Ben Stokes has just announced his retirement from international cricket. And the person who can best explain what that decision truly costs — and what Stokes has meant as a captain and a human being — is Stuart Broad.

Stuart retired in 2023 on his own terms: last ball, The Oval, England versus Australia. In this conversation, he tells the full story of the night he walked down the hotel corridor and knocked on Stokesy's door to tell him it was over. What happened in that room, and how he felt when he woke up the next morning, is something every leader will recognise.

But this conversation goes much deeper than retirement. Stuart opens up about the T20 World Cup in Durban — the day six sixes were hit off one over, and how the humiliation changed everything. He explains the mental frameworks he quietly built over the following 16 years: warrior mode, assassin mode, the daily note-making practice that started as a cricket habit and became a life habit. And he makes a case that the game is not 80% mental — it's closer to 90.

A brilliant episode on performance, legacy, and knowing when to walk away.

Thanks to our partners:

Revolut Business 👉 High-performing businesses need powerful financial tools. Get a £200 welcome bonus with Revolut Business when you sign up at https://revolutbusiness.onelink.me/jLOt/hp-ep5-aud and add money to your account by 30/09/2026. Fees, promotion terms and T&Cs apply.

AG1 👉Head to http://drinkag1.com/highperformance to save £20 on your first month, plus a free welcome kit, Vitamin D3 + K2 and five travel packs

Do Health 👉 Get ahead of your health, don't react to it. Head to https://highpfrmc.com/dohealth-hpp-au to sign up now

Better Help 👉 Join Jake in Saying It Louder with 10% off Betterhelp Therapy. Click here: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-betterhelp-au

Go Henry 👉 Grow their skills and their money at gohenry.com/highperformance with £5 FREE to get started!

Postcode Lottery 👉 Discover how Postcode Lottery players are Powering Hope Together. Click here to find out more: https://highpfrmc.com/hpp-postcode-au

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stuart Broad: Ben Stokes, Bazball & The Mindset That Changed English Cricket

The High Performance Podcast

Stuart Broad: Ben Stokes, Bazball & The Mindset That Changed English Cricket