2018 round-up: 5 biggest retirements in cricket

2018 has been an eventful, memorable, shocking and surprising year in the world of cricket. The year started with the 'Sandpaper-gate' scandal that shook the world of cricket which left three players being banned from international cricket for a considerable period of time. That incident has left Australia having to win the trust and the respect of the cricketing fraternity all over again.

India's rise as a test team overseas has been very evident. From their fighting performances in hostile conditions in South Africa and England to them ending the year with a phenomenal win at the MCG, they had an eventful year. And the exponential rise of their fast bowlers Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma has made this side even more formidable.

And of course how can we forget the individual brilliance and the rise in stature of players like Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Babar Azam and Kane Williamson who have gone on to enthrall audiences wherever they played along with contributing to their team's success across formats and in different conditions.

2018, like any other year had it's fair share of excitement, thrill and some shocking and sad moments too. The retirements of many loved, respected cricketers from different countries during the course of the year has and will continue to leave a void in cricket.

Although some retirements were expected to happen, still cricketing fans across the globe will take some time to get over the fact that some cricketers will never play international cricket ever again.

Here are the 5 biggest retirements of the year in the world of cricket.

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#5 Gautam Gambhir

After sitting out of the national team for over two years – he last played a Test in 2016 against England at Rajkot – Gautam Gambhir announced his retirement from all formats of the game on December 4, 2018.

The two-time World Cup-winning champion’s most notable knocks were the 97 off 122 that came in the 2011 World Cup final against Sri Lanka and, in 2007, he top-scored for India with a 54-ball 75 in the final of the inaugural ICC World T20. His brilliant batting performance in hostile, tough conditions at Hamilton to bat out a day against New Zealand to secure a draw for his side will also be fondly remembered.

Gambhir finished as highest run-getter of the tournament. The Delhi batsman also led Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to two titles – in 2012 and 2014. His retirement left many ardent KKR fans in shock and disbelief as their favorite captain and someone who they respect a lot could have possibly come back to KKR if he was available.

#4 Dwayne Bravo

Dwayne Bravo

After falling out with Cricket West Indies, Dwayne Bravo, a consistent Twenty20 campaigner ended his international cricketing career in October. The 35-year-old Trinidadian hung up whites and maroon Windies uniform after playing 164 one-day internationals scoring 2,968 runs at an average of 25.36.

In 40 Test matches, Bravo made 2200 runs with 13 half centuries and three centuries to his name. He claimed 86 wickets, including his best bowling figures of 6/55. His last appearance for West Indies came in a T20I match against Pakistan in September 2016.

He will continue to travel across the globe and play in all the T20 leagues. His abilities in the shortest form of the game make him a treat to watch when he's on song. Although he has retired from all forms of the game, his impact won't be felt too much as far as the Windies team goes.

#3 Alastair Cook

Alastair Cook

Among the nicest men to have graced the field, Alastair Cook couldn’t have asked for a better setting to retire. England sealed the series against India in September at the Oval. Cook scored a magnificent century in his last innings and walked off after playing 161 Tests, in which he has scored a whopping 12472 runs, an achievement he can be chuffed about.

Leading England a record 59 times in Test cricket, including 24 wins, Cook will be remembered for his scores of 60 and 104 not out on his debut in Nagpur in 2006. His 766 runs and three centuries started as England won an Ashes series in Australia in 2010-11, the first time in 24 years.

Cook captained England to a 2-1 victory in India the following winter. The 33-year-old Cook, who retired as the sixth-highest scorer in red-ball cricket, averages 45.35 in Tests and 36.40 in 92 ODIs.

A lean run with the bat in the past 15 months or so, with him not catching that regularly too meant that Alastair Cook felt it was the right time to make way from someone new to establish themselves in the England side. And he will certainly happy to see how well England dominated Sri Lanka in their home conditions recently.

And the solid, dependable opener received the biggest honor any sportsman could receive when he was awarded knighthood, the only cricketer after Sir Ian Botham whose contribution to English cricket has been recognized this magnanimously.

#2 Rangana Herath

Rangana Herath

Sri Lanka’s most successful bowler after Muttiah Muralitharan, Rangana Herath called it a day from the field after playing in the first Test against England in November at Galle. He picked up only one wicket, but that does not erase the phenomenal numbers in his illustrious career.

Emerging out of the shadow of Muralitharan, the left-arm spinner played 71 matches and bagged 362 wickets at an average of 26.15. He picked up nine 10-wicket hauls in this period. With records galore, the 40-year-old Herath ended his career with jaw-dropping 433 wickets in 93 Tests; 398 of those wickets came after the age of 30.

In terms of how much a team will miss someone, Herath's is a body blow for a Sri Lankan team in rapid decline. He was the shining light who was decimating oppositions and allowing their fragile batting order to not get over exposed. But now without him it certainly would be intriguing to see how Sri Lanka as a test team can cope.

#1 AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers

Arguably the best cricketer across all three formats in recent times, AB de Villiers caught everyone off guard when he announced his retirement from international cricket in May after a 14-year long career.

AB De Villiers, who was given the epithet of 'Mr 360' after his mixture of flamboyant shots all around the park, holds the record for the fastest half-century (16 balls), century (31 balls) and 150 (64 balls) in ODIs.

He is among the few batsmen who have topped the Test and 50-over rankings at the same time. In 114 Tests, he scored 8765 runs at an average of 50.66. In ODIs, he boasts an average of 53.50 scoring 9577 runs in 228 matches with 22 centuries. He finished as the fourth-highest run-scorer for South Africa.

He mesmerized the gentlemen's game completely. A ferocious competitor on the field, he was loved by everyone watching. People may not support South Africa but there was not a soul who didn't like to see the lion hearted performer.

His shock retirement from international cricket has meant that he will be available in IPL 2019 and everyone would be eagerly waiting to get enthralled and entertained again by de Villiers.