Stuart Broad admitted that taking eight for 15 against Australia, on his home turf at Trent Bridge, had been a performance beyond his wildest dreams.
The 29-year-old stated that it had been his greatest day in an England shirt, both individually and for the team.
“It was just one of those days you dream of - home ground to pick up 300 Test wickets and getting your career best.
“I never dreamt I could get eight wickets in a spell like that.
“The scoreboard doesn’t look real to me. It’s a bit of a freak day I suppose.
“It’s great to have a PB against Australia, for me they are one of the best teams in the world.
“With it being my home ground I think that helped, I was comfortable in my surroundings.
“We’ve had probably one of the best days England have had in the Ashes, ever.
“Without a doubt, a 214 lead after day one, is probably as powerful as a performance as I’ve ever seen or been involved in.”
“To bowl out a team for 60 is very special, but to be 270 odd is an amazing achievement.”
Broad, who confided that his previous best bowling performance came at school in the under 15s, said conditions - as well as England’s excellent catching - combined to assist in the garnering of such a sensational wicket haul.
“It was a good morning to bowl, it was a good toss to win. Getting a wicket early in my spell settled me down a lot and the pitch offered the perfect amount.
“We bowled really well, we got the ball in the perfect areas and the wicket was doing just enough.
“We were brave enough to put six catchers in at one stage, we took some amazing catches, Stokesy’s was one of the best catches I’ve been on the field for.
“It was behind him! He had no right to catch it. It was an incredible catch.
“It was probably the all-round perfect bowling and fielding performance, and backed up with some outstanding batting.”