5 well timed retirements in modern Test cricket

“Everything has to come to an end, sometime.” L. Frank Baum, The Marvelous Land of OzThis is the universal truth; however, the manner in which the end comes can often differentiate between the ordinary and the extraordinary. Test cricket has been privileged with quite a few extraordinary career climaxes. Don Bradman’s non-tryst with the three figure final career batting average, Sunil Gavaskar’s retirement after arguably one of the best innings of his life, Muttiah Muralitharan’s fairytale scaling of the 800 wicket mountain off the last delivery of his Test career, etc., to name a few.While the love for fame, fortune, and the game itself has persuaded many a cricketing great to hold on to their career by the skin of their teeth, often resulting in taking the sheen off that greatness, there have been a few who have managed to quit while on top, and on their own terms. The following slideshow takes a look at five modern Test cricket greats whose retirements were well timed.

#5 VVS Laxman

VVS Laxman

A few days prior to the 1st Test between India and New Zealand at Hyderabad in August 2012, VVS Laxman shocked selectors, team mates and fans alike, by deciding to retire with immediate effect, forgoing the luxury of a farewell Test in front of his home crowd.

The stylish Hyderabadi batsman registered a batting average of 41.2 in what turned out to be his final season (2011-12). Hardly a failure, and though he disappointed during India’s 0-4 thrashing at the hands of Australia in the 2011-12 Border Gavaskar Trophy, his intense training during the off-season and the lead up to India’s first Test match of the new season, did result in a few eyeborows being raised when the announcement came.

Speculations were rife about harsh criticism, in the wake of another Indian great Rahul Dravid’s retirement after the Australian debacle, being the cause of the untimely decision, but that would not explain the spirited preparations Laxman was in the midst of.

Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly cited chairman of selectors Krishnamachari Srikkanth’s handling of senior players as a possible factor:

"Srikkanth has a big problem in communicating. A player like Laxman would not train so hard just to keep himself fit for two Tests. If they (selectors) conveyed their opinion to Laxman earlier, this situation would not have surfaced. Why they stretched till August? Probably, the selectors' judgement has hurt him (Laxman) the most," Ganguly said.

Amid an ocean of rumours, the most logical theory came forth from an unknown source. As reported by the Times of India:

‘It is also being speculated that one of the selectors had called Laxman after picking the team and told him that this would be his farewell series. That hurt the veteran and is believed to be the main reason for his decision. In a way he wanted to hit back at the selectors and tell them that 'I would retire on my own terms.’

If true, Laxman’s retirement was timed as sweetly as some of the lovely flicks off his legs – a fitting reply to a system which still believes that dangling a farewell Test in front of a senior can absolve them of supreme callousness.

#4 Michael Hussey

Michael Hussey

Mr. Cricket Michael Hussey’s retirement from Test cricket, which had mild shades of an espionage thriller, emphasized that apathy of cricket boards towards senior cricketers even transcended hemispheres. Nobody saw it coming when the southpaw, in prime form, with three centuries in his previous five Tests, announced that his next – the 2013 New Year Test against Sri Lanka at Sydney – would be his last.

Hussey attributed his decision to the desire of spending more time with family, telling Cricinfo:

“"So I knew I was making the right decision because I knew my heart wasn't 100% in spending that amount of time away from home and being excited about the challenges that are going to come forward. Not very many players get to leave on their own terms, so I'm very fortunate in that respect.”

The Western Australian steered his team to victory in his final innings with a crucial 27 not out, and his selflessness was on show for a final time, when he allowed Mitchell Johnson to strike the winning runs.

Three months later, Hussey revealed the truth behind his sudden announcement, stating that had he disclosed his plans earlier, selectors may not have even considered him for that series, in a bid to try out someone younger. As reported by Cricinfo:

"Partly why I didn't want to say anything to anyone was that I cherished every Test match I got to play and I really wanted to finish the Australian summer. If I made it known earlier then perhaps they would start looking ahead earlier and not play me in my last couple of Tests. That was a small selfish part of it that I really wanted to finish when I wanted to finish. I didn't want them to say 'you're going to retire, we'll blood someone else.”

The champion cricketer’s fears were proven correct, when he was dropped from the Australian One Day International (ODI) squad, even though he remained available for selection in the shorter formats.

#3 Adam Gilchrist

Adam Gilchrist

The man who revolutionized Test batting and redefined the concept of a wicket-keeping all-rounder, Adam Gilchrist, announced his retirement while at the very top – less than a day after claiming the world record for dismissals by a wicket-keeper.

The moment came during the high-profile 2007-08 Border Gavaskar series, which included the extremely controversial Sydney Test, a case study in itself on umpiring howlers. It was the match which prompted Indian captain Anil Kumble to state that ‘only one team was playing with the spirit of the game.’ The Telegraph referred to this incident to display a bout of black humour amidst a glowering tribute:

‘It would be fanciful to suppose that Adam Gilchrist timed the announcement of his retirement from international cricket in order to register his shame at the boorish conduct of his team-mates during the Test series against India. The thought arises because Gilchrist comes across as one of cricket's nice guys. He has even been known to 'walk' without waiting for the umpire's finger, a most un-Australian practice.’

While a few whispers had begun to emanate about the declining quality of his glove-work, nobody could dispute the fact that he remained one of the most dangerous batsmen around, and a counter-puncher who thrived in adversity.

The man himself was as nonchalant about his retirement as some of his audacious strokes, selecting Adelaide, not the most famous in terms of retirement venues, to walk off into the sunset of a glorious Test career.

#2 Glenn McGrath

Glenn McGrath

The highest wicket-taking medium pacer in Tests, Glenn McGrath, brought the curtains down on an illustrious career in whites with a perfectly timed retirement, which coincided with the end of the 2006-07 Ashes series played at home, and was instrumental in the 5-0 rout of the hapless Englishmen.

As is always associated with cricketers who have had 10+ years on the international circuit, there was plenty of speculation about Pigeon’s possible retirement at the end of the series. But his thunder was stolen, for a while at least, by the retirement announcement of another legend - Shane Warne. Two days later, Australian cricket fans received another jolt, when McGrath confirmed that he too, would be retiring at the end of the series.

As reported by The Sydney Morning Herald, the two legends had a slightly different plan. Here’s what McGrath had to say:

"It's funny how it comes up that we retire from Test cricket at the same time. The plan we came up with was for Shane to announce it before the Melbourne game and I was going to announce it before Sydney. (But) with the scrutiny and the hearsay and what's happened mainly in the last few days, I wanted to get it out in the open, get it over and done with, basically, so we could get back and concentrate on the last two Tests. For me personally, going through the Test and trying to deny I'm retiring without lying, it's a bit tough - I feel I've always been quite honest."

The tall medium-pacer, who relied more on accuracy than pace for his wickets, rounded of a near-perfect Test career with a perfect swansong, capturing 21 wickets at an average of 23.9. He capped off his career with the wicket of James Anderson off the final delivery of his Test career, in front of his home crowd.

McGrath had an equally successful finish to his ODI career, which ended after the 2007 World Cup, which was won by the Aussies. He was named Man of the Series for his 26 wickets, and also became the leading wicket-taker in the history of the World Cup.

#1 Graeme Smith

Graeme Smith

It is hard to imagine South African Test cricket without its battle-hardened captain, Graeme Smith, who had been a colossal presence at the top for over a decade, ever since he took the reins of a talented yet underachieving team at the age of 22, all of 8 Tests old.

Just 33, and in prime form – his previous two series included an imperious double century against Pakistan and solid scores against India, the beefy left-hander did the unthinkable – retired for himself and his family, on his own terms, much before lack of form and subsequent wagging tongues could touch him.

According to Smith, he had been contemplating retirement ever since his ankle surgery, and exits of some of his closest aides. Gary Kirsten (whose tenure as coach ended in June 2013), Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher, brought him closer to his decision.

Finally, it was his love for family which prompted him to take the call – the gentle (off the pitch) giant revealed emotionally to the Sunday Times regarding his 18-month-old daughter (Cadence):

“That’s all she’s known of me really. She sees me on the TV and that was a moment where I realised I’m pretty happy with the decision I’ve made. I’ll have more time to see my children grow and I’ll be mentally more there.”

The southpaw’s final series was the leanest in terms of runs, scoring just 45 runs in six innings – a slight blemish in the otherwise glorious career of a man who knew his time had come, and had the guts to acknowledge it.