By India Today Sports Desk: England captain Ben Stokes was in the mood to open up after England clinched a sensational series-leveling victory against Australia in the 5th and final Ashes 2023 Test. Stokes entertained every single question from the scribes, however cheeky it was – from missing Stuart Broad to talking about how he expects Bazball to fare in India in 2024. The joy of having leveled the series and denied Australia a rare series win in Old Blighty was evident in Stokes’s relaxed body language during the post-match meet with the press at The Oval on Monday.
Ben Stokes left the press conference room in splits when he revealed his wife’s reaction when he informed her about his good mate Stuart Broad’s decision to retire from Test cricket during the course of the 5th and final Ashes 2023 Test.
Stokes revealed that it was Broad who also made sure that the England captain reached home safe after night outs and that is one of the many reasons why he would miss having his good mate on the team.
“You know he announced his retirement and I told my wife that this was going to be his last game and she was like, ‘Oh, Broady is the one who messages me saying that Ben’s got home safe after a good night out’.
“So she doesn’t have that anymore, So it’s going to be someone else,” Stokes said, cracking up the scribes.
Stokes was emotional after Broad scripted a fairytale finish to his Test career, picking up the last two wickets that fell in the Ashes 2023 series. Broad’s sensational late burst on Day 5 of the 5th Test ensured a 49-run victory for England at The Oval.
Broad’s career was studded with remarkable achievements, but one that stands out is his feat of crossing 600 Test wickets. He joined the elite list of bowlers to achieve this milestone during the 2023 Ashes series against Australia, becoming only the second pacer after Jimmy Anderson to do so. This accomplishment further cemented his position as one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of cricket.
On the third day of the Test, he shocked fans and fellow players alike by announcing his retirement from all forms of cricket at the conclusion of the series. His decision to retire while still at the top of his game was met with surprise and admiration.
Broad’s final Test was nothing short of spectacular. He managed to hit a six off the last ball he faced, and then took a wicket with the final ball he bowled, winning the match for England on the final day of the 2023 Ashes series against Australia. This dramatic end to his career was a fitting tribute to his contribution to English cricket.
