It was always forecast that the skies would at some stage rain on Stuart Broad’s farewell parade, but few expected the intervention to be quite so welcome.
With one day of this Ashes series to go, we have a Test match on our hands here at the Oval and Broad’s victory lap is in danger not merely of being delayed, but being cancelled outright.
Chasing what would be a record target on this ground of 384, Australia were tanking along by the time the heavens opened on the afternoon of day four, David Warner and Usman Khawaja having chosen the most opportune moment to strum up the series’ grandest opening stand, still unbroken on 135.
Broad announced his retirement on the evening of day three with England in firm control, seemingly charging towards the win that would level the series at 2-2 and deliver some element of moral victory, after only a two-day downpour saved Australia from defeat in Manchester.
Here, though, it was England who must be thankful for the chance to regroup overnight and go again tomorrow, albeit with Australia’s target reduced to a far more likely 249.
It had all begun so perfectly for England and for Broad, not an empty seat in the house by the time the seamer came down the pavilion step and through a guard of honour laid on by the team he has tormented more than any other. Accompanied by long-time partner James Anderson, Broad’s official task was to swell an already mighty lead as far as the final wicket pair could, the subplot one of a licence to thrill.
From the sixth ball of the morning, he did just that, going on the pull to Mitchell Starc and clearing the fence, prompting the most fervent eleven-o’clock celebration since the armistice. The stand went no further, Anderson trapped lbw by Todd Murphy, but even that offered Broad the privilege of being only the second man ever to hit his final delivery in Test cricket for six.
Having retired himself, the gag doing the rounds was that Broad might yet be able to take his old foe Warner with him. Instead, the 36-year-old looked more assured than he has all summer, 58 not-out overnight having not yet coughed up a chance. Even an accidental beamer from Anderson was not enough to knock the opener off his stride as he somehow adjusted in time to not only avoid losing his head, but also guide over the top for four.
Khawaja was not quite so nimble, pinged on the head by Mark Wood, who was held back until after lunch in the apparent hope that the ball, by then, would be showing signs of reverse. England, though, had no such luck and Khawaja looked back to the early summer’s form, the pedestrian blocker of the first innings here giving way to something more like the player that began the series in clinical touch, his unbeaten 69 coming at a relative sprint, from 130 balls.
In the process, Khawaja retook top spot in the series run-scoring charts from Zak Crawley, closing fast on the landmark 500 runs.
Individual accolades now, though, are the least of England’s worries and retirement, for one more pivotal day, the least of Broad’s.
