Cricket icon Stuart Broad explains unwritten retirement pact as Rishi Sunak stance on knighthood emerges
Cricket icon Stuart Broad starred for England in The Ashes before announcing his retirement
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Stuart Broad has revealed he had an unwritten retirement pact with James Anderson prior to quitting cricket.
The 37-year-old announced he'd be leaving the sport behind at the end of last month, shortly before bowling England to victory against Australia in the fifth and final Ashes Test.
Broad and Anderson were key players for England for well over a decade, with the pair playing together in 138 matches.
They took 537 wickets during that time, with both icons etching their names into cricket folklore in the process.
Stuart Broad helped England beat Australia in the fifth and final Ashes Test
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Broad actually ended up with 604 Test wickets, including the final two of the recent Ashes series.
Now, speaking to the Daily Mail, the England hero has revealed he and Anderson had a pact that they wouldn't retire from the sport at the same time.
"It was like an unwritten clause in a contract that Jimmy and I never wanted to finish at the same time," he said.
"We always wanted an overlap one way or the other, a crossover of knowledge, not 300-plus matches of Test experience disappearing out of the changing room.
"So, I chatted to Jimmy during the Old Trafford Test and he said he was going to work on loads of different things, would make sure he was as fit as anything going to India this winter and was buzzing about next summer.
"Hearing how excited he was to carry on suggested that it could be time for me to end what was the ultimate partnership, really.
"One that grew over time. We understood each other probably better than we understood ourselves."
On how they learned from each other, Broad added: "I could spot things in his technique; he could spot things in mine.
"We would drive each other forward all the time in training and matches, developing a hugely competitive spirit, and our attributes complemented each other.
"Me being tall, I hit a different length to Jimmy. He swung it, I seamed it and that allowed us to put a lot of pressure on batters."
Broad also said he had no regrets over his retirement.
"Since I shook Ben Stokes’s hand and told him my decision, I’ve not had one doubt. Not one regret," he stated.
"Finishing with all my family at the Oval, in the way I did was special and I’ve always wanted to leave the game loving it."
Broad could now be set for a knighthood.
Reports say Tory Chief Whip Simon Hart is said to be leading the charge to recognise the bowler.
And Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is 'very sympathetic to the idea of giving Broad the honour as well.
Former England captains such as Andrew Strauss and Alistair Cook have been knighted in recent years.
And Ian Botham has been awarded both a knighthood and a life peerage, too.
Broad is now set to become a commentator.
Father Chris, who used to play cricket for England himself, has warned his son he'll need to know his stuff in order to succeed in that new challenge.
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Rishi Sunak is 'sympathetic' to the idea of Stuart Broad knighthood
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"Commentating is a different animal altogether," he said recently.
"I tried that when I finished playing. You've got to know your facts. There are some good commentators around.
"You have to learn fairly quickly on the job."