Stuart Broad

One of the many joys of writing for The Rust is you can express opinion of a contrarian nature.

Although watching live at Trent Bridge eight years ago Stuart Broad taking 8-15 was one of my great memories, I was relieved that he has now chosen to retire.

Quite simply it has opened up a more youthful pathway to a Test bowling attack whose youngest member, Mark Wood, is 33.

Olly Stone, Ollie Robinson and Sam Curran are waiting in the wings and I suppose there is a possibility that Jofra Archer can regain fitness.  The bowler that must feel most aggrieved is Josh Tongue who had a fine match at Edgbaston and was then dropped.

With his full page column in the Mail On Sunday Stuart Broad has such a media profile that it is almost impossible to drop him.

Further he has never been so effective away from overcast British skies and the Duke’s ball. One hopes that Jimmy Andersen will follow suit but he seems resolute in staying so the decision might have to be made for him.

Predictably none of these points were raised in the gushing tributes to Broad citing his 600 wickets and competitive character.

My only real sadness is have we seen the last of the pace partnerships: one thinks of Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller; Fred Trueman and Brian Statham; Graham Mackenzie and Neil Hawke; Wes Hall and Charlie Griffith; Andy Roberts and Michael Holding; Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram.