Stuart Broad, the former Australian Ashes nemesis, has revealed his deep embarrassment over his actions during the 2023 Ashes series, specifically his behavior after Jonny Bairstow's dismissal at Lord's. The incident, which occurred on the final day of the second Test, saw Bairstow wander out of his crease, leading to an underarm throw by Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey that crashed into the stumps.
The Australians faced a barrage of boos and abuse from the crowd as they walked through the iconic pavilion. Broad, who came to the crease immediately after Bairstow's dismissal, played a pivotal role in the England team's response. He joined England skipper Ben Stokes and engaged in a series of aggressive actions, berating Australian captain Pat Cummins and Carey, while also exaggerating his bat position to the crowd.
While these actions initially drew cheers from the crowd, Broad now cringes at the memory. In an interview with BBC Sport, he admitted, 'It was red mist to start. Not necessarily my opinion over the dismissal - it was walking over that line and feeling the energy of Lord’s.'
Broad's competitive spirit took over, and he deliberately twisted the situation to their advantage. He believes his behavior may have disrupted the Australian plan, and he was determined to carry that momentum forward. However, the incident left him filled with embarrassment once he watched a compilation of his actions.
'Oh my goodness me. What on earth was I doing?' he recalled. 'I was 36 years old. How did I let myself get to that stage?'
Despite the initial hysteria, the Australians won the match by 43 runs, taking a 2-0 lead in the series. Broad acknowledges that the chaos of the fifth day overshadowed England's underwhelming performances throughout the series. One notable incident was England's late declaration on day one of the first Test at Edgbaston, which ultimately backfired.
Broad's final Ashes performance came on the last day at The Oval, where he took the last two wickets, securing a 49-run victory and squaring the series. He dismissed Carey, caught behind, claiming his 153rd Australian scalp, a record no other England bowler has achieved. Broad's 40 Ashes Tests make him the most experienced fast bowler in both teams' history.
Reflecting on his farewell, Broad expressed his gratitude, 'I feel extremely lucky it ended the way it did. My last ever professional ball, taking that favorite wicket you could ever take - the last wicket to win a Test, against Australia, with the crowd going berserk. I’ll never get bored of talking about it because it takes me back to a feeling and a moment that was so special.'
