Which cricketer had the saddest ending to his career?

[Mamoon]

Tendulkar.

His entire legacy demolished because he was clearly chasing records towards the end and ended up scoring his 100th 100 in a losing cause vs Bangladesh. How fitting.

His career in a sentence: SRT scored more runs, achieved more records, because of his longevity.

It's like saying water is wet.

Tendulkar had longevity not because he played till a very old age; he had longevity because he was twice as good most players in their teens.

He was Test class at 16; most batsmen are not even capable of scoring in domestic 4 day games at that age.

Tendulkar’s longevity was one of his greatest and most unique qualities. He was really good at a really young age (genuine young age, not on Naseem Shah and Rashid Khan’s calendar) and sustained a world class level for 20-21 years and dominated three generations of bowlers.

And he did all of that while carrying the hopes of a nation of billions who expected and demanded a century from him every time he walked to the crease.

Everyone dreams of having his longevity and playing for his country at the age that he did but most are not good enough. This is something simpletons don’t get.

They think longevity is for everyone and it is a choice. No, it is not. It is a gift and no one has this gift in greater abundance than the Little Master.

Please refrain from throwing around such disrespectful statements about a batsman who is far greater than any batsman your beloved country has ever produced and ever will produce.

Insulting Tendulkar while hiding behind an anonymous profile on an Internet forum makes no difference to Tendulkar’s legacy and what he means to billions of people but it surely says a lot about you as an individual.

 

[topspin]

Surprised no one has mentioned Shane Bond. He couldn’t catch a break with all the injuries he had. A career plagued by injuries. He was only able to play 18 tests from 2001 to 2009.

I think Acher’s career is heading the same way but at least for him he managed to bag the IPL paper.

 

[TheSultan]

Tendulkar.

His entire legacy demolished because he was clearly chasing records towards the end and ended up scoring his 100th 100 in a losing cause vs Bangladesh. How fitting.

His career in a sentence: SRT scored more runs, achieved more records, because of his longevity.

It's like saying water is wet.

100% correct

that 100th 100 was a poetic end to the ultimate stat padder.

Agreed about longevity too

 

[TheSultan]

Tendulkar had longevity not because he played till a very old age; he had longevity because he was twice as good most players in their teens.

He was Test class at 16; most batsmen are not even capable of scoring in domestic 4 day games at that age.

Tendulkar’s longevity was one of his greatest and most unique qualities. He was really good at a really young age (genuine young age, not on Naseem Shah and Rashid Khan’s calendar) and sustained a world class level for 20-21 years and dominated three generations of bowlers.

And he did all of that while carrying the hopes of a nation of billions who expected and demanded a century from him every time he walked to the crease.

Everyone dreams of having his longevity and playing for his country at the age that he did but most are not good enough. This is something simpletons don’t get.

They think longevity is for everyone and it is a choice. No, it is not. It is a gift and no one has this gift in greater abundance than the Little Master.

Please refrain from throwing around such disrespectful statements about a batsman who is far greater than any batsman your beloved country has ever produced and ever will produce.

Insulting Tendulkar while hiding behind an anonymous profile on an Internet forum makes no difference to Tendulkar’s legacy and what he means to billions of people but it surely says a lot about you as an individual.

He was only able to get in to the Indian team at 16 because there was a lull in their batting quality at the time. Lara could have played test cricket 3 years before his debut too but with greenidge, Haynes, Richards, Richardson etc - how’s a kid going to get in.

And Tendulkar clearly wasn’t ready as he admitted himself that after his debut innings he went to cry in a corner because he couldn’t take the heat.

 

[Technics 1210]

I almost agree with 1st part of your post.

Your second part is nonsense though.

Afridi played for 22 years and was not even close to Tendulkar (dont give me the allrounder crap).

Jayasuriya played for 20 odd years too and never matched Tendulkar.
.
Just playing longer does not mean more records and runs.

Jayasuriya was instrumental in revolutionising ODI batting in the mid 90s with his explosive opening style. In fact he is accredited for changing ODI batting.

Afridi started his career with a record (100 off 37) and his innings in the WC 09 SF and Final cemented his legend. His aggressive style meant he still holds the record for number of 6s in ODIs (I think?) But he would often get out, hence his run tally isn't that great. But oh how Pakistan could do with such a player right now.

Neither Jaya nor Afridi have centuries vs Namibia or Kenya (unlike Tendulkar).

Some players play for a long period and change the game, others just chase records.

PS: Ironically I also believe Vinod Kambli had the saddest end, and he was Tendulkar's teenage team-mate.

 

[Technics 1210]

Tendulkar had longevity not because he played till a very old age; he had longevity because he was twice as good most players in their teens.

He was Test class at 16; most batsmen are not even capable of scoring in domestic 4 day games at that age.

Tendulkar’s longevity was one of his greatest and most unique qualities. He was really good at a really young age (genuine young age, not on Naseem Shah and Rashid Khan’s calendar) and sustained a world class level for 20-21 years and dominated three generations of bowlers.

And he did all of that while carrying the hopes of a nation of billions who expected and demanded a century from him every time he walked to the crease.

Everyone dreams of having his longevity and playing for his country at the age that he did but most are not good enough. This is something simpletons don’t get.

They think longevity is for everyone and it is a choice. No, it is not. It is a gift and no one has this gift in greater abundance than the Little Master.

Please refrain from throwing around such disrespectful statements about a batsman who is far greater than any batsman your beloved country has ever produced and ever will produce.

Insulting Tendulkar while hiding behind an anonymous profile on an Internet forum makes no difference to Tendulkar’s legacy and what he means to billions of people but it surely says a lot about you as an individual.

You were not watching cricket when Tendulkar was in his prime. Vinod Kambli wiped the floor with Tendulkar.

Go pick up a history book, after Tendulkar's elbow injury it was his wife that convinced him to continue playing - wait for it - in hope he could break Lara's Test records.

 

[Mamoon]

He was only able to get in to the Indian team at 16 because there was a lull in their batting quality at the time. Lara could have played test cricket 3 years before his debut too but with greenidge, Haynes, Richards, Richardson etc - how’s a kid going to get in.

And Tendulkar clearly wasn’t ready as he admitted himself that after his debut innings he went to cry in a corner because he couldn’t take the heat.

Keeping your place in the team is as difficult as getting into it. When you are a young player you are very prone to getting dropped after a few failures because of the perception that you are too young and thus, not ready.

Tendulkar was a 16 year old kid. If he was nervous or scared of cried after his debut, that is perfectly normal.

But your emotions don’t dictate whether you are ready or not. Your performances do.

He performed in Test cricket almost instantly (after the debut duck) and played innings that were beyond his years and maturity level which showed, and meant, that he was ready at an age where most players are not good enough to be anywhere near the team.

Longevity is very important. It shows consistency, durability, reliability and endurance. It is also a reflection of mental resilience. Players who arrive with a bang and are gone in a whimper are worth nothing.

All great players had longevity. Tendulkar had a little more than others. Lara of course had longevity. He bashed bowlers in Test cricket for a good 15+ years.

 

[ArabKnight]

@Mamoon so on topic, who do you think had the saddest end to their career?

 

[Mamoon]

You were not watching cricket when Tendulkar was in his prime. Vinod Kambli wiped the floor with Tendulkar.

Go pick up a history book, after Tendulkar's elbow injury it was his wife that convinced him to continue playing - wait for it - in hope he could break Lara's Test records.

Kambli wiped the floor just like I wipe the floor with you on this forum every day.

But Kambli also got wiped out of international cricket like the germs on my bathroom floor every morning.

Hence, longevity is important. No one remembers or cares about Kambli today because he couldn’t last.

Longevity is the most important factor. It what makes a good player a great player and a great player a legend. A lot of people can do it once or twice but very few have what it takes to do it over a period of time.

Arsene Wenger once said, and I quote “the stamina of the motivation is more important than the intensity of the motivation”

Most players don’t have what it takes - mentally, physically, technically, spiritually - to carry on and script great performances for as long as Tendulkar did and some great athletes in other sports did.

 

[Technics 1210]

Kambli wiped the floor just like I wipe the floor with you on this forum every day.

What ever helps you sleep at night.

Don't worry, you will get over today's loss vs. your predicted World Champions. My gut feeling says so! Or perhaps today is a sad ending for your ridiculous predictions.

And please, do not talk about Vinod Kambli, you were not born when he was wiping the floor with Tendulkar.

 

[Mamoon]

@Mamoon so on topic, who do you think had the saddest end to their career?

It is a difficult question because it can be discussed in multiple dimensions. Sad ending could be because a player declined rapidly, or suffered a career-ending injury or some other circumstances contributed to what we would deem a sad ending.

I don’t know about sad but there are a few cricketers who had an embarrassing end to their career.

Shoaib springs to mind. He made a career out of intimidating batsmen and being a bully, but he got bullied into submission in his very last match, that too in a World Cup game, conceding 70 runs in 9 overs which would be equivalent to 100 runs in 9 overs today.

It was truly an ironic end to his career.

 

[Hitman]

Kambli wiped the floor just like I wipe the floor with you on this forum every day.

But Kambli also got wiped out of international cricket like the germs on my bathroom floor every morning.

Hence, longevity is important. No one remembers or cares about Kambli today because he couldn’t last.

Longevity is the most important factor. It what makes a good player a great player and a great player a legend. A lot of people can do it once or twice but very few have what it takes to do it over a period of time.

Arsene Wenger once said, and I quote “the stamina of the motivation is more important than the intensity of the motivation”

Most players don’t have what it takes - mentally, physically, technically, spiritually - to carry on and script great performances for as long as Tendulkar did and some great athletes in other sports did.

What's hilarious is that every time an All Time XI is compiled by a respected source, Tendulkar always, always makes it. And it's hilarious watching his random haters burn at that everytime.

 

[Hitman]

What ever helps you sleep at night.

Don't worry, you will get over today's loss vs. your predicted World Champions. My gut feeling says so! Or perhaps today is a sad ending for your ridiculous predictions.

And please, do not talk about Vinod Kambli, you were not born when he was wiping the floor with Tendulkar.

LOL, you talk about ridiculous predictions? Pre tournament you were prancing around PP claiming -

1. Pakistan will defeat India on 14th October

2. Babar Azam will end the World Cup as the highest scorer.

3. Pakistan will win the World Cup.

 

[Mamoon]

What's hilarious is that every time an All Time XI is compiled by a respected source, Tendulkar always, always makes it. And it's hilarious watching his random haters burn at that everytime.

Tendulkar would always make an all-time XI in both Tests and ODIs because no other batsman has ticked more boxes and left a bigger legacy.

People questioning his legacy or worse, mocking him only end up embarrassing themselves.

 

[Technics 1210]

Another sad ending springs to my mind. Sunil Gavaskar. Absolute legend, first to smash the 10000 test run barrier, first to break Bradman's Test centuries record, and how did his career end? It was lights out - no national celebration for the man who put Indian batting on the map.

Along comes Tendulkar though, he breaks Bradman's Test century record, and is gifted a Ferrari along with the highest Indian civilian award.

How sad.

 

[Hitman]

Tendulkar would always make an all-time XI in both Tests and ODIs because no other batsman has ticked more boxes and left a bigger legacy.

People questioning his legacy or worse, mocking him only end up embarrassing themselves.

No offence, but it's Pakistanis mostly, and for obvious reasons. And when I speak of Pakistanis, it's random Pakistanis who are nobodies. I've never heard any former Pakistani cricketer questioning him. In fact someone like Hanif Mohammad called him better than anyone else, including Don Bradman.

In Tendulkar's case, you'd have to carefully search for All Time XI's compiled by credible people where he actually DOES NOT make it.

 

[Abraham786]

Waqar has saddest end absolutely destroyed by Ajay jadeja and than Sachin ,they exposed and destroyed bang average bowler

 

[Technics 1210]

The millennial's definition of sadness : A Pakistan win.

 

[The_KING]

Wasim Akram. He was dropped from the Pakistan team following the 2003 world cup. He didn't even get a farewell match. Sad end to a legendary career.

 

[Sunzi]

Hansie Cronje.

 

[captain.hansolo]

Waqar Younis - Choked in both the 96' and 03' World Cup, specially in the matches against India. Was booed out of the ground by Pakistani fans during the presentation ceremony of the 03' World Cup. Nothing can be worse than being booed in a World Cup that too by fans of his own nation.

he didnt choked, he went up against someone better than him at the trade, at least on that day.

 

[captain.hansolo]

saba karim, a career cut short due to an eye injury. however, he did land on both feet and found an administrative gig with the BCCI and other cricket committees.

I had long considered pitching a defined benefit pension plan for sports personnel in india when i was doing structured settlements but i had no clue where to begin, whom to approach, whom to lobby. but i am happy to say that the BCCI has been reasonably good about taking care of talent.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Keeping your place in the team is as difficult as getting into it. When you are a young player you are very prone to getting dropped after a few failures because of the perception that you are too young and thus, not ready.

Tendulkar was a 16 year old kid. If he was nervous or scared of cried after his debut, that is perfectly normal.

But your emotions don’t dictate whether you are ready or not. Your performances do.

He performed in Test cricket almost instantly (after the debut duck) and played innings that were beyond his years and maturity level which showed, and meant, that he was ready at an age where most players are not good enough to be anywhere near the team.

Longevity is very important. It shows consistency, durability, reliability and endurance. It is also a reflection of mental resilience. Players who arrive with a bang and are gone in a whimper are worth nothing.

All great players had longevity. Tendulkar had a little more than others. Lara of course had longevity. He bashed bowlers in Test cricket for a good 15+ years.

He obliterated Abdul qadir as a 16 year old.

 

[Major]

Tendulkar chasing for that 100th 100 did expose him though.

Pakistanis fans all there lives bashed tendulkar as someone who played for his personal milestones and i remember people from india went lengths to deny that. That 100th 100 ended up proving the critics here right.

During those 12 months there was lots of mocking around.

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

Lots of players mentioned here who went out hard after decent, good or great careers.

I think that’s normal: A lot of people don’t know when to , so it’s not sad really, just typical

For me the truly sad endings are those such as Simon Jones who some people believed could have reached greatness, but post a brutal injury he spent years trying to get back and never could. A staggering waste.

Then there’s Mark Vermeulen who suffered crippling mental health problems that led him into some very dark places.

 

[WengerOut]

Sachin should not have waited for his 200th test match to retire. He scored his last ( 51st) century in his 178 th match in SA. Never scored another and played around 20 odd test matches.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Did anybody mention Mark Boucher, The South African wicketkeeper who was hit by a bail in his eye? He was just one match away from his 150th Test appearance. Pretty sad for him

 

[Hitman]

Did anybody mention Mark Boucher, The South African wicketkeeper who was hit by a bail in his eye? He was just one match away from his 150th Test appearance. Pretty sad for him

Yup! Was a terrific wicketkeeper. Sad, sad end to his career.

 

[160KPH]

For me the saddest endings to careers are those who didn’t utilize or weren’t able to utilize God given talents. Hard for me to say Waqar had a sad ending when at his peak he was one of the most destructive bowlers ever or feel bad for Wasim when he is forever remembered as the greatest left arm pacer - the Sultan of Swing. Both of these guys make it to many people’s all time XI’s.

Now two of the saddest endings for me:

1) Shane Bond - Sad ending because of all of the injuries and the whole debacle with the ICL where he was removed for 2 years. Such a complete bowler who absolutely bullied an incredible Australian team and dominated Ricky Ponting in the prime of his career. 150 kph with accurate late swing is just impossible to play. Would’ve been in the GOAT convo if it weren’t for the constant injuries. Sad the injuries robbed of us of a legendary career.

2) Mohammad Asif - God given bowling ability. Had both in swing and out swing with incredible accuracy and despite all the stupid decisions in his personal life he was such an intelligent bowler. Sad because he threw away God given ability due to selfishness and stupidity.

3) Stuart MacGill - Sad and unfortunate because he played at the same time as Warne. Absolutely amazing leggie, had all the skills and wicket taking ability- but played at a time when Australia already had the greatest leg spinner Unfortunately, when Warne was retiring, MacGill was past his prime as well. If he was born at any other time or a different country, he would have an all time great spin career.

 

[160KPH]

Tendulkar chasing for that 100th 100 did expose him though.

Pakistanis fans all there lives bashed tendulkar as someone who played for his personal milestones and i remember people from india went lengths to deny that. That 100th 100 ended up proving the critics here right.

During those 12 months there was lots of mocking around.

Even if that’s true though, hard to say it was a sad ending when he already had accomplished so much.

 

[Major]

Even if that’s true though, hard to say it was a sad ending when he already had accomplished so much.

he should had retired right after the 2011 world cup like Imran did in 1992. Chasing after a record really exposed himself as someone who cared more about personal milestones. Something that should had been celebrated was mocked for the next 12 months.

 

[mominsaigol]

he should had retired right after the 2011 world cup like Imran did in 1992. Chasing after a record really exposed himself as someone who cared more about personal milestones. Something that should had been celebrated was mocked for the next 12 months.

It didn't expose him at all though?

Tendulkar is Literally considered the Don Bradman of odi lol. Although yes he should have retired after 2011 but he still gave Pakistan one last beating in 2012 lol before leaving

 

[gazza619]

Any old endings dont make me sad anymore, as they are old distant memories.

I do feel sad for how Shadab, Nawaz and Saud Shakeel’s ODI careers are about to end though

 

[Iamcoolwhiz]

What ever helps you sleep at night.

Don't worry, you will get over today's loss vs. your predicted World Champions. My gut feeling says so! Or perhaps today is a sad ending for your ridiculous predictions.

And please, do not talk about Vinod Kambli, you were not born when he was wiping the floor with Tendulkar.

Well, I am not sure what wiping the floor means, was it a day or a week when Kambli outshined Tendulkar, I don't know.

The Truth(with capital T) is, at the end of their respective careers, one was a giant so huge that his mere reflection was the inspiration for the next gen of Indian(and I am sure global) batsmen and the other one would be remembered as the side kick who would try to be relevant by sticking by Sachin's side.

Please take a step back and think if this is the hill you want to die on, coz Kambli vs Sachin is not a debate, it is a conclusion

 

[Iamcoolwhiz]

Even if that’s true though, hard to say it was a sad ending when he already had accomplished so much.

It was hard for Indians, you have no idea the impact his retirement had on people. I, for, one, stopped watching cricket for a good two years. And so did a lot of people. Sachin is a emotion not a lot of non-Indians can understand.

 

[160KPH]

It was hard for Indians, you have no idea the impact his retirement had on people. I, for, one, stopped watching cricket for a good two years. And so did a lot of people. Sachin is an emotion not a lot of non-Indians can understand.

I think they were using the term sad as in having a bad ending or didn’t become as good as they should have, or massive regrets. I appreciate the sad feeling that he’s gone, he was such a legend of the game, but I don’t think that’s the type of sadness being referred to in the thread.

 

[uppercut]

Which cricketer had the saddest ending to his career?

Few mentions

- Mark Boucher
Guy was suppose to retire and was playing his last game. Ends up getting injured where the bail hits his eye pretty bad and had to get a surgery which left him difficulties.

That was the first time he got such an injury and it happened during his last game.

- Saeed Anwar
His daughter passed away and he just wasnt in the game anymore mentally.

- Kumar Sangakara
Best of the game, reached finals of the ICC events but never won the trophy.

-Jonathan Trott
Guy was avg in the 60s, and was a wonderful batsman, but once he got exposed by Australia and than his depression issue, his career just ended

-James Taylor
Was a prodigy and was expected to make it big in cricket, but had to retire prematurely due to a heart condition that didnt allow him to play cricket.

-Phillip Hughes
Another prodigy that died in a domestic game in Australia. His death later on forced ICC to bring in a protective pad on the back of the helmet

Any other that you guys know off?

Has to be Raman Lamba .... died fielding at Shortleg when hit by a pull shot in a obscure FC game in BD ... IIRC

 

[Major]

It didn't expose him at all though?

Tendulkar is Literally considered the Don Bradman of odi lol. Although yes he should have retired after 2011 but he still gave Pakistan one last beating in 2012 lol before leaving

discussion is about how he was exposed as someone that played for his own personal milestone.

 

[160KPH]

he should had retired right after the 2011 world cup like Imran did in 1992. Chasing after a record really exposed himself as someone who cared more about personal milestones. Something that should had been celebrated was mocked for the next 12 months.

I’m of two minds about this.

I agree his career is overall better if he had retired after 2011 and winning the Cup. And yes it is a bit of a farce to the game if you keep a player in who is not performing just to chase a personal milestone.

On the other hand, when you can be probably the only person who will ever score a century of centuries, how can you say no to that? I’m not sure, it’s tough.

 

[Major]

I’m of two minds about this.

I agree his career is overall better if he had retired after 2011 and winning the Cup. And yes it is a bit of a farce to the game if you keep a player in who is not performing just to chase a personal milestone.

On the other hand, when you can be probably the only person who will ever score a century of centuries, how can you say no to that? I’m not sure, it’s tough.

Bradman was going to be the only person with that 100 avg if he still played a few games, but he didnt.

He was always critisized for this from his early days which indian fans went lengths to deny it.

 

[Hitman]

Bradman was going to be the only person with that 100 avg if he still played a few games, but he didnt.

He was always critisized for this from his early days which indian fans went lengths to deny it.

Not at all. It was Pakistani fans who couldn't compare their hero Inzamam with him man to man on the basis of performance, which is why they said those stuff. He used to bully bowling attacks in the 90's, and untill his tennis elbow injury. Not once any cricket pundit questioned his attitude towards the game in the 90's. A selfish player is someone who plays it safe and slow and doesn't risk his wicket. He was instead criticised by a lot of fans in the 90's for not valuing his wicket much and instead playing unnecessary aerial strokes.

 

[Major]

Not at all. It was Pakistani fans who couldn't compare their hero Inzamam with him man to man on the basis of performance, which is why they said those stuff. He used to bully bowling attacks in the 90's, and untill his tennis elbow injury. Not once any cricket pundit questioned his attitude towards the game in the 90's. A selfish player is someone who plays it safe and slow and doesn't risk his wicket. He was instead criticised by a lot of fans in the 90's for not valuing his wicket much and instead playing unnecessary aerial strokes.

And those stories got proven when he chased for 12 months for that 100th 100. Had he not gone for that record, it would had stayed as stories.

 

[Hitman]

And those stories got proven when he chased for 12 months for that 100th 100. Had he not gone for that record, it would had stayed as stories.

So 1 match at the end of a player's career defines his entire career? What about the horrible knock Imran played in the semi final of the 1992 WC, where he was saved by Inzamam? Does that define his entire career?

 

[Major]

So 1 match at the end of a player's career defines his entire career? What about the horrible knock Imran played in the semi final of the 1992 WC, where he was saved by Inzamam? Does that define his entire career?

not one match, the suspicion was always there, it was just during his chase for that 100 for 12 months that confirmed it.

 

[Hitman]

not one match, the suspicion was always there, it was just during his chase for that 100 for 12 months that confirmed it.

The suspicion was artificially created by Pakistani fans because of the stomach ache SRT's peer reputation gave them for over 2 decades.

 

[Major]

The suspicion was artificially created by Pakistani fans because of the stomach ache SRT's peer reputation gave them for over 2 decades.

so it was artificially created and than it got proven in the last 12 months of tendulkars search for that milestone? lol

 

[uppercut]

discussion is about how he was exposed as someone that played for his own personal milestone.

It was the mad fans and media that drove him insane ... EVERYWHERE he went in the year preceding that 100 he was hounded by every TDH first wishing him then praying for him and so on. It will get to even the most mentally strong person out there in the world. To understand this you need to realize what Tendulkar meant to India. Pretty darn sure you have very little insight into that.

FWIW ... I blame the idiot Dinesh Karthik for not letting Tendulkar score a hundred against SL( or BD ) in a match where the situation was very similar to what Kohli faced against BD the other day ... leaving Tendulkar stranded in the 90s.

Why ? There are some players that transcend the game ....example: Bradman, Sobers, Richards, Tendulkar, Lara, Kohli, Akram etc. all Genuine legends who continue to inspire millions to take up the game and if it means that it comes at a loss of few games against some non-descript team in some inconsequential match then so be it. Its worth it as the positives overwhelmingly outweigh the negatives. You can nitpick to your hearts content but I can categorically assure you that nobody gives a rats tail. As a die hard major cricket nut I can guarantee you that in more ways than one !

 

[Iamcoolwhiz]

I think they were using the term sad as in having a bad ending or didn’t become as good as they should have, or massive regrets. I appreciate the sad feeling that he’s gone, he was such a legend of the game, but I don’t think that’s the type of sadness being referred to in the thread.

I knew the the context of sad In the previous post. I just juxtaposed it for the real sad that should be attributed to Sachin's retirement rather than the mean sad used in the post.

 

[Blackbradman]

Saba Karim- He was forced to retire after being hit in the right eye by an Anil Kumble delivery that came off the batsman's boot while keeping wickets during an ODI vs Bangladesh in Dhaka in 2000. He underwent surgery and never played cricket again.

 

[Blackbradman]

Craig Kieswetter- The England and Somerset wicketkeeper-batsman retired from all forms of cricket in June 2015 due to an eye injury. Kieswetter was forced to retire after suffering a horrific eye injury while batting for Somerset against Northamptonshire in a county game in July 2014

 

[Blackbradman]

Marcus Trescothick- He announced an early retirement from international cricket because of mental health issues.

 

[Mamoon]

Tendulkar chasing for that 100th 100 did expose him though.

Pakistanis fans all there lives bashed tendulkar as someone who played for his personal milestones and i remember people from india went lengths to deny that. That 100th 100 ended up proving the critics here right.

During those 12 months there was lots of mocking around.

This is absolute nonsense though.

Every batsman plays for personal milestones. It doesn’t make you selfish. These milestones are a matter of great pride.

If they didn’t play for milestones no one would be taking his helmet off and celebrating a century.

No one would ever celebrate a hundred, or a 5 wicket-haul unless the match was a foregone conclusion.

Mahmudullah celebrated his century against South Africa the other day with a lot of passion and enthusiasm even though the match was done and dusted by then.

Does that make him selfish and someone player for his milestone? Absolutely not. There is something called personal pride too.

Scoring a hundred against an excellent South African attack in a World Cup game when everyone else around you failed to perform was something to celebrate, something to cherish.

Pakistani fans peddled the ”Tendulkar is selfish” simply because of deeply ingrained jealously and not because there was any substance to it. They couldn’t accept that an Indian batsman was leagues above any batsman they have ever produced and ever will produce.

Saying that Tendulkar should have retired after the World Cup final with 99 hundreds is what armchair criticism looks like. Not a single batsman would have retired on 99 hundreds. If you were Tendulkar, you would also not retire at that point no matter what you say right now.

Imran’s example is nonsense because he was not close to any significant personal milestone. Speaking of selfishness, making the World Cup winning presentation about himself and his hospital rather than talking about his team was certainly a selfish, self-centered act.

It was an achievement that was built over 22 years and Tendulkar had earned the right to play for himself for the last few months of his career after achieving everything he could for Indian cricket.

Tendulkar’s Indian career was over with the 2011 World Cup final. Everyone knew that because there was nothing else to achieve for him and he was not going to play the next World Cup.

However, for all his services to the Indian team and what he meant to them, he was allowed to complete a milestone that will probably never be toppled in history if Kohli falls short.

100 100s in international is no joke. How many Pakistani batsmen do you need to put together to get to that figure?

Playing for personal records is only a problem if is negatively impacting your team and Tendulkar’s desire to score hundreds never hurt India. Those 100 100s brought a lot of success and joy to Indian cricket.

Kohli is also chasing the Tendulkar record (ODIs) in this World Cup. He is denying singles and other batsmen are facilitating him as well.

Does it make him selfish? Absolutely not. It will be a matter of great pride for him and Indian cricket if he could break Tendulkar’s record in a World Cup hosted by India.

 

[Statpadder Inc]

Tendulkar averaged above 40 in every test playing nation and had an average of 54 after 200 matches, what's this longevity nonsense being peddled. He was consistently amazing. But seems like some posters can't digest this

 

[Mamoon]

Pakistani fans will do bhangra on Bradman retiring on an average of 99 and him retiring on an average of 99 is their achievement.

You cannot compare that with Tendulkar not retiring on 99 centuries. Completely different situation, completely different expectations, completely different dynamics.

 

[Major]

This is absolute nonsense though.

Every batsman plays for personal milestones. It doesn’t make you selfish. These milestones are a matter of great pride.

If they didn’t play for milestones no one would be taking his helmet off and celebrating a century.

No one would ever celebrate a hundred, or a 5 wicket-haul unless the match was a foregone conclusion.

Mahmudullah celebrated his century against South Africa the other day with a lot of passion and enthusiasm even though the match was done and dusted by then.

Does that make him selfish and someone player for his milestone? Absolutely not. There is something called personal pride too.

Scoring a hundred against an excellent South African attack in a World Cup game when everyone else around you failed to perform was something to celebrate, something to cherish.

Pakistani fans peddled the ”Tendulkar is selfish” simply because of deeply ingrained jealously and not because there was any substance to it. They couldn’t accept that an Indian batsman was leagues above any batsman they have ever produced and ever will produce.

Saying that Tendulkar should have retired after the World Cup final with 99 hundreds is what armchair criticism looks like. Not a single batsman would have retired on 99 hundreds. If you were Tendulkar, you would also not retire at that point no matter what you say right now.

Imran’s example is nonsense because he was not close to any significant personal milestone. Speaking of selfishness, making the World Cup winning presentation about himself and his hospital rather than talking about his team was certainly a selfish, self-centered act.

It was an achievement that was built over 22 years and Tendulkar had earned the right to play for himself for the last few months of his career after achieving everything he could for Indian cricket.

Tendulkar’s Indian career was over with the 2011 World Cup final. Everyone knew that because there was nothing else to achieve for him and he was not going to play the next World Cup.

However, for all his services to the Indian team and what he meant to them, he was allowed to complete a milestone that will probably never be toppled in history if Kohli falls short.

100 100s in international is no joke. How many Pakistani batsmen do you need to put together to get to that figure?

Playing for personal records is only a problem if is negatively impacting your team and Tendulkar’s desire to score hundreds never hurt India. Those 100 100s brought a lot of success and joy to Indian cricket.

Kohli is also chasing the Tendulkar record (ODIs) in this World Cup. He is denying singles and other batsmen are facilitating him as well.

Does it make him selfish? Absolutely not. It will be a matter of great pride for him and Indian cricket if he could break Tendulkar’s record in a World Cup hosted by India.

do you admit that Tendulkar was going for a personal milestone? Because many indianfans do not admit to it

 

[Statpadder Inc]

Dhoni, the 2019 semis final

 

[BouncerGuy]

Guys, please stay on topic. There is no need to discuss individual performances in this thread.

 

[Mamoon]

do you admit that Tendulkar was going for a personal milestone? Because many indianfans do not admit to it

After the World Cup final?

Of course. It is the only reason he didn’t retire from ODIs. He would have 100% retired from ODIs after the 2011 World Cup had he managed to achieve the milestone.

Any Indian fan who doesn’t admit it is probably being bullied by some Pakistani fans and he doesn’t know how to give such fans a proper shut up call.

 

[uppercut]

Pakistani fans will do bhangra on Bradman retiring on an average of 99 and him retiring on an average of 99 is their achievement.

You cannot compare that with Tendulkar not retiring on 99 centuries. Completely different situation, completely different expectations, completely different dynamics.

And there is the small matter of Bradman not being aware at all that he would be is stranded at < 100 avg if he scored less than 4 runs in his last innings( he said this in an interview). those were the days when cricket stats were hard to come by.

Anyone who thinks that Bradman would have played differently had he been aware of that is naive.

 

[Srinath_cricket]

He retired in Jan, 2008. And that was because a certain egomaniac Graeme Smith didn't want him in the team. He was a fantastic bowler till that point of time.

Most fans look at Smith's contribution to SA cricket without having knowledge about his attitude and his big mouth during his early days. The guy was a certified loud mouth during his early years.

I agree with Graeme Smith's loudmouth part wholeheartedly. During India's home series against SA (2009!?), we managed to draw the series by winning 1-1 with Morkel being scalped by Bhajji 9 balls from stumps. Smith said in post match interview on the lines of... "We've drawn the series in India, let's see what they're capable of when they tour SA".

During the subsequent series in SA, in the first test we capitulated to a first innings score of 131 and never recovered. Smith said during presser "We expected a better fight from No. 1 team not this performance.. yada yada and so on". The next match India defeated them in Durban and man...... You should've seen his face. I longed to see that face for a long time.

We eventually drew the series 1-1 after drawing the 3rd test in a strong position.

 

[Srinath_cricket]

do you admit that Tendulkar was going for a personal milestone? Because many indianfans do not admit to it

Tendulkar very well went for his milestone and that's not even the worst part. The worst part is BCCI arranging a series against Windies just because they wanted to give tendulkar a happy winning farewell. What a load of farce, I still remember it.

 

[happydavy]

Being booed by fans or critiqued by naysayers or thrown out of the team unceremoniously or not able to perform in final match are the usual struggles for any professional whether in sports or outside. Struggle or going out on a low isn't the same as sadness. The real sad ending for me is reserved for folks whose lives, which included their social status, changed entirely when their career ended. I feel sad for cricketers such as Chris Cairns (handicapped and bankrupt), Hansie Cronje, VB Chandrashekhar (commited suicide over debts), Halima Rafiq etc etc. I had a senior in school who had played for India u15s at one point, he couldn't make it big and he committed suicide in his 20s jumping from a building overlooking the cricket ground. Even in his last breath, he wanted to see the cricket pitch, that's sadness not some nutjob calling someone selfish or you getting bowled out for a duck in your last inning.

 

[owenhcricket]

It depends on what the question means..the most tragic end was Phil Hughes of course but in that line, Boucher would be second. He still had some time left in him but the horrendous eye injury ended everything.

In terms of players who just stayed on too long, it was sad and at times pathetic watching Tendulkar in his final few years. The 2011 World Cup should have been a farewell yet he was part of a disastrous tour to England and stayed on for some nonsense "100 100s yaar".

The same goes for Inzy playing well into 2007 and ending Pakistan's worst ever world cup campaign.

KPs end, down to at times his own arrogance but also a lot of backstage politics was unceremonious for a truly great cricketer.

 

[mominsaigol]

discussion is about how he was exposed as someone that played for his own personal milestone.

Fair my bad, I misunderstood

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Jonathan Trott for me. The ashes series of 2013 was a nightmare for him.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

I believe Virat Kohli ending his career at RCB would be the saddest one.

 

[Jazx]

After the World Cup final?

Of course. It is the only reason he didn’t retire from ODIs. He would have 100% retired from ODIs after the 2011 World Cup had he managed to achieve the milestone.

Any Indian fan who doesn’t admit it is probably being bullied by some Pakistani fans and he doesn’t know how to give such fans a proper shut up call.

That 100th hundred was in his overall international career, not alone in ODIs. He could have still achieved that by continuing in test cricket. 2011 wc final was the best occasion when he should have called off his odi career.

 

[Mamoon]

That 100th hundred was in his overall international career, not alone in ODIs. He could have still achieved that by continuing in test cricket. 2011 wc final was the best occasion when he should have called off his odi career.

He was on 48 ODI hundreds after the 2011 World Cup, he deserved to continue to get to the 50 mark.

 

[Junaids]

Isn’t this thread supposed to be about the saddest endings to international careers?

Ken Wadsworth, New Zealand wicketkeeper. Died of skin cancer aged 29 in 1976, just weeks after his final Test.

Archie Jackson, Australian boy genius batsman. Died of TB aged 23 in Brisbane, and had a massive lung bleed just before he died during the Brisbane Bodyline series Test, during which most of the players on both sides visited him on his deathbed.

 

[BouncerGuy]

I believe Virat Kohli ending his career at RCB would be the saddest one.

His career with RCB is already a pretty sad one. Always has the best batting lineup along with him but never won anything in IPL till date.

 

[Junaids]

1959: the West Indies’ 26 year old spinning all-rounder Collie Smith dies after Garry Sobers drives a car into a truck at 4:45 am in the English Midlands.

Had he lived, his replacement Lance Gibbs would not have taken the world record for Test wickets (309) from Fred Trueman (307): Gibbs was a slightly better bowler but Smith was a Rizwan-quality Test batsman whereas Gibbs could not bat at all.

 

[Junaids]

The emerging pace bowler DLS (“Stanley”) De Silva was propelling Sri Lanka towards Test status in the late 1970’s: at the 1979 World Cup he took 2-36 against India in 12 overs.

Eight months later he was killed in a motorbike accident, and Sri Lanka lacked a decent pace bowler for their first decade of Test cricket.

 

[Major]

The emerging pace bowler DLS (“Stanley”) De Silva was propelling Sri Lanka towards Test status in the late 1970’s: at the 1979 World Cup he took 2-36 against India in 12 overs.

Eight months later he was killed in a motorbike accident, and Sri Lanka lacked a decent pace bowler for their first decade of Test cricket.

more elaboration on this, seems quite interesting

 

[Ilan Bluestone]

Tendulkar had a farewell tour. Far from the saddest ending.

We're now diminishing one of the best?

 

[Hitman]

Tendulkar had a farewell tour. Far from the saddest ending.

We're now diminishing one of the best?

Hatred, envy and jealousy has no cure. But it's understandable from Pakistani fans since he is the most loved Indian cricketer who has received more plaudits and acclaims than any other cricketer since Garfield Sobers. It's only understandable that they hate him

 

[FearlessRoar]

I was sad for Misbah that he didn't get an ODI century.

 

[aukhan]

The list is very long.

Inzimam, Wasim, Waqar, Anwar, Akhtar, Junaid Khan.

 

[Local.Dada]

Raman Lamba and Phil Hughes have to be top 2.

 

[Major]

Raman Lamba and Phil Hughes have to be top 2.

Offcourse, because raman was indian, so why shouldnt indians be left behind in some competation...

 

[Local.Dada]

Offcourse, because raman was indian, so why shouldnt indians be left behind in some competation...

All you had to do was google Raman Lamba before responding to me. I would say 90% of hardcore fans know about him and how his career ended. Not sure what it has to do with him being Indian. I said Phil Hughes too and he is not Indian, can you figure out the common factor here and come back