Stuart Broad a man of two sides as Australia icon lifts lid on England Ashes hero

But Langer has claimed that while that's the case, Broad is popular among players away from the sport due to the way he conducts himself.

"Stuart might make some Australian fans’ blood boil, but I have never heard a bad word spoken about him from players on either side," he wrote for the Daily Telegraph.

"And I know how much he was admired by everyone when he played in the Big Bash.

"Often your perception of an opponent can be far from reality.

"I have learned that the opponents you least like, are often the ones you would love most in your team."

Langer then proceeded to compare Broad to his compatriot Glenn McGrath.

McGrath, like the England legend, was a formidable bowler before retiring from the sport back in 2006.

Langer added: "Glenn McGrath used to predict we would win every game and was labelled an arrogant Aussie smart alec for his taunts.

"But if you know Glenn, he hasn’t got a serious bone in his body.

"We would laugh behind closed doors at how seriously people would take his views."

Langer was part of the Australia team that lost to England in the 2005 Ashes series.

The Baggies won the first Test at Lords, only for England to triumph at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge to reign supreme.

Langer first encountered Broad that year and he immediately recognised the talent in the England star.

"I first remember Broady as a lanky 19-year-old bowling to us in the Leicester nets in the lead up to the 2005 Ashes tour," he stated.

"From ball one it was apparent he had something special.

"Tall, athletic, accurate, he was a handful. One of those kids you say, ‘wow, this youngster has something special.’"

As for Broad, who took the final two wickets in his farewell match, the England icon was delighted at the way he bowed out.

“It’s been so special to walk off with a great group of friends,” he said.

“Ultimately, I wanted to leave the game loving it, and loving the environment and my memories of playing cricket are going to be pretty cool.

“Taking those last two wickets proved to me that I still loved taking wickets because I just ran around like a headless chicken. I still have that emotion and love for winning Test matches.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

• Ashes controversy as Ricky Ponting demands investigation after Stuart Broad heroics
• Ben Stokes' wife had hilarious reaction to Stuart Broad retiring from cricket
• Stuart Broad nearly performed retirement U-turn as England cricket icon's father fires warning

“To take a wicket to win an Ashes Test match being my final ball was something that will make me smile for the rest of my life.”