The fall of legends - a sad year for cricket!

“When the legends leave,the aura fades, there is no more happiness!” 

“Men may come, men may go,but the legends stays on forever!”

The year is coming to an end and the world is eagerly awaiting the New Year. People have different reasons to await the new year. Maybe to forget the bad memories of the past, maybe hoping for the better, a new beginning with the new year dawning. But there are a few die hard cricket fans who do not want to look past 2012 because it is the end of an era; the end of many legends who graced the game all these years, who put a smile on our face by their mere presence on the field. They have departed forever and a great gloom has enveloped cricket and its fans.

The year started on a pretty sad note with Rahul Dravid announcing his retirement after the disastrous tour of Australia where India were whitewashed 0-4. Dravid had a wonderful season just before that series in England where he scored three centuries. It was a face-saving effort in an otherwise mediocre performance by the team who were tamed just after the World Cup win. People thought Dravid had found the magic touch again and he would be a strong force in the Australian series.

But Dravid fared very badly, getting out bowled a record seven times which was the death knell for the great man. He knew his time was up and he retired with the same humility and dignity with which he has played the game all these years.

Laxman on the other hand, was pretty average throughout 2011 where he managed to score a lone century, that too in home conditions against a weak West Indian team. He was not the Laxman of the old and the runs refused to flow from the rubbery wrists. Laxman, the partner in crime for Dravid did not declare his retirement though: the selectors and the team management had other ideas and forced him to leave the team on a bitter note. The repercussions of forcing two legends out of the game have hit us hard and we are bearing the brunt facing a rejuvenated and eager English side. The youngsters and the replacements barring Cheteshwar Pujara are not up to the mark and it shows from the results.

  “Intimidation or the fear of getting hit is always the reason for failure”

Speed was his middle name, because he bowled in a way that batsmen looked up to him with fear glinting in their eyes – the fear of getting hit. He puts the fear of death and injury into batsmen and makes them play false strokes. Binga only knew one way to bowl – run in and bowl fast! Bowling fast though has its negatives. Lee was prone to injuries throughout his career and he had to retire prematurely owing to a number of surgeries he had to undergo all these years. He announced his retirement finally on the 13th of July – putting an end to a brilliant career.

Probably the most unexpected or the most sudden retirement was that of Punter’s. Ricky Ponting, the legend announced his retirement at the fag end of November owing to continuous failures and lack of form. One of the most terrific players to have ever played the game, Ponting has called curtains to his illustrious career at the end of the ongoing Perth Test, the place where it all had started for him.

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

One of the most revered skippers in English cricket, Andrew Strauss was the core reason for the recent success of the English team. Strauss took over the reins from Pietersen when England were facing a tough time in international cricket. Strauss joined hands with the coach Andy Flower and led the team brilliantly and inspired them to do well. The team began improving in leaps and bounds and were soon a force in world cricket. They won back to back Ashes series’ ending the Aussie domination for good.

Strauss was going through a bad patch of late and struggled to make runs. He was not playing up to the mark and the controversy regarding Pietersen took a toll on him mentally. He announced retirement soon after the Test series against South Africa and bid adieu to cricket.

“Commitment to excellence – that will enable you to attain the success you seek.” 

He was one of the most committed player in his side. Mark Verdon Boucher, the legendary wicketkeeper who has 999 dismissals to his credit, suffered a bizarre injury to his eye when playing a practice match. He lost the chance of a perfect farewell to the game having had to end his career all of a sudden. Nevertheless, his achievements are staggering and speak volumes about his commitment towards the game.

These legends have been in the business for close to 15 years, giving their everything for the love towards the game. They have toiled hard and achieved success. Their exit has left us with a void which no one can ever fill. There are only a few of them left and their time is nearing too. It will be a pain to see them leave after seeing them play for more than 15 years. Cricket will never be the same without them and whenever we see a match, we will definitely feel their absence.