The Goodbye lot

At the start of the World Cup, there were a few candidates who were primed to retire after a satisfying campaign. Satisfying not always being “winning” but a semi-final or so. Now, the list is burgeoning and this time, it’s thanks to a call for someone’s head. While not unprecedented, the performance of some of the stars from various teams has left us surprised. One may wonder why. Here’s the list (real and potential):

Michael Vaughan (England)
His time as captain has come. For far too long has England done without a specialist captain for the one-day game. And even if they don’t regard this as the ‘true’ form of the game, they need to put up a good show. Paul Collingwood looks like a good and worthy successor with Andre Flintoff more interested in drinking binges…

Duncan Fletcher (England)
Ten years as the coach of a team and very little to show for it. How he survived that long itself is a mystery. Of things that matter to the English, there is only one Ashes win to show and a few overseas series wins that extended his career this far. But now, it’s time.

Brian Lara (West Indies)
He has already put to rest any speculation about his career by announcing his retirement. Good man, Lara! But a great player would be lost. Let’s hope he can continue to help the West Indies as they struggle to find 11 good players consistently.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies)
Is it time for him to go? With Lara gone, the captaincy debate would open up and Chanderpaul has already relinquished it once. Will he bite it again? Hope not for it is in the interest of the WI team to let a youngster take over and take the team further.

Habibul Bashar (Bangladesh)
The Bangladesh captain seemed overawed and completely unimaginative about his captaincy. That Bangladesh bat India and South Africa is a bonus but the team’s condition looks a bit like the frog trying to get out of the well… one step ahead and two behind!

Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan)
Gone. No point mulling.

Greg Chappell (India)
Ditto! Gone!

…to be continued (after the semis, that is)