A tale of two retirements — a contrast between Ashes 2015 and 2006-07
A tale of two retirements — A contrast between Ashes 2015 and 2006-07
The fifth and final Ashes 2015 Test at The Oval will witness mass retirements in the Australian camp, with the likes of Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin and Chris Rogers set to hang up their boots soon. Amit Banerjee reminisces a similar retiring party in the 2006-07 edition of the Ashes, and the contrast in the two situations.
Retirements can be a source of motivation in sports, a source of inspiration to give one’s best shot before curtains fold on their careers. The motivation levels in such cases are perhaps directly proportional to the stature of the retiree, as was evident in the Pakistan and Indian teams for Imran Khan and Sachin Tendulkar in the 1992 and 2011 World Cups respectively. It is what should drive the Australian team to give their best in the final Ashes 2015 Test at The Oval, even if the urn has been handed back to their arch-rivals in cricket’s oldest contest.
The upcoming Test will witness the end of an era as Australia is set to bid captain Michael Clarke, wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and opening batsman Chris Rogers goodbye, with pacer Ryan Harris having already announced his retirement before the start of the series. Barring Clarke, who is among the greatest batsmen his country has produced and who led his side to World Cup success earlier this year, none of the four have had the most satisfactory of careers. It may precisely be the reason why one might expect them to give their best shots at The Oval. To this end, Haddin should also be picked ahead of Nevill for the final Test even if he was woefully out of form. READ: Australia should pick Brad Haddin for Oval Test to give him proper send-off
Australia witnessed a similar retirement party nearly a decade ago. The year was 2006-07, and the Aussies were set to bid goodbye to two of the greatest bowlers in its glorious history in Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, as well as one of their most consistent Test openers in Justin Langer. The situation was a much happier one back then, with the Aussies avenging their historic 1-2 defeat a year-and-a-half ago with a 5-0 whitewash. The aforementioned trio hung up their boots in front of their home crowd, the dream of which is not in store for everyone. Damien Martyn had quit right after the end of the second Test, which bears similarities with Harris’s call. READ: Chris Rogers will be hard to replace in the Australian batting line-up
While the comparison between the two eras might be a bit skewed, given the sheer greatness of the batch of the late 90s and the 2000s, it does make one realise how times have changed over the years in Australian cricket. There could not have been a greater contrast in the way the two quartets decided to ride off into the sunset. The Australian team standing on top of the world with might in one case, and mired in controversies and bitterness in the other. One thing may be common though — the ’06-07 side did not rest until the last duel, which might be the case with the current side who will be determined to give the retiring greats the send-off that they deserve.
(Amit Banerjee, a reporter at CricketCountry, takes keen interest in photography, travelling, technology, automobiles, food and, of course, cricket. He can be followed on Twitter via his handle @akb287)