Stuart Broad has confessed he found retiring from cricket 'so difficult' while attending the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards on Tuesday night.
The England icon was on the red carpet before Mary Earps took home the gong.
The Manchester United goalkeeper scooped the prize after starring for England at the Women's World Cup back in the summer.
Broad came in second, with Katarina Johnson-Thompson securing third following a year of strong performances in athletics.
Stuart Broad has confessed he found retiring from cricket difficult while attending the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards
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Speaking in Salford, Broad paid tribute to England head coach Brendon McCullum.
And he also admitted he found it 'so difficult' to quit cricket because he loved playing at international level.
"Ben really was instrumental [in my final years]," he told LiveScore.
"I found it so, so difficult to walk away from that team to be honest.
"It was so enjoyable, so much fun.
"It was like playing cricket for your club side when you were 14 years old again, only this time you're wearing an England shirt in front of 30,000 people.
"It was so great, the freedom they [Stokes and McCullum] brought to the team. The right mindset from the right people.
"And Ben [Stokes] is going to be a friend for life, he's a great person and an amazing captain."
On whether he's adjusted to life in retirement, Broad added: "No, it [retirement] hasn't quite set in yet.
"I think it's because I've not seen Jimmy or Ben in the whites with the cap on.
"The moment that happens I'll probably think, 'Wow OK, this is real'.
"The word former England player doesn't feel real yet, but it is."
James Anderson also spoke out.
And he lavished praise on both McCullum and Ben Stokes, insisting the pair have been 'amazing' for the sport.
"Ben and Brendon have been amazing. It's been two of my favourite years playing the game," he added.
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Stuart Broad finished second at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards
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"The way we play, the enjoyment and fun we have on the pitch and just being positive all the time.
"You know, cricket over five days is tricky. Sometimes you can get quite negative and down on yourself. But not with this team and captain."
While Broad has left cricket behind, Anderson is a man still going strong in the twilight years of his career.
The bowling icon made his Test debut all the way back in 2003.
And he remains as important as ever as England look to establish themselves as the best country in the world.
Stuart Broad hugs Mary Earps at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards in Salford
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England will tour India in the New Year.
Anderson can't wait for that to begin, with the 41-year-old admitting: "I'm really excited, I love going to India. It's such a huge challenge for a seam and swing bowler.
"But it's one of those things, if you do well there you feel like you've really achieved something.
"It's just so exciting — but I'm also aware it's going to be really, really hard."
