Ashwin's call and why retirement can be fresh start
Hindustan Times Gurugram|December 20, 2024
Ashwin's sudden turn midway through a Test series has shocked everyone. It seems he ended his glorious spell angry/frustrated/disappointed; he wasn't central to the Indian team's plans anymore.
Amrit Mathur

This raises the question: when, and how, does a champion player decide it's time to go? Bumrah's guided missiles take less than a second to reach the batsman—in that brief moment, the batsman has to decide whether to play or leave, defend, or look to score. But about retirement, players have all the time in the world to think, though it's never easy to slip into an uncertain afterlife.

Recently, some greats have done that. When Tim Southee ended a fantastic career, the England team gave him a cricket "guard of honour". Before that, Jimmy Anderson and David Warner retired in somewhat similar circumstances. Anderson's farewell was on a gorgeous sunlit morning at Lord's. The Test ended before lunch on Day 3, but an almost full house waited respectfully till mid-afternoon to celebrate the extraordinary career (188 Tests, 704 wickets) of England's greatest. Warner's last dance was at Sydney, his home ground, ending a spectacular 15-year-old career that brought him 20,000 international runs and 48 hundreds.

Anderson and Warner were allowed a grand departure; their final Test appearance announced in advance to give them a dignified exit in front of adoring fans. Both, however, were gently nudged into retirement.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM HINDUSTAN TIMES GURUGRAMView all
Hindustan Times Gurugram

Mkts snap 4-week rally as Fed rate outlook hurts

Indian shares plunged on Friday, with the benchmarks logging their first weekly decline in five weeks, as sentiment soured after the Federal Reserve projected fewer rate cuts next year, spurring an exodus of foreign funds.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 21, 2024
Hindustan Times Gurugram

States may endorse dual tax at GST Council meet

The Goods and Services Tax Council meeting on Saturday could see a majority of states endorsing dual tax rates for specific consumer goods such as bags, watches, clothes, sunglasses and cosmetic products - based on their prices, with a higher rate for premium products - people familiar with the matter said.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 21, 2024
Hindustan Times Gurugram

Nagal sets sight on a fresh start following best year on tour yet

Indian's season included making 2nd round of a Slam, finishing in top 100 and training with world No.6 Ruud

time-read
3 mins  |
December 21, 2024
Hindustan Times Gurugram

Tottenham survive United comeback

Tottenham survived two calamitous errors from stand-in goalkeeper Fraser Forster on Thursday to beat Manchester United 4-3 and set up a League Cup semi-final against Liverpool, staying on track for their first trophy since 2008.

time-read
1 min  |
December 21, 2024
Hindustan Times Gurugram

BFI sticks to evaluation system to select teams

Indian teams will continue to be selected through the evaluation process at the national camp, with selection trials being held only in 'certain circumstances' at the discretion of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), as per the draft selection policy announced for the new season.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 21, 2024
Hindustan Times Gurugram

We had to hide him, he's his own enemy: MCA on Shaw snub

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has brushed aside Prithvi Shaw's emotional outburst after his exclusion from the Vijay Hazare Trophy squad, asserting that the temperamental batter has flouted disciplinary norms regularly and is \"his own enemy\".

time-read
2 mins  |
December 21, 2024
Hindustan Times Gurugram

Australia make their move, Will India also follow suit?

Three Tests down, two to go. And that is the score that the team management from both sides will be key to tracking.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 21, 2024
Hindustan Times Gurugram

'Idea was to prepare Gukesh so that there would be no surprises'

Paddy Upton described a scenario he played \"over a hundred times\" in his head as he flew from South Africa to Singapore. In it, he would meet Gukesh Dommaraju shortly after the Indian Grandmaster won the World Chess Championship title.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 21, 2024
Hindustan Times Gurugram

Following Manu, Suruchi claims hat-trick of gold

At the National Shooting Championships here, 18-year-old Suruchi, who hails from Manu's hometown of Jhajjar and has trained at the same academy where the Olympic medalist trained in her early days, shot brilliantly in a tough field to win the national air pistol title.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 21, 2024
Hindustan Times Gurugram

Zakir Hussain laid to rest in San Francisco

Zakir Hussain was laid to rest, on Thursday, at the Fernwood cemetery, in San Francisco, as renowned percussionist A Sivamani and other artistes performed on their drums a little distance away in a tribute to the tabla maestro.

time-read
1 min  |
December 21, 2024