Stuart Broad's unrelenting command leads the way as England salvage series result

KISHAN VAGHELA AT THE OVAL: Broad led the attack with the innate bursts of energy that have for too long largely been discussed within the context of a partnership with James Anderson

As domineering forces on the international stage go, Stuart Broad is among the most prominent and distinguished.

We have seen it time and time again in these monumental series. It began with 2009 at The Oval, then to Durham in 2013 and finally to Trent Bridge in 2015.

And we saw it again as he inspired England to another Oval win for a first drawn series since 1972, to provide a stunning end to an enthralling summer of cricket in England.

On each occasion, Broad's wicket-taking ability has been pulsing, raring and itching to go at a subdued batting lineup.

Australia have of course themselves had their own throbbing heartbeat in this series, but too many times have they reverted to tactic 'Steve Smith or bust'.

It was therefore worryingly familiar for Australia when he strode out at 29 for 2 after Broad's double strike, a situation that had arisen yet again. And for once, the statistics were not outrageously in the Australian's favour, the most notable of which read: zero fourth-innings Test hundreds.

Of course, the most recent fourth-innings century will go down in Ashes folklore, but if Ben Stokes' celebration at Headingley was iconic, then a Broad lap of celebration in an Ashes series is the picture you have framed as the first photo you see when entering your house.

This latest mini impersonation of Imran Tahir came about after delivering the final nail in the coffin to David Warner's 2019 Ashes series. The series score of Broad v Warner: 35 for 7.

"If you boo David Warner you don’t understand the mind of a champion." Cricket Australia's chief executive Keith Roberts' statement yesterday to BBC Test Match Special had addressed the problems England had posed for Warner in the early stages of the summer.

^{England's plans to Steve Smith finally yielded a reward}

Yet Warner's troubles on these shores had gone beyond boorish jeering and the ostentatious sendoffs from crowds across the country. This was, and has been for a long time, about a scrambled mind and tentative prods with the bat.

David Warner the character is no longer the issue for Australia. David Warner the batsman however is alarmingly so.

A more legside guard didn't appear to change much, playing and missing, and probably praying that at times that was the outcome, at deliveries from Jofra Archer and Broad, who in a 7:3 ratio have taken Warner's wicket throughout the series.

Marcus Harris' 58 runs in three Test matches at an average of 9.66 and Cameron Bancroft's early struggles have ensured that a platform for the middle order has been a constant missing piece in the batting.

Yet here Smith was again. Whipping deliveries outside off stump audaciously through the leg side, one of the idiosyncrasies that is more pleasing on the eye. England had probably exhausted Plan Z by the time he was strolling towards his 20th run of the innings, but at the most opportune moment, Plan B came off.

The grab may not have been as sensational as THAT catch at Trent Bridge in 2015, but it was no less important. Ben Stokes was stationed at leg slip, and duly tumbled low to his left. Smith's runs and Broad's wickets have dominated recent Ashes series. And now supporters are expecting a Stokes stunner too.

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The catch left the crowd incredulous, the leap in celebration demonstrating commensurate relief. The mainstay, the man who had been the talk of The Ashes had departed. Not even Smith could see Australia to victory here.

He departed to a standing ovation, winning over the crowd by merit of his sheer brilliance with the New Balance wand, and the rush of adrenaline around the ground certainly gave off the vibe that England had dismissed an all-time great in the making after his 774 runs in the series.

But what of one of England's greatest fast bowlers? Ten years after the performance that made Broad realise he was made for the Test match arena, he delivered yet another masterclass in home conditions.

No longer the novice who required a lunch-time tête-à-tête to inspire his side, Broad was leading the attack with the innate bursts of energy that for large parts of his career have been discussed within the context of a partnership with James Anderson. 

Yet here was another sequence of bundling fast bowling as the undisputed leader, without his long-term fast bowling companion, and where he acted like a predator that only went in for the kill when he had the batsman begging for the teasers and deliveries agonisingly whistling past the bat to come to an end.

"The Enforcer" was a term perhaps regrettably used to describe his early England career. It has a negative connotation attached to it now, because he has developed into so much more. Tormentor, nemesis, fierce competitor. Yes, that's more like it.

The verve and dynamism of England's attack is now said to be embodied by Archer and Sam Curran, and the performances of the duo in Australia's first innings certainly endorses that notion.

^{Stuart Broad sent down another one of his magical spells}

This time around it was Jack Leach and rather surprisingly Joe Root who cashed in on the early wickets by taking the middle order scalps. 

Jofra Archer then received a new lease of life as his battle with Matthew Wade intensified as the afternoon wore on with direct chin music.

Wade however was the only man to resist the multifaceted attack, going on to a brilliant hundred and a career high score that saw him back up the chatter he dished out on the field from yesterday. 

There was rattle from England when he walked to the middle, but no deadly blow to match their hostile front until he was stumped by Jonny Bairstow off Joe Root.

It was a perfect example of where Wade had attempted to put them off their lines and counterpunch, England had stuck to their guns, performing and executing their plans.

Where England's batting has failed, without a consistent leader or anchor, the bowling has never had clearer direction. 

For all the talk of future members of the side and which of the stalwarts could be facing the axe, Broad delivered a timeless reminder that those budding youngsters require that experienced head around them for the next few years.

Should the likes of Curran and Archer spend another few years alongside him, they could be headed for bigger and better things than a home series draw.