5 International cricketers who had a perfect ending to their Test careers

A retirement is always an extremely emotional moment for a sportsperson. In addition to that, a perfect ending to an international career is a near myth. Not everyone gets their last hurrah spot on since at the twilight of their careers, players are exhausted and their reflexes start to get a lot weaker.

It requires a special team effort to get a swansong, that comes in a perfect manner. There have been cricketers who have played splendidly and contributed heavily to their team's cause throughout their careers but bowed out from the international stage in an inauspicious manner. Players like Ricky Ponting, Brian Lara, Rahul Dravid and Michael Clarke, who have contributed in such enormous ways, have been deprived of the same.

However, there have been stories where players have played their last match exactly like how their debut match should have been and have indeed finished their career on high. Misbah Ul-Haq, Morne Morkel, Shane Warne, and Justin Langer are some of the most prominent examples of players who have ended their careers on a sky high.

In addition to a guard of honour, the player also goes for a lap of honour and is hoisted by his teammates on their shoulders around at the park.

The guard of honour has been one such gesture which has been in trend and been an extremely friendly one. In the recent past, players like Alastair Cook, Mitchell Johnson and Brendon McCullum, who were high-quality players, have had a taste the guard of honour.

A guard of honour is something which is also given when a player crosses a certain landmark. We take a look at some players who couldn't have bowed out of the international arena in a more perfect way.

#5. Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar

One of the all-time greats who leads the run-scoring chart for both the formats, Sachin Tendulkar had a career spanning over two decades. His on-field battles with Shoaib Akhtar and Glenn McGrath are still remembered. His commitment to playing a fair game, made him one of the most reputed batsmen in the history of the game.

Along with holding the record of most runs in Test cricket, he also holds the record for scoring most number of centuries with 51 of them and the only man till date to play 200 Tests.

Sachin Tendulkar played his final Test match against the West Indies at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai which also happens to be his hometown. He played an extremely fluent innings of 74 in the only innings India batted in as West Indies were pinned down with an innings defeat and the series as 2-0.

His figures at the end of a 24-year career read: 200 Tests, 329 innings, 15921 runs, 51 hundred and 68 fifties. He kissed the cricket pitch goodbye and was hoisted on his teammates' shoulders for one last time.

#4. Jacques Kallis

Jacques Kallis

Probably the greatest all-rounder and the most complete cricketer of the modern era, Jacques Kallis carried the hopes of the South African cricket on his shoulders for more almost two decades. As of 2018, he is the only player to score over 10000 runs and take more than 250 wickets in both Test and one-day cricket.

Jacques Kallis played his final Test match against India on 26th December 2013 at the Kingsmead, Durban. South Africa made 500 in their first innings, thanks to a fighting century from Kallis, thereby taking a substantial lead after India were folded for 334.

With India being bowled out for 223 in their second innings and the target just a little above 50, Graeme Smith and Alviro Peterson made quick work of the target. "King Kallis" had brought curtains an end to a magnificent career spanning from 1995 to 2013, having played 161 Tests and giving the luxury of including an extra specialist batsman as well as a specialist bowler.

#3. Alastair Cook

Alastair Cook

England's highest run scorer in Tests, Alastair Cook was one of the greatest Test batsmen in the modern era. His sound technique and an exquisite cover drive was always a treat to watch.

Cook is one of the few players to have scored a century in his debut and his last Test and has a record 33 centuries in total. As a captain, he led England to a historic Test series victory in India in 2012, which came after a span of 28 years.

Cook announced his international retirement in September 2018 with the final Test against India at the Oval being his last. He announced his retirement due to widespread criticisms about his continuous failings as an opening batsman.

His final Test brought the best in him when he scored a patient 71 in the first innings followed by flamboyant innings of 147 in the second. It was a perfect finish to Cook's career as England cruised to a series win in the five-match Test series, winning it with a 4-1 margin. This Test also witnessed James Anderson taking over from Glenn McGrath as the leading wicket-taker in Tests among the fast bowlers.

#2. Glenn McGrath

Glenn McGrath

Glenn McGrath is one of the best seam bowlers to have ever played the game. Over the years, Australia has struggled marginally to find a bowler who can match his standards as a big match player.

He held the record for the highest number of wickets taken by a fast bowler in Test cricket for a span of twelve years. Australia were recognized as the world champions in Test and one-day cricket for almost a decade with McGrath spearheading their bowling attack.

McGrath announced his retirement from Test cricket with Australia whitewashing England 5-0 in 2006-07 Ashes series. Australia replicated the feat after a span of 86 years.

McGrath ended the series with 21 wickets in five Tests and finished his glorious career with 563 Test wickets with an average of 21.64. This series is also remembered for the retirement of three other Australian players in Justin Langer, Damien Martyn and Shane Warne.

#1. Muttiah Muralitharan

Muttiah Muralitharan

Since the retirement of Muttiah Muralitharan, barring Ravichandran Ashwin, no other off-spinner has been as prolific and as consistent as him. Muralitharan is the highest wicket-taker ever in the history of both Test and one-day cricket with 800 and 534 wickets respectively.

Muttiah Muralitharan played his last Test on 18th July 2010. He needed eight wickets to pass a monumental landmark of 800 wickets. His final and 800th victim turned out to be Pragyan Ojha who was caught by Mahela Jayawardene.

It was the perfect ending for a bowler who had served his country relentlessly for almost a decade. Muralitharan made his Test debut on August 28, 1992, against Australia at Colombo and was quite successful, taking three wickets in two innings.

With Shane Warne, Anil Kumble and Muttiah Muralitharan announcing their retirements in a span of four years, this was the end of an era of three of the greatest spinners of the generation.