In my 21 years I’ve been lucky enough to watch a few greats of the game grace the cricket field.
The international careers of Kumar Sangakkara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul are slowly coming to an end.
I wish to talk about batsmen. Names such as Ricky Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis, Mahela Jayawardene, Sanath Jayasuriya, Rahul Dravid, Steve Waugh and Brian Lara.
These names became household names across the world. It wouldn’t matter if they were playing against your country, you would still secretly hope they would put on a masterclass just to see them bat.
Being an Aussie we have been extremely lucky over that period to have had a lot of great players with the willow, but the captains are on top of the pile.
Their leadership qualities were nothing but inspirational and I know it inspired me and also many more young kids of the time to try to emulate their batting.
Ponting and Waugh also share two special moments from late in their careers. Both had their backs to the wall with the media and everyone saying they are done and they should retire.
For Steve Waugh it was against England at the SCG in 2003. For Ricky Ponting it was against India just over nine years later in 2012.
Both were truly inspiring knocks and had me willing them the whole time to get there.
While I love the Aussies, I also always had a soft spot for many opposition batsmen. My favourites to watch were always the Sri Lankan duo of Sangakkara and Jayawardene.
Having watched them many times on TV, I always wanted to be at a game to see them bat together. Fortunately I got my chance to at a Boxing Day Test not long ago, although they did not put together many runs.
In disappointed me a little as seeing the amount of records that they share and the amount of runs they have scored together is truly remarkable.
Another pair who I loved watching was Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Tendulkar was pure class, as we know.
Watching him walk to the crease always meant that it might be a while between wickets – especially if ‘The Wall’ Dravid was still in.
Dravid was one player I didn’t admire enough when I was younger, for him to have the patience that he had should be an example to all youngsters around the world.
He glorified the mental side of the game and wasn’t afraid of not scoring as long as he kept his wicket.
Once Sangakkara and Chanderpaul have put out their bats to rest, it will well and truly be an end of an era – but what an era it was.
We have already started to see the next generation come through, and they may surprise us. For me however, that generation of cricket will be hard to beat. The batters and bowlers, they were all truly a pleasure to watch.
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