Ashes LIVE: Stuart Broad looks to inspire England win before retirement

And it’s the birthday boy taking the ball from the other end. It’s not been a vintage series from Jimmy but he’ll be hoping to sign off on a high. It’s a solid start for the Aussies, though, as Khawaja tucks Anderson through mid wicket for three.

Five off the over in the end.

Who else could possibly take the first over? Broad marks his run-up and gets those knees pumping for one final time. David Warner, the man he has tormented for years, is at the other end for what will also be his last Ashes Test (in England at least).

First up and Warner almost chops on! A thick inside edge gets him off strike but what a start that could have been. Khawaja gets solidly behind the next few in defence before the Aussies sneak a bye to put Warner back on strike for the final two. The first one is down leg side and the second is overpitched as Warner leans into a drive which flies away to the boundary for the first four of the Australian innings.

As the Australian batters walk onto the pitch, a few words from earlier courtesy of Stuart Broad’s mother, Carol.

“Today is right, everything about today is right, she said speaking to TMS. “We want to win it today, everything about it is right. We knew for certain yesterday morning; so yesterday I was a fidget because our lips were sealed but yesterday was a great batting day, so I had something to focus on.

“We only knew yesterday morning for certain. Of course, you have conversations, you do, but Stuart is a master of making the right decision, so it’s always his decision and he’s done it again. It’s the perfect time, isn’t it. It’s his story to tell which is why I won’t talk about him, but he’s got it right and this is right and beating Australia is perfect.”

Perhaps fitting that Stuart Broad’s last ball as a batter in Test cricket went for six. Ever the nighthawk.

But his job for the day is only just getting started as England go through the paces as they prepare to bowl. He and England’s other bowlers have a job to do now on a good batting wicket to tie the series.

384 is a tall order for Australia but they’ve got the time and favourable conditions right now to make a good start at taking down what would be the eighth-biggest run chase of all time in Test cricket and the highest at the Oval.

A remarkable 10 minutes of cricket theatre there.

Broad pulling Starc, the series’ leading wicket taker, up and over the ropes for a big six brought a roar.

Anderson then showered with praise and given a birthday song from the Barmy Army. But then the air sucked out of the atmosphere a little by Murphy trapping Anderson lbw.

Anderson was going for another reverse sweep but failed to make contact with the ball this time. Joel Wilson had a couple of poo lbw decisions last night but he gets this one right – pitching in line and going on to clip the top of the stumps.

Anderson is gone for eight and Broad’s final swansong with the bat is over with that six off Starc the only runs added to the overnight total.

All out for 395 and Australia now need 383 runs to win this Ashes series…

That six of the last ball of the over means that Anderson will be on strike this over with Murphy taking the ball from the other end. It takes just two balls for the Burnley Lara to pull out the coveted reverse sweep but the pair don’t run again as it trickles down to third man.

Clearly a desire for Anderson to face the spin and Broad the pace. A thick outside edge follows which falls just short of Cummins at backward point as Anderson continues to flash away.

Now, there’s an LBW appeal and it’s given! But England review straight away.

As we expected, few early signs that Broad and England will be hanging around. A couple of swings and half-misses before Broad clubs one out to deep square leg. There’s no run, though, and it looks like Broad is going to try and hog the strike.

The last ball of the over…into the stands! Starc goes short and Broad is all over it, sending it high and flying into the crowd for six.

And here they are! Broad leads the way through the guard of honour and we’re moments away from action getting underway. How many can he and Anderson add to the overnight total?

Starc to open the bowling for the Aussies…

On this big day for England and Broad, it’s also deserving mention that it’s a big day for the birthday boy, Jimmy Anderson. 42 today and while his fast-bowling partner is hanging up the boots, the Lancashire seamer has shown no signs of stopping just yet.

The pair will be coming down imminently to begin batting again with the Aussies preparing a guard of honour for Broad ahead of his last game.