiah Muralidaran Sri Lanka 800 133 1992-2010
Shane Warne Australia 708 145 1992-2007
James Anderson England 686 180* 2003-2023
Anil Kumble India 619 132 1990-2008
Stuart Broad England 587 163* 2007-2023

Table showing England players with most wickets in Test cricket

Player Career Span Matches Wickets Average
JM Anderson 2003-2023 183* 690 26.39
SCJ Broad 2007-2023 167* 602 27.69
IT Botham 1977-1992 102 383 28.4
RGD Willis 1971-1984 90 325 25.2
FS Trueman 1952-1965 67 307 21.57

Table showing most wickets by fast bowlers in Test cricket

Player Career Span Matches Wickets Country
JM Anderson 2003-2023 183* 690 England
SCJ Broad 2007-2023 167* 602 England
Glenn McGrath 1994-2007 102 563 Australia
Courtney Walsh 1984-2001 90 519 West Indies
Dale Steyn 2004-2019 67 439 South Africa

Stuart Broad- Best for England in Ashes
 
When it comes to  the Ashes, Broad is once again the best in England. He has also played the most matches (Ashes) for an Englishman among those who started their career post-1990. It is an attribute of his longevity and the desire to play at the highest level. Broad even said that Ashes is the pinnacle of Test cricket for him.
 
“England vs Australia has always been the pinnacle for me, I have loved the battles with Australia that have come my way and the team’s way, I have a love affair with Ashes and I think I wanted my last bat and bowl to be in Ashes cricket,” said Broad.

Table shwoing players with highest number of wickets in Ashes 

Player Career-Span Matches Wickets
SK Warne (AUS) 1993-2007 36 195
GD McGrath (AUS) 1994-2007 30 157
SCJ Broad (ENG) 2009-2023 40* 151
H Trumble (AUS) 1890-1904 31 141
DK Lillee (AUS) 1971-1982 24 128

Broad with the bat: Best ever number nine and 10 

The Nottinghamshire player is no mug with the bat either. He has been one of the best lower-order batters in the longest format, scoring the highest number of runs for any batter batting at number nine and 10. He has the second highest score (169 vs Pakistan) for any batter batting at number nine, only behind Ian Smith's (New Zealand) 173 against India. Broad has scored 3662 runs in 244 innings at an average of just above 18. His last runs were a six off Mitchell Starc to deep square leg. 

Table showing players with most runs at number nine and 10 combined in Test cricket

Player Country Innings at 9 & 10 Runs
Stuart Broad England 159 2208
Tim Southee New Zealand 105 1487
Curtley Ambrose West Indies 125 1284
Graeme Swann England 61 1189
Shane Warne Australia 72 1003

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First Published: Jul 30 2023 | 9:33 PM IST

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