Ashes hero Stuart Broad made England players cry in dressing room and quit 'Pig' role

Ashes Stuart Broad England

Ashes icon Stuart Broad announced he'd be retiring from cricket on Saturday

PA
Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 04/08/2023

- 08:35

The 37-year-old is leaving cricket behind after over 15 years at the top

England players welled up after learning Stuart Broad would be retiring from cricket, according to team-mate Ollie Robinson.

The 37-year-old announced on Saturday that he'd be leaving the sport behind after the fifth and final Ashes Test.


Broad got the farewell he wanted at The Oval, with the England star taking the final two wickets to help his side end the series on a high.

And Robinson, writing in his column for Wisden, has revealed players were emotional in the dressing room upon hearing the news.

Ollie Robinson Stuart Broad Ashes

Ollie Robinson has hailed Ashes icon Stuart Broad following cricket retirement

PA

"A few of us welled up a little bit," said the 29-year-old.

"It wasn’t overly expected I suppose. A few of us were hopeful that he would carry on but he’s adamant that he’s very content with that decision.

"He’s going to be missed a lot by the whole dressing room."

Robinson also revealed that Broad started by resigning from his role as chairman of 'Pig', a football game.

The England star said: "Stuart first told us on Saturday morning.

"He started off by resigning as chairman from ‘Pig’ – a keepy uppies football game we play.

"He was chairman and he’d decide who got the letters at what time and if there were disagreements he would have the last say.

"He started his retirement chat saying, 'It’s been a long time serving so many of you boys playing Pig,' and I think a few lads were thinking, ‘What is going on here?’ and then he said, 'This is going to be my last game of cricket.'"

Robinson also revealed Broad was always willing to help, and listen, to his England team-mates.

"Broady is someone that you might not see as the most emotional character but you know that he cares about you because of the effort he puts in," he said.

"I spoke to him about a few things; we’d have a conversation and I wouldn’t hear from him, or we wouldn’t talk about it for a few days, and then he’d come back and tell me he’d be thinking about me and that he’d been thinking about the problem in a certain way.

"He has an amazing positive energy. The thing that I love most about him is his dry, witty humour.

"He’s very quick. Anytime a batter comes in from being sledged or anything like that, he is very quick to jump on the wit. He’s just so funny to be around."

Meanwhile, Broad spoke to Sky Sports earlier in the week and revealed how fiancee Mollie King, who used to be in pop group The Saturdays, reacted to his retirement.

"I was quite emotionally tired anyway from what had been a really busy summer so far," said the bowler, who took 604 Test wickets during his career.

"But I FaceTimed Mollie on the Friday night and she just said 'you have got to follow your heart. Just go with whatever you are thinking and I'll support you either way'.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

Stuart Broad Ashes cricket

Stuart Broad left cricket on a high after starring for England at The Ashes

PA

"I put the FaceTime down and just went to Stokes' room, shook his hand and said 'that's me. It's been an absolute pleasure to play with you as a team-mate and a friend. You've been a dream captain, so thank you.'"

You may like