Retirement and Cricket is another aspect of this game which every player has gone through. Mostly the greatest players retire at the age of 38 after holding huge numbers of records under his name. The decision and moment to announce the retirement is a quite daunting task for a player.
When a player can perform better this decision looks weird from the player rather being non-performer in a team for a long time. In the last few years or in the last two decades there was the case when a player stunned the world by taking the retirement in the early 30s when the golden phase of a player has started.
Let us take a look at the cricketers who either retired at young age or before the age of 35:
1. Shane Bond:
If there was one retirement of the last two decades which have made the fans feel very bad then it was the retirement of Shane Bond. Bond was the frontline bowler for New Zealand in the early 2000s. Out of 18 tests Shane Bond had played New Zealand has won 10 games.
18 Tests 87 Wickets 22.09 average – 82 ODIs 147 Wickets 20.88 average if one word to say anything over such numbers then it would be Unbelievable. 2003 world cup 17 wickets at an average of 17.94 – Statement to world – Shane Bond is Coming!
But fast bowlers are prone to injuries and Shane Bond was no exception. Shane Bond had spent more time recovering then being on the field which was the reason for his short cricketing career. The back Injury from which he never recovered along with his knees issues. After suffering from issues for too long Shane Bond decided to drop the curtains at the age 34 in December, 2009.
Just Imagine if he had played longer Shane Bond could have been the greatest bowler in history with his ability to outswing the ball raw pace and ability to bowl consistently at 150kph with toe crushing Yorkers was the message to the best out there in the world to have the fear off while playing against Shane Bond.
2. Tatenda Taibu:
The youngest test captain for Zimbabwe at the age of 21. One two names come to mind when someone talks about Zimbabwe Cricket history. Andy Flower and Tatenda Taibu were the two best players to have been produced from the small nation.
Taibu had played 28 tests and 150 ODIs with an average across 30 while amassed 3393 runs in ODIs and 1546 runs in tests with 200 dismissal as wicket keeper batsman. Also he had played in Indian premier league for Kolkata knight riders in his 11 years of his cricketing career. After Andy Flower Taibu was the second successful wicket keeper in Zimbabwe Cricket History.
Unlikely, another player's career was ended with political issues as Tatenda Taibu decided to drop the curtains of his career at the age of 29 due to the political issues between the boards which was quite shocking for the cricketing world across the globe.
3. Brendon McCullum:
Another player in the list from New Zealand. The explosive wicket-keeper batsman with most numbers of Sixes 107 in test cricket history. McCullum is only batsmen in kiwis history to register the triple century along with the record of fastest test century in the history of test cricket.
The fastest century in 54-ball came against the mighty Australians when he destroyed the pace-attack all over the ground and ended his career on the high note. Making his way into international cricket in 2004 against South Africa. Brendon McCullum has turned himself into the most destructive batsman of his time in a period of quick times.
The 2015 world cup was the highlight because of New Zealand and South Africa. Winning the epic semi-final game against south Africa the hopes were high the kiwis will have their first ICC trophy under their feathers. But that doesn't happen and New Zealand ended up as runner-ups.
Speculations were made not lifting the world cup after coming so close was the reason Brendon McCullum retired at the age of 35 in 2016 when he has so much cricket left in him.
4. Graeme Smith:
Graeme Smith has been a trailblazer in South African cricket history. If South Africa has been successful in the last two decades then Graeme smith is one and only reason. Smith was appointed as the captain of South Africa at the age of 22 without having good records before.
With rumours of spot-fixing and incident of Hansie Cronje South Africa was almost over when young flamboyant captain Graeme Smith turned the tables and transformed the South Africa team into the most difficult sides to beat in world cricket.
50 wins out of 100 tests and the most runs as a captain along with a record of most centuries as a captain. Smith led the team from front and who can forget the tour of England in 2003 when Smith smashed back to back double centuries – statement to the world what had to come in years.
That Sydney test in 2009 when Smith came in to save the test match with his broken hand this will definitely be remembered for the very long time in the fans hearts. 2014 when Smith played his last test against Australia and retired at the age of 33 as not being good with batting in the past few innings made the mind to hang his boots.
5. Andrew Flintoff:
Cricketer turned into Boxer. This story look more heart touching. If your from the team who have invented this beautiful game of cricket then expectations are high from the player. Andrew Flintoff has lived up to that. One of the finest all-rounders in cricket.
When fans have started calling you next Ian Botham it means player has the special talent. The 2005 ashes series which is regarded as the Greatest ashes series in the cricket history. Andrew Flintoff was the Man of the series as contributed with bat and bowl both. Often his performance in the series compared to former England star Ian Botham performance in 1981.
Throughout his career he has suffered from series of injuries but one knee injury has ended his career after which he never returned to the cricket field. In September 2010 at the age of 33 Andrew Flintoff hang up his boots and turned into boxer.
