5 legendary cricketers who retired when they were in their prime

#4 Glenn McGrath

Glenn McGrath is perhaps Australia's greatest fast bowler of all time

The only bowler on this list, Glenn McGrath is the fifth-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket and the seventh-highest wicket-taker in ODI cricket. But stunningly, the pacer also walked away from the sport when he was in peak form.

McGrath retired from cricket after Australia's victorious 2007 World Cup campaign, a tournament in which he was the leading wicket-taker with 26 scalps. He was named the Player of the Tournament and was included in the ICC World ODI XI of the year.

Only months before the World Cup, McGrath picked up 21 wickets in a 5-0 Ashes drubbing of England, a series that would be his last in Test cricket. Interestingly, Pigeon also took a wicket off his last ball in the format.

Although the 50-year-old did struggle with injuries in the months leading up to his retirement, his accuracy and consistency had never been better. McGrath was in his late thirties when he chose to walk away, but could have easily played another year or two and would have been one of the Kangaroos' best bowlers had he done so.

He went on to play for the Delhi Daredevils in the IPL and has undertaken a role at the MRF Pace Foundation.

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#3 Kumar Sangakkara

Kumar Sangakkara was a classy act on and off the field

Kumar Sangakkara is perhaps Sri Lanka's greatest batsman of all time and since his retirement, cricket in the country has been on a steep downward spiral. The classy southpaw retired from T20I cricket after winning the 2014 T20 World Cup, a tournament in which the Lankans beat India in the final.

Then came the 2015 World Cup, and Sangakkara broke a host of records in the tournament. The former Sri Lanka captain was the second-highest run-getter in the competition, and scored 541 runs at a Bradmanesque average of 108.2. He also managed 4 (yes, 4!) consecutive centuries in that edition of the World Cup.

Soon after his country's disappointing loss in the quarter-finals, Sangakkara retired from the longest format of the game as well after a series against India. The 42-year-old was pleaded with to reconsider by his countrymen and the board, but turned a deaf ear to those requests.

Sangakkara is currently the President of the MCC.