England’s Stuart Broad to retire from professional cricket after Ashes series

England’s Stuart Broad has announced his retirement from professional cricket. The 37-year-old will end his career after this summer’s Ashes series.

Broad has taken 602 wickets in 167 Tests, making him the second most successful paceman in Test history behind teammate James Anderson.

“Tomorrow or Monday will be my last game of cricket,” he told Sky. “It’s been a wonderful ride, a huge privilege to wear the Nottinghamshire and England badge as much as I have. It’s been a wonderful series to be part of and I’ve always wanted to finish at the top. This series just feels like it’s been one of the most enjoyable and entertaining that I’ve been part of.”

Asked when he had made his decision, Broad said: “About 8.30 last night. I’ve been thinking about it for a couple of weeks. England versus Australia has always been the pinnacle for me. I’ve loved the battles with Australia that have come my way personally and the team’s way. I’ve got a love affair with Ashes cricket and I wanted my last game to be Ashes cricket.

“I told Stokesy [Ben Stokes] last night and the changing room this morning and it just felt the right time. I feel content with everything I’ve achieved in the game. It feels like my changing room and I wanted to walk away playing with a group of players I love to bits.”

Broad, who made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in 2007, sits fifth on the all-time list of Test wicket-takers. Alongside team-mate Anderson, he is one of only two fast bowlers to pass 600 Test wickets for their country and took his 150th Ashes wicket in his final game this week.

The Nottinghamshire player leaves international cricket with a number of honours to his name, including the 2010 T20 World Cup and four Ashes series wins.

A statement from the ECB read: “The England and Wales Cricket Board would like to thank Stuart for his incredible dedication and contribution to English cricket and we wish him well for the remainder of his final Test match and the future.”

Sir Alastair Cook told the BBC: “I’m a bit emotional and a bit surprised. But if you look at the schedule for Stuart Broad, you have India away, Sri Lanka and West Indies next summer. No offence to those sides but Broad is about big moments. So for him to get through to another big moment is probably another two-and-a-half years.

“The one player to deliver, alongside Ben Stokes, in the big moments is Stuart Broad. And what a feeling that must be for a player.”

Nasser Hussain, another former England captain, hailed Broad’s competitive spirit and his hunger for the battle, telling Sky: “Very rarely does a bowler or a cricketer tick nearly every box.

“As a captain you do want that, especially in an Ashes battle when you say to people: ‘Do you really want to be out in the cauldron?’ Some people like it and then they shy away from it. They want a taste of it but then they don’t want anymore because they don’t want that pressure. Stuart’s great attribute is that he wants to be in that cauldron. He wants to be in that pressure, he enjoys that pressure, and he may miss that pressure in the long run.”

Glenn McGrath hailed the England seamer as a “true champion”, saying: “It’s a big decision but you come to a time when you know. He loves the big moments, he loves the pressure and that is the sign of a true champion. Going out on your own terms is special as well. He has been incredible for England for a long, long time.”