Stuart Broad

Stuart Broad's defining trait was his capacity to rise to the occasion, especially in the Ashes. He bowled with relentless accuracy and a wicked seam position, making the ball talk off the wicket and in the air. His 8 for 15 at Trent Bridge in 2015 was not just a spell but a demolition, bowling Australia out for 60, and he produced similar bursts throughout his career in moments of high pressure.

A tall, bustling right-armer, Broad used his height to extract awkward bounce, and his mastery of the wobble seam made him lethal in helpful conditions. He developed a famous plan against left-handers, particularly David Warner, working the channel outside off stump. Beyond his wickets, his value lay in his fierce competitiveness; his fired-up spells often changed the mood of a whole day's play.

Broad retired in 2023 as England's second-highest Test wicket-taker with 604 scalps, behind only James Anderson, with whom he formed one of the great new-ball partnerships. He was a fixture in the England side for over 15 years and had his moments with the bat too, including a career-best 169 against Pakistan at Lord's in 2010. His knack for the dramatic, sealed by a wicket with his final ball in Test cricket, made him one of the finest bowlers of his generation.