Last calls for Lara, Inzy, Jumbo and Pidge
And a tournament to forget for Dhoni, Hussey and Younis Khan
20-Dec-2010
A painful end to Inzamam's ODI career • AFP
Farewells
Brian Lara
Success as captain and success at the World Cup are about the only achievements missing from Lara's outrageously accomplished career. Fitting, then, that both deficits came together in such bitter disharmony at home in 2007, where Lara made strange decisions, looked out of form, and was unable to unite or inspire his side. He managed 269 runs with only one 50-plus score, and finished with a run-out following a mix-up in his last match, a close defeat against England. A way to go it wasn't.
Success as captain and success at the World Cup are about the only achievements missing from Lara's outrageously accomplished career. Fitting, then, that both deficits came together in such bitter disharmony at home in 2007, where Lara made strange decisions, looked out of form, and was unable to unite or inspire his side. He managed 269 runs with only one 50-plus score, and finished with a run-out following a mix-up in his last match, a close defeat against England. A way to go it wasn't.
Inzamam-ul-Haq
He burst onto the international scene during the 1992 World Cup and whimpered out tearfully in the 2007 edition, having totalled 74 runs (an improvement on his 19 runs in 2003, at least). His poor form was mirrored in his team's pathetic showing on the field, and controversies off it. Defeats against West Indies and Ireland ensured an early flight back home, while coach Bob Woolmer's mysterious death made matters worse.
He burst onto the international scene during the 1992 World Cup and whimpered out tearfully in the 2007 edition, having totalled 74 runs (an improvement on his 19 runs in 2003, at least). His poor form was mirrored in his team's pathetic showing on the field, and controversies off it. Defeats against West Indies and Ireland ensured an early flight back home, while coach Bob Woolmer's mysterious death made matters worse.
Anil Kumble
He had ceased to be India's first-choice pyjama-wearing spinner since a shoulder injury in October 2000, and only sneaked into the World Cup squad late - to minimal effect, it turned out. He finished his ODI career with a wicket off his last ball, as India's leading ODI wicket-taker, though their early exit made it a forgettable swansong. He however continued playing Tests, a format he went on to lead the side in.
He had ceased to be India's first-choice pyjama-wearing spinner since a shoulder injury in October 2000, and only sneaked into the World Cup squad late - to minimal effect, it turned out. He finished his ODI career with a wicket off his last ball, as India's leading ODI wicket-taker, though their early exit made it a forgettable swansong. He however continued playing Tests, a format he went on to lead the side in.
Glenn McGrath
Accuracy, bounce, zip, an action on repeat, and a brain: there hasn't been a more successful fast bowler, in terms of Test wickets, and only three are ahead of McGrath's ODI haul of 381. There hasn't been anyone with a better sense of occasion either: he bowed out of the game with the most wickets (26) in Australia's World Cup-winning campaign and a Player of the Tournament award in the bag.
Accuracy, bounce, zip, an action on repeat, and a brain: there hasn't been a more successful fast bowler, in terms of Test wickets, and only three are ahead of McGrath's ODI haul of 381. There hasn't been anyone with a better sense of occasion either: he bowed out of the game with the most wickets (26) in Australia's World Cup-winning campaign and a Player of the Tournament award in the bag.
Stephen Fleming
This was Fleming's fourth World Cup as a player and third as captain, and he led New Zealand to the semi-final for the second time in his tenure. He stood down as ODI captain after losing to Sri Lanka, having led his side's campaign by example, scoring 353 runs in 10 matches, including one century and three fifties.
This was Fleming's fourth World Cup as a player and third as captain, and he led New Zealand to the semi-final for the second time in his tenure. He stood down as ODI captain after losing to Sri Lanka, having led his side's campaign by example, scoring 353 runs in 10 matches, including one century and three fifties.
Michael Vaughan
Vaughan played the last of his 86 ODIs in this World Cup, though his swansong was overshadowed by his opposite number, Brian Lara, whose farewell was the biggest talking point in Barbados. Vaughan signed off in style, though, scoring an enterprising 68-ball 79 to set up England's successful chase of 301 in the last Super Eights match. It was the highest point in their otherwise forgettable campaign.
Vaughan played the last of his 86 ODIs in this World Cup, though his swansong was overshadowed by his opposite number, Brian Lara, whose farewell was the biggest talking point in Barbados. Vaughan signed off in style, though, scoring an enterprising 68-ball 79 to set up England's successful chase of 301 in the last Super Eights match. It was the highest point in their otherwise forgettable campaign.
Russel Arnold
A quiet retirement from a quiet cricketer. Arnold's grafting, accumulating style suited him far more as a lower middle-order ODI batsman than as the Test opener he was at the start of his career. In his own, quiet way, he helped his side to the final, though perhaps his two-ball stay in the big game was too quiet a way to say goodbye.
A quiet retirement from a quiet cricketer. Arnold's grafting, accumulating style suited him far more as a lower middle-order ODI batsman than as the Test opener he was at the start of his career. In his own, quiet way, he helped his side to the final, though perhaps his two-ball stay in the big game was too quiet a way to say goodbye.
Craig McMillan
McMillan played the last of his 197 ODIs in the World Cup, contributing 228 runs at a strike-rate of 87.35 in New Zealand's campaign. His final ODI innings typified everything about his cricket: he lashed two sixes in a 20-ball 25 as New Zealand sank against Sri Lanka in their semi-final match.
McMillan played the last of his 197 ODIs in the World Cup, contributing 228 runs at a strike-rate of 87.35 in New Zealand's campaign. His final ODI innings typified everything about his cricket: he lashed two sixes in a 20-ball 25 as New Zealand sank against Sri Lanka in their semi-final match.
Duds
Younis Khan
Younis Khan's limp World Cup was symptomatic of his side's lacklustre performances, which led to their exit in the first round. A three-ball duck in the forgettable defeat against Ireland was the lowest point and he finished with 28 against Zimbabwe after Pakistan's tournament hopes had died.
Younis Khan's limp World Cup was symptomatic of his side's lacklustre performances, which led to their exit in the first round. A three-ball duck in the forgettable defeat against Ireland was the lowest point and he finished with 28 against Zimbabwe after Pakistan's tournament hopes had died.
MS Dhoni
Ducks in India's defeats against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, including being trapped palpably in front, first ball by Muttiah Muralitharan, came either side of 29 in the run-buffet against Bermuda. Unfortunately for India, Dhoni's rise to become the world's best ODI player came in the years following the World Cup.
Ducks in India's defeats against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, including being trapped palpably in front, first ball by Muttiah Muralitharan, came either side of 29 in the run-buffet against Bermuda. Unfortunately for India, Dhoni's rise to become the world's best ODI player came in the years following the World Cup.
Michael Hussey
Hussey only got to bat six times during the tournament, but too often he got out trying to up the tempo in the end overs - a skill he has been adept at for most part of his career. His failures hardly impacted Australia's march through the tournament, highlighting just how good they were.
Hussey only got to bat six times during the tournament, but too often he got out trying to up the tempo in the end overs - a skill he has been adept at for most part of his career. His failures hardly impacted Australia's march through the tournament, highlighting just how good they were.