Irrevocably in the hallowed 600+ Test wickets club, Broad will obviously be remembered as one of the highest wicket takers, especially from this era. For someone who had also batted in the lower "lower order" - a euphemism for #11) - Broad was also a handy batsman more than capable of tonking a few on his day.
But apart from every other ability and achievement, if you ask most Indians about their first memory of Stuart Broad, they would hark back to that over of the 2007 T20 World Cup where a certain Mr. Yuvraj Singh took him apart (thanks to a certain Mr. Flintoff too).
In fact, this is why I am writing this article. There he was, in an abyss in 2007, who (that too in international cricket and in a World Cup match nonetheless) had just been clobbered for 6 consecutive sixes in his over.
Even a couple of years later and another World Cup match - this time the stage was the 2009 T20 World Cup where one saw a huge upset: England lost to unfancied Netherlands. They could have won it even till the last ball of the last over, being bowled by guess who - yeah, Broadie!
2 runs were required off one ball. Broadie bowled the last ball, which was hit back at him in his follow-through. He collected the ball and as the batsmen expectedly scampered, he had all three stumps at his end to aim at. A run out could have ensured an England win by 1 run. But his throw was not just off target but even resulted in an overthrow, which meant Netherlands had beated England on the day. Stuart-distraught-Broad.
Now, as we reflect on a glittering career, why have I highlighted these two incidents? No not to cherry-pick some of his lows and mock him. In fact, to share and learn from what one can achieve even from ostensibly a black hole.
Broad is a shining example of tenacity and perseverance. He has taught us that there's no low cannot be surmounted. To borrow the words of that peerless gem, that living legend called Sachin Tendulkar: People (or life) can throw stones at you, you can still turn them into milestones.
Just imagine the mental state of Broadie, after that over in the 2007 T20 World Cup.
Or even after missing that throw, which changed the equation from a potential win to a loss (and a momumental upset).
How dejected and heartbroken he must have been. Imagine being in such a situation within two years. He could have collapsed and fallen into an abyss of uninsipiring performances, eventually evanescing into a forgettable career.
Yet, he rose. Like a phoenix from the ashes, from Ashes to Ashes! After all, if you have played non-stop for 14 years (since 2009) in every home Test of the Ashes, you must be doing something right!
600+ Test wickets later, we are looking at a legend of the game. What we must never forget though, is that those two nights could have defined his career, even obliterated it. But it did not happen and thank God it did not happen. So that we could see a living tale pan out of someone who did not get bogged down by the worst lows that life can present.
Thankyou Stuart Broad, for not just a great career but also a great life lesson.
Fare thee well!
