Steve Smith sends James Anderson a very cheeky message as Aussies form Ash’s guard of honor for retired England grandmaster Stuart Broad
Steve Smith sends James Anderson a very cheeky message as Aussies form Ash’s guard of honor for retired England grandmaster Stuart Broad
- Aussies form guard of honor for Stuart Broad at The Oval
- Steve Smith encourages James Anderson to retire as well
- Anderson, 41, is not thinking about retirement
Stuart Broad received a guard of honor from the Aussies when he walked onto The Oval before retiring from cricket – and Steve Smith couldn’t resist taking a cheeky swipe at James Anderson.
The England legend plays his final test as the hosts look to draw the Ashes series, though the Australians have already kept the urn.
Broad, 37, announced his retirement from cricket after stumping on day three of the Test and will become part of the Sky Sports cricket coverage team.
The Aussies formed a guard of honor for Broad, who batted, and his longtime bowling partner James Anderson, who walked out beside him to a standing ovation from the crowd.
However, unlike Broad, the 41-year-old Anderson has given no indication that he is ready to retire from playing.
The Australians formed a guard of honor for Stuart Broad (pictured wearing No. 8) as he walked out for the last time to bat in Test cricket – with Steve Smith calling a surprise for the England star’s partner at the crease, James Anderson (pictured wearing No.9)
As the pair took to the field, Broad appeared to hug Anderson and encourage him to walk through the guard of honor as well – but Anderson stopped at the boundary line and gave Broad his moment.
“It was Broad wanting to put his arm around Jimmy and almost say, ‘Come with me,’ and Jimmy was like, ‘I don’t feel like it. This is all about you,” Mel Jones told Sky Sports.
“And because he’s not thinking about retirement,” Michael Atherton replied.
Steve Smith couldn’t resist brutally encouraging Anderson to follow Broad into retirement by attempting to pilot the fast bowler through the guard, right behind his teammate.
It was not missed by cricket viewers.
“Steve Smith brazenly asks Anderson to join Broad’s guard of honor and Anderson refusing to step forward must be yet another of countless hilarious moments Ashes has given us,” one fan wrote on Twitter.
“Literally I was laughing. But Jimmy shows his intent very well. I’m not retiring any time soon,’ replied another.
Although Australia have retained the Ashes, his summer has been one of personal achievement for Broad as he became only the second sailor in history to reach 600 Test wickets.
In his column for the Mail on Sunday, Broad wrote: ‘People will now ask why, and to be honest, at the end of the day I really wanted to be at the top of my own game and in a test between England and Australia.
Anderson, 41, has been playing Test cricket for over two decades but, unlike Broad, has no plans to retire
Broad recently became the fifth man in history to reach the 600-wicket mark
What a feeling it would have been to be on that stage this week to lift the urn – and the fact that we won’t be is probably why I felt so sad deep down last weekend inManchester.
“It’s also nice to have some control over your destiny and at 37 you’re just a hamstring away from someone else telling you it’s the end.”
He also wrote that he wanted to be present for his new daughter Annabella and spend time at home with his partner Mollie, whom he thanked for supporting him throughout his career.
The iconic bowler has had many fantastic moments playing for his country.
Taking 8-15 against the old foe to secure the Ashes at Nottingham in 2015 will be one of the defining moments in his career for years to come, and indeed in English cricket history.