Special moment for Broad the destroyer

This isn’t the first time Stuart Broad has blown teams away at pivotal moments to propel England to landmark series wins.

Yet he usually does it against Australia on the green, green grass of home.

This, though, on a thrilling third, and what turned out to be final, day of this third Test at The Wanderers, was peak Broad in enemy territory.

Five wickets fell in the space of 31 balls as South Africa imploded from 23 without loss to 5-35 in a crazy afternoon session.

Broad conceded just one run during that mesmeric passage of play and even that came off a drop – James Anderson failing to hold on at third slip to give Stiaan van Zyl a life on nine.

This was the fourth occasion Broad had taken a five-wicket haul in an overseas Test. 

Quick Single: Broad fires England to series win

However, it was the seventh time he has taken five wickets or more in a single session of a Test match. 

When he gets in the zone, is there any bowler more dangerous in world cricket than Broad?

He then finished off his performance shortly after tea, taking a brilliant, diving return catch off his own bowling to remove Faf Du Plessis to complete a return of six for 17 as the hosts were routed for 83 in their second innings.

Australian fans will need no reminding of Broad’s trio of series-clinching spells at The Oval in 2009, Durham in 2013 and Trent Bridge last year.

The third of those, in Nottingham last August, was the spellbinding haul of 8-15 that led to Australia’s collapse to 60 all out. 

WATCH: Broad's superb spell in Nottingham

It was Broad’s finest moment of his career bar none.

But this latest hot streak ran it pretty close given it set up England’s first away series win since late 2012, when they won in India in Alastair Cook’s first assignment as Test captain.

On the three previous occasions Broad had taken five or more wickets in an overseas Test – Kingston 2009, Wellington 2013 and Brisbane the same year - England had not won.

So, statistically, as well as aesthetically, this was the 29-year-old’s most important contribution away from home.

In the process of this latest star turn, Broad moved onto 331 Test wickets, overtaking Bob Willis to become the third-most prolific England bowler in history behind only Sir Ian Botham and Anderson.

Alastair Cook, who revealed a lunchtime rollicking from Trevor Bayliss, England’s usually-laid-back Australian coach, sparked his team’s amazing afternoon at The Wanderers.

He was also fulsome in his praise of a bowler whose habit of blowing teams away is becoming increasingly common the more experienced he gets.

“I just knew from the look in his eyes this morning Broady could do this again,” said Cook. 

“I know it's a bit cliched to say it after the event when he’s got six-for but he had the bit between his teeth today.

“He steamed in after Trev had a few harsh words for us at lunch and said “If you want to win the series this is the time to grab the opportunity”. Luckily Broady did it.

“It’s a privilege to captain him and when he gets on a roll like that you just let him go.”

The man himself looked shattered and elated in equal measure as he slumped in his chair at the post-match media conference.

Was this better than Trent Bridge?

“It probably doesn’t quite match up to the home-ground match to win the Ashes, that was something else,” said Broad. “But any Test victory you hold tightly because they are very hard to come by.

“It’s a very special moment for the team. Winning in South Africa is certainly not an easy thing to come by. It’s something we've worked very hard for. It was a perfect day.

“For me to beat South Africa for the first time in a Test series and to do it away from home is very special.”

Indeed, only Australia have beaten the Proteas in a Test series in their own backyard since their readmission to world cricket in 1991.

For Cook, this win completed the holy trinity of away successes every England captain aspires to – Australia, India and South Africa.

In the first two of those Cook had been central to his team’s success, hitting six centuries across both series to set up wins that were England first in each country for 24 and 27 years respectively. This time, despite his hitting 43 during England’s successful pursuit of 74 - his highest score of the series - it really didn’t matter he had taken a backseat role.  

“It’s pretty special feeling and I’m looking forward to getting back in the changing to spend some time with a group of guys who’ve done something very special,” said Cook.

“You can look at moments in the series where we fought really well, were tested and came through it. To win two Test matches out of three and dominate quite a lot of the other one is huge credit to the guys.

“It really has been a squad effort. It’s a real privilege to lead this group. They’re desperate to do well and enjoying each other’s success.”

No-one more so than Broad.