'It was obviously a pretty tough day' - Stuart Broad recalls Yuvraj Singh's Durban assault

Stuart Broad is all set to draw the curtains on his illustrious cricketing career once the ongoing Ashes series against Australia concludes. This seasoned 37-year-old, boasting an impressive tally of 602 Test wickets in 167 matches, officially announced his retirement on Saturday, 29 July.

While excelling in the longer format, Broad's journey in T20Is and ODIs did not hold quite the same glory. A significant moment that echoes through cricketing history was his unforgettable encounter during the 2007 T20 World Cup, where he was hit for six sixes in a single over.

It was on September 19, 2007, at Kingsmead, that Yuvraj Singh unleashed an assault on Stuart Broad, hammering six consecutive sixes during India's innings and racing to his record fifty off just 12 balls.

The passage of sixteen years has done little to diminish the impact of that pivotal moment on Broad's career. Reflecting on the incident, he admitted during a press conference,

“Yeah, it was obviously a pretty tough day. What would I have been: 21, 22? [22] I learned loads. I pretty much based a whole mental routine through that experience, knowing that I was left very short as an international performer in that moment. I’d rushed my preparation. I didn’t have any sort of pre-ball routine. I didn’t have any focus, particularly, and I started building my ‘warrior mode’ that I call it after that experience.”

Players go through ups and downs in their careers: Broad

Though he carries regrets about that day, Broad acknowledged that the match being a dead rubber softened the blow. The experience ultimately fuelled his transformation into a fierce competitor, driving him forward throughout his career.

Navigating through the highs and lows is an inherent part of a player's journey, and Broad recognizes the significance of how one deals with bad days and setbacks. He cited Ben Stokes as a prime example, stating,

“You obviously go through massive peaks and troughs, and when you look at someone like Stokesy’s career, he’s done that sort of thing as well. Most players have.”