Ashes 2023: Stuart Broad's winning wickets 'written in the stars', says England skipper Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes said it was “written in the stars” after retiring paceman Stuart Broad took the last two wickets as England won the fifth and final Ashes Test against Australia on Monday.

Australia, chasing 384 to win, collapsed from 264-3 to 334 all out, meaning England won by 49 runs at The Oval to level the series at 2-2.

Broad finished with figures of 2-62, dismissing Todd Murphy and Alex Carey, taking his overall Test tally to 604 wickets — fifth in the all-time list.

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“I have played with Broady for a long, long time,” England captain Stokes told Sky Sports. “He has been an unbelievable performer for England and to watch him come in and bowl the way he did — it was written in the stars.”

The skipper also praised off-spinner Moeen Ali (3-76), who did much of the damage Monday along with all-rounder Chris Woakes (4-50).

“Mo came into this squad through an unfortunate injury to Jack Leach,” he said. “A few things were said about him but I chose him because I know what he can do on his best days.

“When it really mattered he produced one of his best days. He changed the game for us. For him to do what he has done is just incredible. He has been a great servant to England.”

Stokes said 2-2 was a fair reflection of a thrilling series in which England had to battle back from 2-0 down.

“I think 2-2 generally is a fair reflection of two very, very good teams going at it over a five-match series,” said a delighted England captain.

“I don’t think many teams would have been able to respond from 2-0 down,” he said. “I am incredibly proud of everyone’s efforts.

“We have been do or die since the second game and that really suits us.”

“Obviously, Australia being world Test champions leading into this series, the cricket that I think has been on show has been of the highest quality.”

Stokes, who hit a stunning 155 in a losing cause at Lord’s, said he hoped youngsters would be inspired by what they had witnessed.

He added: “And I think the series is generally what Test cricket needed — two high-quality teams going at it toe to toe for six, seven weeks and the cricket that’s been played is something that you really couldn’t take your eyes off.

“I really hope that we’ve inspired a new generation.

“I look back to 2005 (when England beat Australia 2-1) and what that series did for me as a young person and I really hope there’s someone at my age in 2005 who’s looked at this series and said ‘that’s what I want to be doing when I’m 21, 22’.”

“Every player in an England and Australia shirt is a massive advocate for Test cricket to stay alive.

“We have been very vocal about that being an objective in the way we play and I think this series has really done that.

“It has captivated so many new fans and attracted a new audience. Test cricket is the purest form and I absolutely love it.

“I hope this series has got it even bigger.”

“I definitely think that over the past seven weeks in particular that we’ve managed to drag a new audience towards Test cricket,” he said.

The 32-year-old all-rounder said he was proud of the way his team — who recovered from defeats in the first two Tests at Edgbaston and Lord’s — had played throughout the series, sticking to their attacking template.

“Coming here and playing in the way in which we did, I couldn’t be any more proud of the team and what they did,” he said.

“We’ve continued everything in the style of play in which we’ve done over the past 14-15 months and it’s basically been everything I think I could have asked for minus getting the urn back.”

And the skipper also praised all-rounder Chris Woakes, who took 4-50 on the final day and was named player of the series, even though he was not selected for the first two matches.

“I don’t know if there’s ever been a player who has only featured in three games of an Ashes series who has walked away with man of the series.”