Nottinghamshire bowler Stuart Broad has taken 8-15 in less than 10 overs in an incredible morning at Trent Bridge.
Broad, became the fifth English player to reach the 300 Test wicket milestone in his breathtaking spell, joining Sir Ian Botham, Fred Trueman, Bob Willis and Jimmy Anderson.
The landmark wicket was taken in the first over of the first day of the 4th Ashes Test when he dismissed Chris Rogers for a third-ball duck after edging it to captain Alastair Cook at first slip. 4-1.
The moment was greeted by an incredible roar from the Nottinghamshire crowd as the local boy is cemented in England cricket history.
His second wicket came as the world number 1 batsman Steve Smith edged it straight into the hands of Joe Root. 10-2.
David Warner was then caught behind from an inswinger by Mark Wood, who has come into the team in the place of Jimmy Anderson. 10-3.
Broad was back in the wickets shortly after when he bowled a half-volley outside off stump which Shaun Marsh edged to Ian Bell at second slip. 15-4.
Video: Broad discusses the possibility of reaching 300 test wickets at his home ground
England’s 5th wicket and Broad’s 4th, came in a similar fashion as Adam Voges nicked a half volley outside off stump with Ben Stokes taking a miraculous one-handed catch at 5th slip. 21-5.
The score then became 29-6, when Stuart Broad took his fifth wicket of the morning. Again, a full delivery outside off stump was edged, this time by Aussie skipper Michael Clarke, to first slip Alastair Cook.
His five-for came in just 19 balls, the joint fastest in Test history.
England’s incredible morning continued when in the 10th over, Steven Finn bowled Peter Nevill, making the score 33-7.
Wicket number 8 came from another full delivery, and it was Broad again. Starc, like so many others before him, had no footwork, went to drive the ball through the covers and was caught at slip by Joe Root. 46-8.
Victim number 9 was pantomime villain Mitchell Johnson. Just like Starc, there was no footwork as he tried to angle it into the off-side. Broad found his edge and gave Root another simple catch at slip. 47-9.
The demolition was complete in just 18.3 overs when Broad picked up his 8th wicket. Number 11, Nathan Lyon, the 3rd top scoring batsman in the Australian innings, was caught at gully by Ben Stokes. 60 all out.
As the players walked off the field, Broad held the ball aloft and was greeted with a standing ovation from all corners of the ground.
England have put themselves in a fantastic position and Stuart Broad, after a relatively quiet series, has become England’s hero.
More updates to follow.
