Cricketology 2006

By Saurabh Kapoor

Falling leaves/hide the path/so quietly This is how a haiku describes the irony of autumn. Year 2006 is ending on an autumnal note for cricket. The season of bittersweet where the beauty of falling leaves captures everybody’s imagination and crafts a thought pause with regard to reflecting on the past and pondering on the road ahead. The tribulations and triumphs of a tremendous cricketing year have been overshadowed the announcement of Warne and McGrath’s retirement. But it’s customary to reflect on the events that lit up the cricketing calendar of 2006. End of an era as Hollywood quits The greatest wicket-taker in the history of Test cricket announced his retirement in from the game in December. Shane Warne revealed that he would retire from the international game after the ongoing Ashes series. Warne, however, would continue to play for English county side Hampshire for the remaining two years of his contract. Warne, who retired from one-day internationals in 2003, is the world's leading Test wicket-taker and arguably the most famous cricketer since his compatriot Don Bradman. He is largely credited with revitalising the dying craft of wrist-spin after an era dominated by fast bowlers. Sans Warney the game of cricket would never be the same again! McGrath bids goodbye to Test cricket Glenn McGrath, the most successful fast bowler in Test cricket history who tormented batsmen with his amazing line and length, announced his retirement from the longer version of the game soon after Warne made the announcement. He would, however, continue to play in one-dayers till the World Cup next year. Out of his 555 Test wickets in 122 matches, McGrath accounted for 51 Indian batsmen in 11 Tests, getting the scalp of star batsman Sachin Tendulkar six times in their much-hyped duels. In one-dayers against India, he took 34 wickets in 25 matches. Nicknamed `Pigeon`, McGrath is third on the list of all-time wicket-takers behind only Warne (699) and Sri Lankan offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan (674). Damien Martyn announces retirement Australian batsman Damien Martyn announced his retirement from cricket after the Adelaide Test. Martyn, who played 67 Tests and made his debut against the West Indies in 1992, was under pressure in the current Ashes series against England after making scores of 29, 11 and 5 in the first two Tests in Brisbane and Adelaide.