‘Written in the stars’: Stuart Broad produces one last moment of magic in fairytale finish to Test career

Stuart Broad got his fairytale finish.

The veteran seamer has farewelled Test cricket with a moment of magic at The Oval, taking the final two wickets as England secured a thrilling 49-run win in the Ashes finale.

After a frantic collapse of 5-30 on Monday evening, Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey and young spinner Todd Murphy combined for a 35-run partnership for the ninth wicket to frustrate the hosts. England needed two wickets to tie the series, but the tourists were only 55 runs away from reaching the record target.

In a desperate ploy to unearth a breakthrough, Broad switched the bails at the non-striker’s end, a cheeky gambit that paid off three days earlier.

There was a ripple of sarcastic cheers around the venue as Broad flipped the bails over — but incredibly, it worked again.

Broad’s following delivery was an absolute peach, nipping away from the left-handed Murphy and kissing the outside edge, with wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow swallowing the chance.

The Oval’s spectators, hundred of which were donning bandannas in Broad’s honour, had been waiting more than 90 overs for the right-armer to produce a wicket, but it was worth the wait. After celebrating with his teammates, Broad walked over towards the stumps and gave the bails a gentle pat.

Broad wasn’t done there — four overs later, he cemented England’s victory by dismissing Carey for 28, again caught behind by Bairstow. His final delivery in Test with the bat was a six, and his final delivery in the Test with the ball was a wicket.

“He couldn’t have written that any better, finishing it the way he did,” Australian bowler Mitchell Starc said at the post-match presentation.

Broad, having finished his Test career with 604 wickets, walked off alongside spinner Moeen Ali, who had come out of retirement for this Test series, with the duo receiving a standing ovation from the adoring crowd.

“If you went to a bookies and asked that Stuart Broad is going to change the bails twice, you’re going to get very good odds,” England captain Ben Stokes told BBC Test Match Special after the win.

“This isn’t the only ground where someone has retired and had an unbelievable day. That’s Broady’s career isn’t it. He’s more than a moments cricketer, it was written in the stars for him so bringing him with the two left-handers out, this was his moment.”