England great Broad to retire from cricket after Ashes finale

England great Stuart Broad said on Saturday he will retire from all cricket following the conclusion of the ongoing fifth Ashes Test against Australia at The Oval, describing his career as “a wonderful ride”.
The 37-year-old seamer, the fifth most successful bowler in Test history with 602 wickets, told Sky Sports after stumps on the third day: “Tomorrow (Sunday) or Monday will be my last game of cricket. “It has been a wonderful ride and a huge privilege to wear the Nottinghamshire and England badge as much as I have.”
Broad, the son of former England opening batsman Chris Broad, added: “I am loving cricket as much as I ever have. I have always wanted to finish at the top and this series feels like one of the most enjoyable and entertaining I have been a part of.”
Broad, now appearing in the 167th Test of his career, made his debut in December 2007 against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
Along with fellow veteran fast bowler Jimmy Anderson, he shared one of Test cricket’s most durable partnerships.
“I’ve been thinking about it for a while, a few weeks,” said Broad, who has appeared in every home Ashes Test since 2009. “England vs Australia has always been the pinnacle for me.”
Broad was two not out at stumps on the third day in England’s second innings 389-9, with the hosts now 377 runs ahead as they push for a series-levelling win.
“I have loved the battles with Australia that have come my way and the team’s way, I have a love affair with the Ashes and I think I wanted my last bat and bowl to be in Ashes cricket.”
Earlier Anderson said he has “no interest” in retiring from the game any time soon despite his age and his poor form in the Ashes against Australia. Anderson, who turns 41 today, is England’s leading wicket taker in Tests with 690 dismissals. But he has picked up only five wickets in the Ashes so far at an average of a shade under 75. Anderson said he would continue to play as long as he still had the support of skipper Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, under whom he has taken 50 wickets in 14 Tests. “As soon as you get into your thirties as a bowler, people are asking how long you’ve got left. But in the past three or four years, I’ve bowled as well as I ever have,” Anderson told the BBC.
“I feel like I’ve been in so much control, my body has been in a good place, my skills are as good as they ever have been. The numbers, the wickets, the selection side of it is a completely different issue.
“If Stokesy and Baz (McCullum) say ‘You’ve not got the wickets we would have liked,’ then I’d be absolutely fine with that. In terms of retirement, I’ve got no interest in going any time soon.”
Anderson, who suffered a groin injury in the lead-up to the Ashes, admitted that he was going through a “lean patch” but backed himself to rebound in the second innings of the final Test where Australia lead the hosts by 12 runs.
The Oval Test is his last chance to prove himself this year with England not playing red ball cricket again until they tour India in January.
“I’ve still got another innings to try to do something for the team,” he added.
“I don’t feel like I’m bowling badly or losing pace or that I’m on the way out. I still feel I can offer a lot to this team.”