Beau Casson: A sad end by a cruel act of fate

Sporting history abounds with examples of brave sports persons who fought physical disabilities to make it big. Lance Armstrong‘s success belies the fact that he battled cancer. Wasim Akram fought Type I diabetes throughout his career. Tennis elbows, troublesome knees, sensitive ankles, susceptible fingers; we have seen them all and how players who have been confronted with these have bounced back with courage. But it is sad if a disability keeps a sports person from following his passion and it is worse if the sportsperson is only 28.

Beau Casson, the 28 year old New South Wales spinner, announced retirement last week due to a heart condition known as Tetralogy of Fallot. It forced him to leave a Sheffield Shield match with South Australia midway. Continuing to play would have worsened his condition and could have even proved fatal. He may not look forward to a bright playing career but he can always take pride in representing Australia in a solitary Test match against West Indies in 2008, when shared the spin duties with Stuart MacGill. That was when Shane Warne had retired and his void remained unfilled until players like Casson came along and resulted in a long line of spinners who have all had their moments under the baggy green (The line continues to grow with Ben Cutting being the latest addition to the list along with Nathan Lyon but that is a different story).

Courage, physical strength, mental strength, performance and resilience embody the spirit of sport and renders the greatness to great sports persons. These qualities prevail over minor setbacks like injuries and disabilities. Wasim Akram or Lance Armstrong can consider themselves lucky to have gone the distance. Yuvraj Singh would thank his stars when he recovers from his lung tumour and travels to Australia. But Beau Casson would feel cheated. By cruel fate, by destiny. After coming out the winner amidst World Cups and T20 leagues, sport finds itself on the losing side this time.