LONDON (AP) — A swashbuckling six from Stuart Broad in his final batting innings set Australia 384 to win the fifth Ashes test, but England were unable to make any inroads on the fourth morning at the Oval.
Broad’s surprise announcement on Saturday night that he would retire after this series ensured all eyes were on him as England resumed on 389-9.
Broad, who was given a guard of honour by touring side when he came out to bat, pulled the last delivery of Mitchell Starc’s opening over into the stands and it proved to be his final flay of the bat.
Todd Murphy trapped James Anderson lbw five balls later to dismiss England for 395 with Broad unbeaten on eight.
There would be no early heroics with the ball for Broad though, with David Warner and Usman Khawaja able to enjoy their best opening stand of the series to guide Australia to lunch on 75 without loss before rain arrived.
Broad lapped up the benefits of making his retirement plans public when he walked out to bat for one final time on day four.
A sold-out Oval crowed greeted his emergence from the pavilion with a standing ovation before old rivals Australia gave the veteran a guard of honour.
England’s innings would last a further 11 balls, but it was enough time for Broad to deliver one last time with the bat.
After singles were turned down from the first five balls of Starc’s over, the sixth was smashed over square leg for six by Broad.
It would prove the final ball of Broad’s batting career with Anderson out lbw in Murphy’s next over to set Australia 384 to win the test and series.
Broad sprinted off to get ready for his bowling stint and despite enticing an inside edge first up from Warner, it landed safely and Ben Stokes had replaced both his new ball bowlers by the ninth over.
Moeen Ali got the call after recovering sufficiently from his groin strain on Thursday but leaked runs initially and Australia’s openers brought up their fourth fifty stand of the series in the 14th over.
Further changes by Stokes saw Broad and Anderson brought back after spells from Chris Woakes and Joe Root, but quick Mark Wood did not feature.
Australia’s scoring rate did slow but Khawaja and Warner nudged their way past the 73-run partnership they put on at Lord’s with the former surviving an lbw appeal by Root before light rain arrived as the players walked off.
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