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Johannesburg: Stuart Broad bowled England to a series-clinching win over South Africa with a brilliant haul of six for 17 that included a spell of five wickets for one run in the third Test at Johannesburg’s Wanderers ground on Saturday. (Johannesburg Test: Stuart Broad Bowls England to Series Victory Over South Africa)
His return set up England’s seven-wicket win and gave the tourists an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the series ahead of the fourth and final Test.
This was not the first time that Broad, 29, had decided the destiny of a Test match and below AFP Sport looks back at some of the Nottinghamshire paceman’s most impressive returns.
1. 8/15 v Australia, Trent Bridge, 2015
On his Nottinghamshire home ground, Broad laid the platform for England’s Ashes-clinching victory with a stunning new-ball burst on the first morning of the match as Australia were skittled out for just 60.
Broad took eight for 15 in just 9.3 overs as he made the most of cloudy overhead conditions with a stunning display of swing bowling.
Australia’s innings lasted just 94 minutes with Broad, leading the attack in the absence of the injured James Anderson, striking just three balls into the match to dismiss Chris Rogers for his 300th Test wicket.
2. 7/44 v New Zealand, Lord’s, 2013
New Zealand needed a tricky but gettable target of 239 to win the first Test of this two-match series.
But what New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum would later label “one hour of madness” saw Broad, maintaining an excellent full length, take five for 22 before lunch on the fourth day before finishing the job as England won by 170 runs.
3. 6/17 v South Africa, Wanderers 2016
Broad’s best overseas return of his career turned what had been a previously tight match on its head.
He took the first five wickets for one run in the space of 31 balls as South Africa were bowled out for just 83 in their second innings on the third day of the third Test.
Needing 74 for victory, England won by seven wickets.
4. 6/25 v India, Old Trafford 2014
Another of Broad’s first-day specials saw him exploit India’s vulnerability to the moving ball as he took wickets at both ends of the innings, with the tourists all out for a meagre 152 in their first innings.
But although England would go on to win the fourth Test by an innings and 54 runs, Broad was not present for the finale after being hit on the face when a Varun Aaron bouncer squeezed between his grille and helmet.
5. 6/50 v Australia, Chester-le-Street, 2013
Although statistically not one of his top five Test hauls — he took seven for 72 against the West Indies at Lord’s in 2012 but only one of those wickets was a top-order batsman — this was one of his most important as it saw England to an Ashes-clinching win.
Source: NDTV