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.”

#4 Mark Waugh

Mark and Steve Waugh field for New South Wales Blues in 2002

Among the Waugh brothers who took Australian cricket by storm in the 90s and have since cemented their places firmly in cricketing folklore, Mark Waugh was unanimously considered to be the more talented of the two during his early playing days. A prolific batsman who often doubled up as a more than useful fast medium bowler in his early days, quite a few venerable experts still love to believe that there will never be a talent like Mark Waugh again.

His world record partnership of 464 runs with his brother Steve while playing for the New South Wales, his startling 138 on Test debut and his three brilliant centuries as an opener in the 1996 world cup remain the highlights of a successful career. It is deeply saddening, however, to see that a cricketer of his calibre faced such an ignominious exit.

It is said that the cruel ravages of time renders even the most celebrated of men useless. And time did catch up with Mark Waugh. A string of poor performances led to him being axed before the Ashes series in 2002. A hurt but relieved Mark Waugh decided to hang up his boots just after he got the selection news.

Waugh said that he would have loved to play his last Test at the SCG which is his home ground but it was not to be. "While I feel very disappointed not to be playing for Australia again, I've been extremely lucky to have played for so long in a great era of Australian cricket," Mark Waugh said in his retirement speech. The pain and the disappointment were very obvious in his voice.

#3 VVS Laxman

VVS Laxman and Sunil Joshi jointly felicitated by KSCA in 2012

"I would like to announce my retirement from international cricket with immediate effect. I have always kept my country's success and need ahead of my personal aspirations. And while I would love contributing to the team's success, especially against England and Australia, I think this is the right time to give the youngsters a chance in home conditions ahead of international assignments coming up next year," said a stoic VVS Laxman at the Rajiv Gandhi international stadium in Hyderabad in 2012.

Some argued that they had felt it a long time coming. The elegance and flair of this very, very special Indian middle order batsman had been missing for some time, But the announcement and the apparent nonchalance with which it was delivered took everyone by surprise.

The man who was one of the famed big four in the Indian batting order is remembered for his elegance and his effortless wristwork. His magisterial knock of 281 against Australia at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata in 2001 is often recalled as a messianic moment in the history of Indian cricket at the turn of the century as it helped India come back after following on to script a legendary victory.

Despite his immense contribution to Indian cricket, Laxman's retirement was a quiet, colourless affair. Reports of a rift with the skipper MS Dhoni that could have led to his hurried, untimely retirement started doing rounds on the media. Why an unblemished, gentlemanly career should end on a controversial note was a inexplicable bafflement for cricket lovers to ponder on.

#2 Allan Donald

Allan Donald flanked by Lance Klusener and Hansie Cronje

Considered by many to be a well deserved member of the elite club of best fast bowlers who excelled in the 90s, Allan Donald had a tame and unfortuitous end to his illustrious career. With 330 Test wickets and 272 ODI scalps, Donald is still remembered by many as one of the finest fast bowlers of his generation.

Unfortunately, his image has come to be associated with the infamous run out in the semi-finals of the 1999 world cup which saw Australia go through to the final. Like a curse that refuses to stop haunting the human mind, Donald's refusal to run in the last over of that game has unfortunately remained as a sad reason to remember him.

Seeking redemption of sorts, Donald had hoped to hang up his boots on a high after a good performance in the 2003 world cup. Given that the world cup was being held in South Africa that year, he was genuinely optimistic of their chances in that tournament. But it was not to be. South Africa failed to go beyond the group stages and Donald passed into retirement rather unceremoniously.

And as luck would have it, Donald was again blamed by the South African media and held responsible for the heavy losses incurred by his side. A disappointed but stoic Donald responded to that saying, "I have unfortunately been singled out some of the times. But that is professional sport and sometimes it gets hot in the kitchen. I think I have handled it pretty well. I have taken some stick, some of it deservedly so because I set standards for myself and some of those standards I haven't reached." There was no redemption for Donald even in retirement.

#1 Andrew Flintoff

Freddie Flintoff

Graeme Swann might not have wanted to sound discourteous, but his statement on Andrew Flintoff's retirement left a sour taste in the mouth. "It's sad, but so be it," was Swann's curt appraisal followed by the unnecessary disgrace of declaring that Ian Botham was much better. Swann's contemplation might have sounded unsavoury to many but sadly it summed up the mood in England at that time.

Andrew Flintoff who could do no wrong and breathed fire in the 2005 Ashes was considered to be long past his prime by the time he decided to call it quits. What David Beckham was to football, Andrew Flintoff was to cricket -- the larger-than-life poster boys of sports who had been robbed off their qualities by time and injuries. Like Beckham, when Flintoff took to the field during his later days, it was always his much vaunted fame that preceded him and some polite fans would have suggested that their hands were already sore from clapping.

Flintoff admitted that his body had been playing spoilsport and had compelled him to consider his retirement. "I've had four ankle operations and knee surgery, so my body is telling me things, and I'm actually starting to listen. I can't just play games here and there while waiting to be fit. For my own sanity, and for my family's, I've got to draw a line under it. I've been going through two years of rehab in the past four, which is not ideal."

Flintoff should be remembered as one of the best all-rounders of the modern game who bowed out without much fanfare or ceremony. His retirement from all forms of cricket based on the decision of his medical advisors in 2010 was quieter than his Test retirement the previous year. He made an eye-catching comeback in May 2014 while playing for Lancashire when he dismissed Ian Bell and hit two huge sixes off the penultimate over. There was much mindless speculation that he would be charting his way back to the national side but that was always going to be quite a long haul for Freddie.