Cricinfo XI - The Departed

The World Cup is a natural end marker to careers. This one has been no different and as well as a number of coaches leaving their jobs, a number of playing careers ended. Cricinfo puts together a retirement XI.

Brian Lara

Arguably the greatest modern-day batsman, few accomplishments evaded Brian Lara’s grasp over a 17-year career. He tops many lists; Test and first-class cricket’s highest scores, highest run-getter in Test cricket. He is also a close second in many others; joint second-highest century-maker and second-highest number of Test catches as an outfielder. He sparkled magnificently in winning efforts, sparkled equally magnificently in losing ones and led his country thrice, mostly problematically. In fact, success as captain and success at the World Cup are about the only achievements missing from an outrageously accomplished career. Fitting then that both came together in such bitter disharmony at home in 2007, Lara taking strange decisions, out of form and unable to unite or inspire his teammates. 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, totaling 74 runs (an improvement at least on his 19 runs in 2003). In between he was Pakistan’s man of steel; their most successful ODI batsman and possibly overall, he finished third-highest ODI run-scorer ever and with the most fifties (83), all made with a lumbering mix of cunning and aggression. His captaincy and running was questioned, but holding a bat, he galloped effortlessly to numerous victories (and occasionally towards mocking spectators). Despite the bulk, he was a safer fielder and catcher than many gave him credit for but he’ll remember his final exit for reasons other than his batting.

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© Faras Ghani 2007
Published on Cricinfo 3rd May 2007