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, 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
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"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