5 great players who haven't announced their retirement yet, but are out of contention

Not all cricketers are lucky enough to have a celebrated retirement. Many bow out quietly to lead sedate lives away from the public eye while others, despite their commendable contributions to the game, find themselves ignominiously axed from the national side.It is common knowledge that it takes inhuman passion and perseverance to be successful as a cricketer at the national level. Many cricketing greats continue to work hard and play domestic or league cricket to make it back to the national side; some of them believe that they still have it in them to play international cricket again, while others just want to be given an opportunity to go out on a high.Let us look at five modern cricketing greats who are out of contention but have not retired yet.

#5 Paul Collingwood

Durham batsman Paul Collingwood celebrates after reaching his century on his 39th birthday in May 2015

Having retired from Test cricket and been out of contention for a while now, Paul Collingwood still remains optimistic about the chances of an unlikely return to the ODI team. Speaking at Durham's media day back in 2012, Collingwood said, "I'm very realistic. I'm still available in one-day internationals and Twenty20s – I haven't retired from them yet.”

I do realise it will take pretty much a miracle to get back into that side. I know England will be looking at the younger generation coming through but I'm going to keep it open because I find it a big motivation in trying to get back into the side. It's something that drives me on all the time and you just never know what can happen,” he added.

Collingwood, who once considered retirement after having been dropped from the national side, claims that he is now enjoying his stint as Durham captain. He has recently signed a one-year extension to remain at Durham for the 2016 season.

"I've always said I want to carry on playing as long as I possibly can while I am still enjoying it and worthy of a place in the team," he said. "I feel I have still got a lot to offer and I'm going to do all I can to keep playing as long as possible. I want to keep this club going in the direction it has been for many years, making incredible strides in the competitive world of cricket."

#4 Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj Singh bats for MCC in 2014

From being the Man of the Series in the 2011 World Cup to being left out of the side soon after – things changed incredibly quickly for Yuvraj Singh.

He became an iconic figure in India after winning his battle against lung cancer and making a comeback to the national side. But sadly, ever since his comeback, Yuvraj has looked a shadow of his former self.

The consistency and flair that we had become accustomed to associating with him was gone. His 21-ball 11 in the final of the ICC T20 World Cup in 2014 was the final nail in his coffin in many ways.

One of the most expensive players in IPL 8, Yuvraj Singh failed to live up to his price tag with a series of unimpressive performances. Though many believe that he still has a couple of years of international cricket left in him, he has not been able to do enough to convince the selectors.

#3 Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag bats for MCC in 2014

Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma have been quite a successful opening combination for India in ODIs in the recent past. But as many rue, there will never be another like Virender Sehwag. The explosive right-handed batsman dominated world cricket for over a decade during which he scored at an alarming rate and won many matches for India single-handedly.

A prolonged slump in form has seen Sehwag being dropped from the side, and though he has not announced his retirement, he has been out of the national scheme of things for some time now. He also had a rather indifferent season with the bat while representing the Kings XI Punjab in the IPL 2015.

Cricket lovers from all over the world would love to see the Nawab of Najafgarh bounce back once again. Who knows, maybe his recent move to Haryana from Delhi can make the impossible happen.

#2 Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Shivnarine Chanderpaul is dismissed for West Indies for the final time, against England in May 2015

“Over a period of time we’ve noticed a decline in form … over the last 11 innings he’s averaging 16, so we thought the time has come to look towards younger players.” That was what Clive Lloyd said in what appeared to be an effort to put an ignominious end to the career of one of the best modern West Indian batsmen.

Chanderpaul had not been ready to quit and in a series of Whatsapp messages to the coach Simmons, he had, very clearly, made known his desire to continue. "I AM NOT RETIRING" was the last of those defiant messages from him.

Having amassed 11,867 runs from 161 Test matches at an average of 51.37, Chanderpaul has always been West Indies' unsung hero. Making a comeback at the age of 41 seems difficult but not impossible for the unorthodox batsman. "Retirement isn't on the cards at the moment," Chanderpaul told Cricket365.com in an interview.

Esuan Crandon, the head coach of the Guyana Franchise team, firmly believes that Chanderpaul has still got a role to play in Guyana cricket, both as a player and a batting mentor. He said, “As far as I am aware Shiv still wants to play for Guyana at Regional First-Class level. He is as fit as most of the younger guys and when he comes back I will sit with him to discuss what he wants and how he can help Guyana’s cricket.”

Affectionately known as 'The Crab', Chanderpaul who needs just 87 runs to overtake Brian Lara as the leading Test run-getter from the Caribbean, is leaving no stone unturned to make a comeback to the national side.

#1 Kevin Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen fields for Surrey in the 2015 season

The cricketing world is filled with sad examples of exceptionally talented cricketers who fell out of the national scheme of things because of disciplinary issues. Chris Gayle had been in and out of the side due to his differences with the cricket board until the board realised that Gayle was too talented a batsman to be kept out of the team. Pietersen, who is similarly a repository of a colossal amount of talent, has not been so lucky.

In the case of Pietersen, his differences with the board run perhaps too deep. Despite a string of commendable performances in T20 leagues around the world, Pietersen's equation with Andrew Strauss has robbed him of a potential ticket back to the national side.

The Englishman, whose immensely successful recent stint with Surrey was not enough to convince the selectors, is a much sought after figure in T20 leagues. He has impressed one and all with his performances for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash and the St Loucia Zouks in the Caribbean Premier League.

It is sad to see a maverick genius like Pietersen not being considered for selection. Cricket, at the end of the day, is the biggest sufferer.