As conversations around the sharply falling returns of two modern Test batting masters fighting it out in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy grow, Aadya Sharma looks at some of the greats of the game who have suffered a similar fate before eventually calling it quits.
Great batters are largely defined by their ability to have maintained high standards for long periods of time, defying conditions, situations and finally, age. The game is filled with examples of those who dominated for several years, but just couldn’t time their goodbyes well, some staying too long for their grand numbers to lose some sheen.
The ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy has two of this era’s finest batters – Virat Kohli and Steve Smith – fighting father time to float close to where they once sailed. Both have hit centuries in the series already, but whispers of an imminent farewell are gathering volume with each passing tour. At his peak, Kohli averaged 55, a number that has since come down to 47. Smith’s at an impressive 56 now, but he was once touching 65. Of course, falling averages in Tests around the world have played a part.
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Out of all the 100-Test club members, 51 have scored at least 7,000 Test runs. Out of them, 18 ended with a 50-plus career average, and three – Kumar Sangakkara, Smith and Jacques Kallis – have that number above 55. But final career numbers do not accurately reflect a player’s peak; rather, in some cases, averages nosedive due to, among other factors, a lack of alternatives coming up through the next generation.
