5 cricketers whose retirements weren't as celebrated as they should have been

As Shakespeare would say, "The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes". But in professional sport, are all the stalwarts of the game given a hero's farewell? Sports history bears silent testimony to the thousands of ill-fated souls who bowed out silently into oblivion.Some of these retired greats are unfortunate enough to reside perpetually in the fringes, in the unhallowed shadow of the common mind. Greatness notwithstanding, the greatest of the greats are powerless when fortune contrives to ensure an inauspicious exit for them. And sometimes a banal defeat might mar the prospect of a glorious end to a great career.Here are five great cricketers who bowed out quietly without the fanfare and celebration that their retirement duly deserved.

#5 Chris Rogers

Chris Rogers being checked on by teammates after getting hit on the head during the 2^nd Ashes Test

While Michael Clarke was getting all the adulations on an immensely successful career, Chris Rogers quietly slipped into retirement. If Clarke was the free-flowing prince in his heydays, Rogers was the plodder. An Ashes defeat and the fanfare around Clarke's departure meant Rogers was to quietly walk away into the sunset.

But Rogers has been in prolific form of late, having scored 10 half centuries in his last 14 innings which included the majestic 173 at Lord's. The Ashes defeat has called for a complete change in the Australian Test team with most of the elder statesmen about to bow out now. Not one to stand on ceremony, Rogers decided to call it quits even though many believed he had a good few years of cricket still left in him.

“I think it’s time. It’s time for Australian cricket to make a few changes and bring in a few new guys, a few fresh faces,” he said. Being hit by the Anderson bouncer, which was his third blow on the head in eight months, might have helped him made up his mind.

“Health obviously is the most important thing,” said Rogers. “When you get to 37, 38 you start to wonder whether your reflexes are slowing down and I’ve been hit in the head a few too many times for my liking of late. And facing Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc in the nets isn’t my definition of fun. I’m well aware Father Time is probably calling, so I can be happy.”