Shine on you crazy diamond...

The news was in the air, speculations in a will-he-won’t-he mode, but as is so typical in such cases, the bombshell was dropped during the moment it was least expected. Dropped in the most casual and no-nonsense of fashions, almost like a delectable late cut we are so used to not gasping at, for the sheer genius makes it appear so down-to-earth and easy.

Brian Charles Lara takes his final bow come Saturday, never again to be seen in the cut-throat world of international cricket, wielding the willow like the toothpick, with the footwork of a trained danseuse. However much we still hoped that he will ride the team bus to Lord’s in May to be the first to reach 12,000 test runs and add another feather to an overloaded cap, alas, that was not to be.

The life of Brian has alternated between unparalleled zeniths and less than ordinary leadership displays, with everything in between. Ever since the great man took the field at Karachi for the very first time, it has been more than a decade and half of peerless batting, of incessant comparisons of genius and ability with a little man halfway around the world. From the beginning of the end of the great West Indian era, to the faint resurgences, innuendos, and the poised-to-do-better-but-not-quite current state of West Indian cricket, he’s held on his own, aloof, rebellious, domineering at times, shockingly nonchalant on others, and words-can’t-describe-his-wizardry on most others.

The milestones and dazzling statistics are for the world to witness and applaud unto no end. Records unto records have been broken and re-broken until the man stood tall and alone at the pinnacle. On an otherwise dull day at Adelaide in November 2005, he finally became the lord of all he surveyed. Just a detail of all his records will in itself fill volumes, and that is for the statistician’s paycheck.

Be it the sizzling debut century at Sydney, be it the blitzkrieg at Birmingham, the
back-from-the-dead victory at Barbados, and a creditable series draw against a rampaging Aussies, a murderous mood against a hapless South African spinner – there is no end to the visual delights that mere mortals ooh-ed and aah-ed their way to, all through the last decade and half.

And so, here we are. The same ground which witnessed the humbling of Gary Sobers’ record and then Lara’s recapture of his record from Matty Hayden, will provide a fitting backdrop for Lara’s swansong. And there he ends his international career, a match short of 300 ODIs and 47 runs short of an unprecendented 12,000 test runs. We all hope that he shines one last time, come Saturday.

The world cup, one that by far will be remembered for the wrong reasons, has had significant farewells to boot, and will be remembered for men who will be remembered taking their last shots at glory. Well, almost.

The debates as to who of Sachin or Lara was greater would continue until as long as they would be remembered, which I guess, is just short of eternity. But that can wait another day. This is the time to stand up, nod your head and applaud for the entertainment, the class, the skill, the genius, the man.

So long, and thanks for all the entertainment, Brian. Cricket will be so much poorer and banal without you.