England captain Ben Stokes felt it was “written in the stars” for Stuart Broad to seal victory over Australia after his final delivery in Test cricket secured a deserved 2-2 Ashes draw.
Broad walked out on the concluding day of a gripping series knowing that it was his last as a professional cricketer and his final chance to make one more memory with England.
And he secured the perfect Hollywood finish as Australia were knocked over for 334, taking the last two wickets to fall in front of an adoring Kia Oval crowd, many of whom had turned up wearing white bandanas in tribute to the departing seamer.
The manner of the ending was classic Broad, equal parts provocative, playful and passionate. With the tourists clinging on at eight down he cheekily switched the bails at the non-striker’s end – a mind game tactic that preceded his first-innings dismissal of Marnus Labuschagne in the first innings – and immediately had Todd Murphy caught behind.
He then took Alex Carey’s outside edge to spark a carnival atmosphere on the field and in the stands, downing his favourite foes one last time and ensuring a rollercoaster series ended with honours even.
“That’s Broady’s career isn’t it. It was written in the stars for him. It was his moment,” said Stokes, who also had stellar performances from player-of-the-series Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali to thank for a 49-run win.
“That bloke has been incredible for England, the longevity of his career and what he has achieved should never be forgotten. I’m so glad that a lot of his friends and family were here to witness what happened today.
“I’m not going to lie, in the back of my mind when we got them eight down I knew it would have taken an almighty trainwreck if we didn’t win the game. I thought I chose my moment quite well to bring Broady back into the attack. But seeing him run off with the slips going up to celebrate was one of those moments. It was just always going to happen.”
After 16 years, 167 Tests and 604 wickets in the Test arena, the manner of Broad’s departure has set a new benchmark for triumphant exits, having earlier hit his final ball as a batter for six.
All in all his swansong had a script he cannot even have dared to dream of.
“I didn’t feel like I was in my own body. It’s the perfect end,” he said.
“It still doesn’t feel massively real. I wanted to leave the game loving it and my memories of playing cricket are going to be pretty cool. To take a wicket to win an Ashes Test match with my final ball was something that will make me smile for the rest of my life.”
As for the bail-swapping trick that he brought to bear over the last few days, something that seems likely to be replicated in club cricket up and down the country as a curious addition to his legacy, he added: “Maybe I’d have had a bit more success if I kept tweaking the bails. It’s amazing that it worked twice in the game – just completely freakish.
“I’ve always enjoyed the fun, silly side of cricket and that was something that just tickled my fancy.”
Inglis hails 'hard to stop' Stoinis after ruthless knock
Josh Inglis lauded "hard to stop" Marcus Stoinis as Australia signed off their T20I series against Pakistan in style, claiming a whitewash.
The hosts raced to a seven-wicket victory with almost nine overs remaining in Monday's third match.
After Australia's bowlers had limited Pakistan to just 117 runs, Stoinis ensured they signed off their final white-ball assignment in style, with his unbeaten 61 doing the damage.
Only twice has he bettered that knock in T20Is – versus New Zealand in 2021 (78) and against Oman at the World Cup earlier this year (67*).
"It's been a great week. We've had a lot of fun as a group," Inglis said. "It's been really nice.
"When Stoinis is going like that, he is really hard to stop. One of those sixes was probably the biggest I've ever seen!"
Stoinis, who was named player of the match, added: "Nice to score some runs on a beautiful wicket but credit to the bowlers who kept the total down.
"Yeah, I actually told [Haris] Rauf that this is the first time any of us got the better of him! No, he's a brilliant bowler, bowled well this series."
During their white-ball tour, Pakistan won the ODI series, their first time doing so in Australia in 22 years, but got whitewashed in the T20Is.
Despite the heavy loss, captain Agha Salman chose to focus on the positive effect the experience will have on their young players.
"I think in the middle overs, we didn't capitalise on the start," he said. "But lots of positives.
"The way Usman [Khan] batted, the way Jahandad [Khan] bowled. These youngsters will come good.
"It's obviously a big achievement winning the ODI series, but we could have done much better in the T20Is."
Salt century gives England winning start to West Indies T20 series
Phil Salt hit a superb century as England drew first blood in their T20 series against West Indies, with a commanding eight-wicket victory at the Kensington Oval.
Salt's unbeaten 103 off 54 balls was the highlight for the tourists, who successfully chased down their target of 183 with 19 balls to spare.
The West Indies endured a difficult start and were reduced to 18-3 and later 117-8, with Saqib Mahmood (4-34) and Adil Rashid (3-32) doing the damage.
However, the hosts managed 65 runs in the last 5.2 overs to finish at 182-8, with Gukadesh Motie knocking 33 off 14 balls along the way.
Salt kick-started England's chase with 50 off just 25 deliveries taking them to 73-1 after six overs, with Will Jacks (17) dismissed with the final ball of the powerplay.
Jos Buttler's first match after four months out lasted just three minutes, as the skipper was caught by Motie for a golden duck.
However, it proved a false dawn for West Indies, with Salt and Jacob Bethall (58 from 36 balls) safely steering England to victory.
Data Debrief: Salt completes hat-trick of hundreds as Bethell makes historic half-century
England put their disappointing ODI series behind them, making history with the highest T20 chase at the Kensington Oval.
Salt was the hero with his third T20I century, all of which have come against West Indies in the past 12 months.
Bethell also made history on Saturday. Aged 21 years and 17 days, he become the youngest England player to score a 50 in a T20I.
Asalanka leads Sri Lanka to ODI series win over West Indies
Sri Lanka wrapped up the ODI series against the West Indies with a five-wicket victory in Pallekele.
The hosts successfully chased down their opponents' total of 189, giving them an unassailable 2-0 in the three-match series.
Sri Lanka controlled the early powerplay - Asitha Fernando (3-35) and Maheesh Theekshana (3-25) took two wickets apiece to leave the tourists at 31-4 in the ninth over.
Wanindu Hasaranga (4-40) then claimed three of his four wickets as Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh and Alzarri Joseph were all dismissed in the space of 14 balls.
However, Sherfane Rutherford (80 off 82 balls) and Gudakesh Motie (50 not out) steadied the ship to take the Windies from 58-8 to 189.
Although Joseph claimed Avishka Fernando (9) in the fourth over, Nishan Madushka and Sadeera Samarawickrama both chipped in with contributions of 38 to get the hosts to 112-4.
Skipper Charith Asalanka (62 not out) led the charge thereon, while Kamindu Mendis (11) comfortably got them over the line with 34 balls remaining.
Data Debrief: Rutherford-Motie historic stand proves academic for tourists
West Indies were looking to level the series, but their hopes were not aided by Sri Lanka's impressive bowling.
Rutherford and Motie did their best. Their partnership brought 119 runs, which is their nation's highest ninth-wicket stand in ODI history, breaking the previous record of 85 between Yannic Cariah and Alzarri Joseph.
However, it ultimately proved in vain as the hosts secured the series with a game to spare.
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