[avingodb]

Originally Posted by deehunk

He was told to quit

""It was a very tough decision after playing 18 years," Kumble said. "My body gave me this decision, and this injury did."

Kumble said he had made the decision on Saturday. "I had decided to leave after the series anyway," Kumble said. "Delhi has been special to me and I think it's fitting to finish here."

He also struggled with a shoulder injury at the beginning of the series and did not not play in the second test in Mohali."

https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/s....17442778.html

I am happy to read any reference to "told to quit". However, he was fading badly by that time, as was Ashwin actually. His average and strike rate against New Zealand was way worse than his career average. Kapil was, of course, playing for Hadlee's record, and he quit the moment he crossed it. His bowling had dropped by almost 15 kms by the end.

[Asish_VK]

Originally Posted by deehunk

We have never given a farewell to our bowling legends; Kapil too quit midway, Harbhajan was isolated, and Anil Kumble quit midway during Dhoni's reign, though he was fit enough to play at least a year; now Ashwin. On the other hand, we see Rohit and Virat playing single-digit lotteries with no shame.

However Ashish Nehra somehow got a celebrity sendoff! I wonder why!

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by deehunk

He was told to quit; BCCI has never treated our bowlers at par with our batsmen.

Not just bowlers.

Most iconic sorry sendoffs (for all they had done to Indian test cricket) among batters would be Dravid and VVS Laxman

[am1m]

I'm going contrary to my fondness for Ashwin here to say that this mid-tour return is not ideal. I think Ash is an astute cricketing brain, would have made a better captain than Rohit for sure. And of course he's a bona fide legend, match winner, all-time India and Cricket Great.

Also, wouldn't be surprised if the way he was told about his future was mishandled. (For all his achievements, Gambhir doesn't strike me as an easy person to work with.) Also agree that unlike Ashwin, in stark contrast, Kohli and Rohit are being given too long a rope.

But here's the thing- this is a team game. Even a bona fide legend needs to help and present a unified front. Especially when facing a team that's as good at the mental (disintegration) game as Australia. If the stories are true that Ashwin didn't want to tour unless assured of a place, then I'm sad. We have seen even legends carry drinks to youngsters on the field, when they haven't been playing. That's the sort of thing sport is supposed to instill.

But anyway, sad to see him go. He's managed to do it in the way Vijay Merchant articulated- 'retire when people ask why and not when.' And that is something.

[PPS]

Originally Posted by avingodb

However, he was fading badly by that time, as was Ashwin actually. His average and strike rate against New Zealand was way worse than his career average.

Agreed that Ashwin was not effective against NZ but thats 1 bad home series in a decade! But credit to him for seeing the decline & calling it quits rather than linger on in search of breaking Kumble's record.

Originally Posted by am1m

But here's the thing- this is a team game. Even a bona fide legend needs to help and present a unified front. Especially when facing a team that's as good at the mental (disintegration) game as Australia.

Totally agree. This retirement has overshadowed and taken away the grit & fight shown by Bumrah,AkashDeep, KL & Jadeja in this Test! Don't think the Australians ever imagined that the series would be tied at 1-1 heading into Melbourne.

[searacer932]

The Aussies front loaded the series i.e. open the series in the bouncy Perth, follow-it up with a spicy Pink ball test which is then followed-up with their supposedly fortress Gabba!

I agree that nobody anticipated the series to be 1-1 at the end of the 3rd test match. I was expecting 3-0 in favour of Aussies by now!

[ike]

Originally Posted by NomadSK

I think this was a bold and aggressive move by Cummins.

A "bold and aggressive" Cummins would have declared his first innings and had a go at the fragile Indian top order on Day two itself but he wanted the cushion of a massive total.

[suhaas307]

Originally Posted by ike

A "bold and aggressive" Cummins would have declared his first innings and had a go at the fragile Indian top order on Day two itself but he wanted the cushion of a massive total.

Any team / captain would prefer runs on the board for their 1st innings. Can’t blame Cummins for what he did. Imagine if the runs were not enough? That “bold and aggressive” call would have later been labelled “foolish and opportunistic”. There’s always a fine line.

[ike]

Originally Posted by suhaas307

Any team / captain would prefer runs on the board for their 1st innings. Can’t blame Cummins for what he did. Imagine if the runs were not enough? That “bold and aggressive” call would have later been labelled “foolish and opportunistic”. There’s always a fine line.

Absolutely! I'm all for being risk averse and that is what Cummins did too, ensuring that Aus doesn't lose the test. Being aggressive and chasing a win always comes with an element of risk and if it goes sideways the captain ends up with egg on his face. What I'm pointing out is that Cummins was far from aggressive here.

I haven't heard much being said here about Rohit choosing to bowl after winning the toss. Weather saved India this time but if we had uninterrupted five days of play and lost, that decision would have come under question.

[Venkatesh]

R Ashwin retires after an illustrious career!

[ABHI_1512]

Originally Posted by deehunk

We have never given a farewell to our bowling legends; Kapil too quit midway, Harbhajan was isolated, and Anil Kumble quit midway during Dhoni's reign, though he was fit enough to play at least a year; now Ashwin. On the other hand, we see Rohit and Virat playing single-digit lotteries with no shame.

Completely agree. Only Kapil Dev got that extra leverage when the team carried him for three years before he broke the world record for most test wickets. Anil Kumble and Zaheer Khan deserved their moment of glory but were denied, same as Dravid and Laxman.

As for as Ashwin is concerned, we all know he was not treated well. A match winner like Ashwin deserved better. And now, even his father has spoken out. So we know, why Gambhir is now being touted as Chappel 2 after all !!

Here is the link where Ashwin’s father is clearly miffed and so it is fair to assume that Ashwin was clearly very upset with the happenings around him.

https://x.com/rtwts01/status/1869729...c6WSUKz6SLlgpw

[searacer932]

Nobody deserves anything. This is Indian National cricket team that we are talking about. Kapi Dev kept playing home test matches at the expense of Srinath and Srinath's development as a pace bowler got delayed.

It's good that Ashwin retired and we should celebrate what he had contributed and stop behaving like sour grape fan boys.

Originally Posted by ike

I haven't heard much being said here about Rohit choosing to bowl after winning the toss. Weather saved India this time but if we had uninterrupted five days of play and lost, that decision would have come under question.

And Rohit's decision was absolutely correct in view of the rain situation.

[srikanthrajan]

Although the timing can be argued upon, Ashwin definitely deserved a proper farewell test match. This could have been a home or away series. For the sheer contribution he has done for Indian test cricket, he deserved it.

He himself saying "I'm not in the right mindset to answer questions" in the PC says everything.

[searacer932]

No need for such a rude or strong post please. Request to continue being polite, calm & respectful, even in debates.

All members are part of the Team-BHP family, and any discriminating or derogatory comment will NOT be permitted. Please ALWAYS be civil, polite & respectful to other members...even in debate.

We advise you to read the Forum Rules before proceeding any further.

[DigitalOne]

A special farewell test is not needed but BCCI/selectors can definitely talk to senior players frankly and both the player and BCCI come to an agreement about the player's last test. For example, James Anderson's recent retirement was handled very well.