The heroes bid adieu

2009 saw players like Ricky Ponting and Younis Khan giving-up T20, while others including Chaminda Vaas and Jacob Oram called it a day in Tests.

Vaibhav Arora

2009 was the year of change in cricket. After a few years of fatafat T20 cricket, the year witnessed probably the first major after effects of ‘too much cricket’ as players realized that it would be difficult to continue playing all three formats (T20, ODI and Tests) of the game and a number of them decided to bid adieu to one of the versions in order to prolong their careers in the others. The year, thus, saw players like Ricky Ponting and Younis Khan giving-up T20, while others including Chaminda Vaas and Jacob Oram called it a day in Tests. Andrew Caddick: One of English cricket’s most notable fast bowlers, Andrew Caddick bid adieu to cricket after struggling with injuries that had plagued him throughout his career. Caddick represented England in 62 Tests and 54 ODIs and last played a Test in January 2003 against Australia, taking 10 wickets in the match. Vinod Kambli: When Vinod Kambli first announced his arrival at the international scene with double-tons in his third and fourth Tests, he was seen as the future of Indian cricket and was even sometimes put ahead of the great Sachin Tendulkar in terms of talent. But alas, his turned out to be a story of unfulfilled promises. Despite having a healthy average of 54.70 in 17 Tests, he could never return to the longest format of the game after 1995. Though he made 9 comebacks into the ODI team, he failed to cement his place. The problem of attitude is what most believe was the reason behind his ouster.Iain O`Brien: In a shocking decision just before the end of the year, Kiwi pacer Iain O’Brien announced his retirement from international cricket to be with his wife in UK. Since making his Test debut against Australia in 2005, O’Brien has taken 67 wickets in 21 Test matches and 14 scalps from 10 one-day internationals. His best Test performance came last year against the West Indies where he captured 7 wickets for 165 runs. Ricky Ponting: Australia skipper Ricky Ponting announced his retirement fromT20 international cricket to prolong his career in the other formats of the game. Though, the dashing batsman will continue to play for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League. Ponting played 17 T20 games for Australia and his 98 not out remains the second highest T20 score. Chaminda Vaas: After representing his country in 111 Tests, veteran Sri Lankan fast bowler Chaminda Vaas bid adieu to the longest format of the game. Vaas formed the mainstay of Sri Lankan bowling attack and contributed greatly to their rise during his 16-year long career. He was also known as a handy lower-order batsman. The bowler made his Test debut against Pakistan in 1994 and took 355 wickets in his career. Jacob Oram: Like a number of other international cricketers in the recent past, Kiwi all-rounder Jacob Oram also decided to give up Test cricket to prolong his one-day and T20 career after a recent spate of injuries had threatened to limit him to being just a batsman. During his 33 Test appearances over the last seven years, Oram took 60 wickets and scored 1780 runs at a healthy average of 36.32. Steve Bucknor: One of cricket’s most acclaimed umpires, West Indian Steve Bucknor retired from the game after the South Africa-Australia series back in March. Bucknor began his international umpiring career in 1989 and has since stood in 126 Tests and 179 ODIs. He was on the International Cricket Council’s elite panel of umpires and also has the distinction of officiating in five consecutive World Cup finals.Matthew Hayden: One of Australia’s most successful opening batsmen, Matthew Hayden finally called it a day after ever increasing calls for his ouster amidst an acute shortage of run-flow from his blade. Though the Australian selectors wanted him to continue till the Ashes in July, the burly batsman decided to quit after he was excluded from the ODI squad. Hayden played 103 Tests for Australia, scoring a whopping 8625 runs at an average of 50.73. He had 30 hundreds to his credit. Matty also played 161 ODIs and scored 6133 runs at 43.80, his highest being an unbeaten 181 against New Zealand. Younis Khan: Having led Pakistan to an emphatic Twenty20 World Cup victory, Younis Khan announced his retirement from the format, though he said that he would continue to play in the other formats of the game. Younis played 22 T20 internationals and scored 432 runs at 25. 41. 2009 also took a few notable names away from us, each of whom had contributed towards increasing the popularity and following of the game in their own way. Raj Singh Dungarpur: Raj Singh Dungarpur’s golden period in cricket came not during his playing days but on retirement, when he moved into the BCCI administration. He started with managing several overseas tours and held other positions in the board before being appointed as the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The youngest son on the ruler of Dungarpur, Maharawal Lakshman Singhji, Rajbhai, as he was popularly known, played as a medium-fast bowler for Rajasthan and took 206 wickets in 86 first class matches. He passed away in Mumbai at the age of 73. David Shepherd: One of the bubbliest characters in the game of cricket, England’s finest umpire David Shepherd died at the age of 68. Since making his debut at the 1983 World Cup, Shepherd officiated in 92 Tests and 172 ODIs, including three World Cup finals. Shepherd was known for his witty approach towards the game and his ‘world famous’ superstitious hop when the score reached a ‘Nelson’. Shep also played 282 first-class games for Gloucestershire, scoring 10,672 runs. Rajan Bala: Famous cricket writer Rajan Bala passed away in Bangalore aged 63. Bala was an avid cricket follower and covered the game for over four decades, working with some of the leading newspapers including The Statesman, the Indian Express, The Hindu and the Deccan Herald. He also wrote several books such as Kiwis and Kangaroos, Glances at Perfection and The Covers are Off.