The Last Day

They don't come around too often.

I still remember the day when Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh played their final day of Test cricket against Pakistan at the SCG back in 1984. It was a great day - a sad day. Lillee finished with four wickets for the innings and took the last wicket, and they walked off together. Marsh played in the one day series before finally calling it quits.
AUSTRALIA VS PAKISTAN, 5TH TEST, S.C.G., 1983/84

At the time, we had no way of knowing how these three great players would ever be replaced. The next five years were the hardest years to be a cricket lover in this country. We got creamed by the West Indies. Our captain resigned in tears. A squad of our best and up-and-coming players were banned after partaking in a tour of South Africa, in the days when it was sacrilege to do so, leaving a huge gap in the availability ranks. Our next captain threatened to resign if his players didn't show some heart and guts. All kinds of players were tried in the hope they would be the answer. Some played one game and were discarded. Some were given a dozen opportunities, and were stuck with despite poor initial results.After five dim, dark years, when we *shudder* lost series to New Zealand - TWICE! - we came out the other side, winning the Ashes back in 1989, and have been moving up ever since.

Today will see the end of another era. Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer will play their last day of Test cricket. Damien Martyn has already gone. Adam Gilchrist and Matt Hayden may yet join the exodus. It will be a sad day, but a great day, One that you must see all of, to take it all in, so you can tell your kids about it.

But it's a different feeling from that day 23 years ago. Then, you could feel the concern about how we would replace such legends of the game. Today, we don't believe we can replace these legends, but we know that we have the players who can come into theis Test team, and do the job to the best of their ability, and that we won't suffer more than a slight hiccup.We might be losing over 1200 Test wickets and over 10000 Test runs - but the lessons learned from 1984 have been learned well, and we now have such a talent base in the Sheffield Shield (as it will always be to me) that we can't help but succeed. Because those who are waiting in line want to get their shot, and make a spot in the Test team their own.

So let's celebrate the great careers of those we may never see again -and let's anticipate the next great champions that will soon replace them.

THE ASHES ARE COMING HOME! THE ASHES ARE COMING HOME!