Surprising fans, a former Oakham School pupil has announced his retirement from professional cricket.

Stuart Broad has, this weekend, announced his retirement from cricket following the final Ashes Test of the summer, stating that he wants to finish at the top of the game.

In an interview with Sky Sports, the bowler said: "It has been a wonderful ride and a huge privilege to wear the Nottingham and the England badge as much as I have and I am loving cricket as much as I have, and I have always wanted to finish at the top..."

Broad originally started his cricketing career as an opening batsman, following in the footsteps of his father, the former England opener and current ICC match referee Chris Broad. 

Of the class of 2004, the cricketer had an impressive sporting career at Oakham School before he went on to represent Nottingham and England.

While at Oakham School from 1997, he was the U12 Captain, Jerwoods' 1st XI Captain, U14A and U15A Captain, and won the Cricket All Rounder's Cup in 2003.

On top of this, he represented the School at hockey from U13A to 1st XI level, and represented the School at rugby from U12 to 3rd XV level.

He also took part in the Cricket tour to South Africa in 2001.

In the Cricket 2004 Overview, Oakham School's Director of Cricket, Frank Hayes, wrote: "He has developed into a fine cricketer with both bat and ball. His fielding, too, is a revelation! He can now caress the ball to all parts of the ground and although he played many fine innings, who will forget his extraordinary undefeated 68 against the MCC, when 27 runs were required off 2 overs to win? After his efforts, including six 6s, only 2 were required off the final over and still we couldn't get them!"

Stuart Broad has retired from professional cricket. Image credit: Sky Sports screenshot.

Upon leaving Oakham School, he jumped quickly into a successful cricket career, representing Leicestershire from 2005. In August 2006 he was voted the Cricket Writers' Club Young Cricketer of the Year. 

It was in this time that Chris grew to 6'5" and decided to become a bowler.

In 2008 he transferred to Nottinghamshire, the county of his birth and the team for which his father played.

He represented England from 2005 until 2023, and took over 550 wickets and scored over 3500 runs.

Broad said: "I knew I wanted to leave the game loving cricket, and my lasting memories being of a really enjoyable change room, and I just have so many friends and I look around and I have played so much cricket with them [...] and I wanted to walk away from a group of players that I love to bits."

He will be playing his final game today, Monday 31 July 2023.

Huge congratulations to Stuart Broad upon his retirement.

Do you have any memories of the local player?

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