Tomorrow, India and Australia face off in an elimination game for the World Cup. A semi-final spot is on the line, but other subplot is looming.
Two of the greatest batsmen of this generation will walk out in their countries colors, and for one of them, it may well be their last ODI game. Certainly their last World Cup game, because neither of them will be
around 4 years from now.
Ponting, a great great Australian cricketer, most-winning World Cup captain ever, is under increasing pressure to retain his own place in the side. He has lead 2 straight World Cup campaigns, presided over a dominating dynasty, had a Bradmanesque run with the bat. All that means naught, as his form has deserted him and his expiry date seems to be looming. Aussies selectors have a pattern of pushing out a winning captain from the ODI team to give his anointed successor a run as ODI captain -- a prelude to leading the team for the real thing, as it were. Just as a reluctant Mark Taylor was ousted to make room for Steve Waugh, the talismanic Waugh himself was handed his marching orders, to allow Ponting to step in. The selectors don't seem quite as ruthless as in times past, but there has been a lot of talk about Ponting leaving after the World Cup. An ideal time for him to show all and sundry he isn't done, but putting together a match-winning knock against India.
Tendulkar too may leave, but under very different circumstances. In his late 30s he still remains India's premier batsman -- the Fountain of Youth must be flowing in his backyard -- as his superb technique has allows him to continually reinvent himself to overcome everything the opposition has thrown at him. He may choose to retire from ODI's to focus on Tests, something he has hinted at in the past -- certainly, if India win the whole thing, the temptation will be overwhelming to walk in the sunset the way Michael Jordan did, after
his championship-winning basket in the NBA finals against Utah (hopefully, without the epilogue we saw with Michael:-) The decision is purely his, as at this time there is no pressure to leave. Here too, the hunger to dominate the opposition he has made his name against, will push him to put together another majestic knock
from the top of the order.
Either way, tomorrow will be the last time we will see one of these giants represent his country in a World Cup. Game on....
Bharat
Two of the greatest batsmen of this generation will walk out in their countries colors, and for one of them, it may well be their last ODI game. Certainly their last World Cup game, because neither of them will be
around 4 years from now.
Ponting, a great great Australian cricketer, most-winning World Cup captain ever, is under increasing pressure to retain his own place in the side. He has lead 2 straight World Cup campaigns, presided over a dominating dynasty, had a Bradmanesque run with the bat. All that means naught, as his form has deserted him and his expiry date seems to be looming. Aussies selectors have a pattern of pushing out a winning captain from the ODI team to give his anointed successor a run as ODI captain -- a prelude to leading the team for the real thing, as it were. Just as a reluctant Mark Taylor was ousted to make room for Steve Waugh, the talismanic Waugh himself was handed his marching orders, to allow Ponting to step in. The selectors don't seem quite as ruthless as in times past, but there has been a lot of talk about Ponting leaving after the World Cup. An ideal time for him to show all and sundry he isn't done, but putting together a match-winning knock against India.
Tendulkar too may leave, but under very different circumstances. In his late 30s he still remains India's premier batsman -- the Fountain of Youth must be flowing in his backyard -- as his superb technique has allows him to continually reinvent himself to overcome everything the opposition has thrown at him. He may choose to retire from ODI's to focus on Tests, something he has hinted at in the past -- certainly, if India win the whole thing, the temptation will be overwhelming to walk in the sunset the way Michael Jordan did, after
his championship-winning basket in the NBA finals against Utah (hopefully, without the epilogue we saw with Michael:-) The decision is purely his, as at this time there is no pressure to leave. Here too, the hunger to dominate the opposition he has made his name against, will push him to put together another majestic knock
from the top of the order.
Either way, tomorrow will be the last time we will see one of these giants represent his country in a World Cup. Game on....
Bharat
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