The long goodbyes begin

We will be intrigued by three players, who share 510 Test caps, 41,520 Test runs and 113 years between them: Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting and Jacques Kallis. But will we be marvelling at their immortality or wincing as they vainly seek to recapture the magic of their earlier years? It could be enthralling; it could be very painful.

Tendulkar and Ponting are now accustomed to queries about their future but somehow retirement has not been an issue with Kallis recently. It may be that his recent form has been so impressive; it can't just be that the new batch of hair upon Kallis's head creates an impression of youthfulness, which deflects any interrogators.