The story of 5 World Cup swansongs

The World Cup season is now over, and it’s time to usher in the week of the IPL. As the dust settles over a glitzy 2 months of cricketing extravaganza (and for England, India and the home team a few more months than that), it’s time to take a step back and muse over the eventful period of cricket just gone by. Little things are sometimes lost in big moments, but the full implications hit us in due course of time. This World Cup, as has been the tradition with all its ancestral editions, saw the swansong tournament of a few towering legends of the sport.This World Cup – which in my opinion, marked the evolution of the modern game – also compels us to bid adieu to its share of great men.

#1 Michael Clarke

The post World Cup final presentation speech of the Australian captain began with a gracious praise for New Zealand skipper Brendon Mccullum and his team. In the event of the emotional roller-coaster this marathon four months had been for him, acknowledgement of the vanquished team could very well have skipped his mind.

But such is the character of one of the nicest men to have played the sport, and the owner of a truly generous heart. For 25 World Cup games over three editions, he has the fourth highest batting average of 63.42. While the 2007 edition in the Caribbean was a fairly easy ride – part of the all-conquering Aussie side, the 2011 one was comparatively rougher, eliminated in the quarter finals by hosts India.

Post 2011, when Clarke took over the captaincy reigns of the Aussie side, there were no Warne, McGrath or Gilchrist in the squad. It was a much more difficult road, than what his predecessors Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh had to face. With time and after weathering much storm he managed to lift the side back to its usual position at the top, or in close vicinity. Probably it all came a complete circle in the limited overs format, with the World Cup glory last week. It’s not for nothing; one supposes that Sachin Tendulkar rated Clarke as the best Australian captain he had faced.

The man began with fairy-tale International debuts both home and away. The “Pup” with his swashbuckling stroke-making has no doubt graduated into a composed and matured batsman and captain, over the years. A steady hand in the middle order and a fearless leader, Michael Clarke however can be marked for a few more reasons than just that.

November of last year saw the demise of his dear mate and “brother” Phil Hughes, and the way Clarke comforted the family of his ex-teammate was there for the entire world to see. Not a day has gone by he says, since that day that he hasn’t thought about him. The black arm-band over his jersey had P.H written over it, and on the pivotal moment of winning the Cup he declared to the world how the Australian team had played with 15 plus one member.

Clarke began the post-match media conference by saying that he didn’t believe there were any fairy tales in cricket, but you’ve got to be kidding me if you say that his own swansong was anything but that!