Sangakkara, Michael Clarke, Chris Rogers say ‘goodbye’ on same day
Mumbai: Since Kumar Sangakkara handpicked his swansong and declared it a couple of months before its occurrence, the fans and media prepared their mind and farewell plans have been in the pipeline. Amidst the noise in Sri Lanka, the cricketing world almost forgot that Michael Clarke – another giant of the sport – decided to put in his papers too. He was followed by Chris Rogers.
Come August 20, the sporting globe will see the last of their outings. Let’s have a look at their careers.
Kumar Sangakkara (2000 – 2015), World Cups – 4, Tests – 133 (one to go), ODIs – 404, Highest score – 319 (Tests), 169 (ODIs), Dismissals – 202 (Tests), 501 (ODIs)
Sangakkara made his Test debut under Sanath Jayasuriya’s leadership in 2000 against South Africa. He scored a 23 and caught Gary Kirsten off Muttiah Muralitharan. Sri Lanka won by an innings and 15 runs. Even in his ODI debut (against Pakistan), he passed with flying colours with the team winning and him scoring a handsome 35.
Over the years, Sangakkara grew rubbing shoulders and exercising his brains with compatriot Mahela Jayawardene, who retired in 2014. Both of them complemented each other to the best of their abilities.
It was Sangakkara and Jayawardene’s cricketing brain that took Sri Lanka to the World Cup final for two consecutive years, 2007 and 2011. Though the islanders could not clinch the final draw, it held them in good stead. Sri Lanka, post the Arjuna Ranatunga era, were otherwise fading into oblivion.
When Sri Lanka take on India at the P Sara Oval in Colombo on Thursday, all eyes will be on the southpaw – who also has 11 double hundreds under his belt, one short of Sir Don Bradman. He also has 12,350 and 14,234 runs in Tests and ODIs respectively.
Michael Clarke (2003 – 2015), World Cups – 3 (won 2), Tests – 114 (one to go), ODIs – 245, Highest score – 329, 31 wickets (Tests), 130, 57 wickets (ODIs)
‘Pup’ started in early 2003 but did not feature in the World Cup winning team of 2003. However, he turned it around and helped Australia retain the trophy in 2007. A right-handed batsman and a slow-left arm bowler, he was an asset to the young Aussie outfit back then.
Clarke rose to prominence as Ricky Ponting’s successor and had to rebuild an entire Australian team with all stalwarts retiring one after the other. Clarke was initially handed the T20 captaincy followed by all formats, after Ponting called it a day in 2011 (post the World Cup).
In January 2012, it was under Clarke’s leadership Australia thrashed India Down Under. He even went on to score a 329 at Sydney Cricket Ground.
After failing to win the Ashes in 2013, questions were raised about his potential as skipper and a batsman. He answered his critics regaining the urn in the return series itself (in Australia).
However, what looked impossible after the era of Glenn McGrath and Adam Gilchrist, was turned into reality by Clarke’s young squad that won the World Cup in 2015. With 8628 runs in Tests, 7981 in ODIs – he remains one of the inspirational Baggy Green holder.
It remains to be seen whether Clarke can leave with his head held high as Australia take on England in the Ashes finale at The Oval on Thursday.
Chris Rogers (2008 – 2015), Tests – 24 (one to go), Highest score - 173
Chris Rogers’ story is one of those unfortunate tales of a cricketer, ignored for years, and handed the crown few months before he thought he was done with the sport. Though Rogers won the Cricket Australia contract in 2007 and made his debut against India in 2008, he remained out of action for almost five years.
Due to his inability to score runs in the Perth Test (against India in 2008), he was dropped.
But Rogers rose from the ashes in 2013. It was coach Darren Lehmann who backed the left-hander who – till then was only a Test old – and was looking to rebuild his career.
Rogers never played ODIs and is considered to be a Test specialist. Recently, he slammed his career-best 173 in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s in 2015.
