Sorry we missed you
Players who dropped out just ahead of, or during, games
Jamie Alter
08-Oct-2009
New Zealand, dogged by injury throughout the Champions Trophy, received the biggest blow on the day of the final when Daniel Vettori, their captain and leading performer through the tournament, was forced out of the game with a hamstring injury. Severely depleted already, New Zealand missed Vettori's left-arm spin and his assured presence in the lower middle order. Cricinfo recalls other examples of teams suffering massive blows ahead of and during crucial matches (or at least that's what we were told at the time).
Don Bradman v England, 1932-33
Leading off in fine style in the Bodyline Ashes, England won the first Test early on the fifth day, by 10 wickets. A notable absence from Australia's XI was Bradman, whose lack of confidence against a fast leg-side attack was reflected in his tour figures of 3, 10, 36, 13, 18 and 23. "Bradman seemed jaded mentally - a condition to which a contributing factor was the stress of efforts to have his press contract sanctioned by the Board of Control," the Wisden Almanack wrote. "The result was that two doctors, who examined him on the eve of the Test, pronounced him not in a fit condition to play, although organically sound." While it is questionable if Bradman's presence would have staved off disaster, his inability to play owing to illness must not be omitted.
Leading off in fine style in the Bodyline Ashes, England won the first Test early on the fifth day, by 10 wickets. A notable absence from Australia's XI was Bradman, whose lack of confidence against a fast leg-side attack was reflected in his tour figures of 3, 10, 36, 13, 18 and 23. "Bradman seemed jaded mentally - a condition to which a contributing factor was the stress of efforts to have his press contract sanctioned by the Board of Control," the Wisden Almanack wrote. "The result was that two doctors, who examined him on the eve of the Test, pronounced him not in a fit condition to play, although organically sound." While it is questionable if Bradman's presence would have staved off disaster, his inability to play owing to illness must not be omitted.
Martin Crowe v Pakistan, World Cup 1992
Crowe topped the 1992 World Cup batting averages with 456 runs at 114, despite being troubled by an injured knee. He led New Zealand superbly - his use of offspinner Dipak Patel to open the attack was revolutionary - but an injury to him hurt his side when it most mattered. Having scored an attacking 91 from 83 balls against Pakistan in the semi-final at Eden Park, Crowe was prevented from taking the field in Pakistan's chase due to that wobbly knee. New Zealand suffered dearly in his absence: Crowe sat in the dressing room and watched his deputy run out of ideas, and Pakistan stage an unforgettable recovery to progress to the final. The same knee injury brought about a premature end to his career.
Crowe topped the 1992 World Cup batting averages with 456 runs at 114, despite being troubled by an injured knee. He led New Zealand superbly - his use of offspinner Dipak Patel to open the attack was revolutionary - but an injury to him hurt his side when it most mattered. Having scored an attacking 91 from 83 balls against Pakistan in the semi-final at Eden Park, Crowe was prevented from taking the field in Pakistan's chase due to that wobbly knee. New Zealand suffered dearly in his absence: Crowe sat in the dressing room and watched his deputy run out of ideas, and Pakistan stage an unforgettable recovery to progress to the final. The same knee injury brought about a premature end to his career.
Wasim Akram v India, World Cup 1996
This World Cup quarter-final clash in Bangalore started on a controversial note when Aamer Sohail walked out for the toss instead ofAkram, who had been declared unfit just before the match. The official reason was that he had ruptured his side muscles, but with the previous year's bribery allegations still in the air, conspiracy theorists weren't having any of it. The reason for Akram's absence raised more than a few eyebrows, and after the team was knocked out of the tournament that starry evening, matters in Pakistan reached a crescendo. Effigies of Akram were burnt, his house was stoned, his father was kidnapped, and one fan reportedly shot his television and then himself. An offended Akram denied charges of match-fixing, but many fans back home - a number of whom had lost their savings on a Pakistan win - didn't buy it.
This World Cup quarter-final clash in Bangalore started on a controversial note when Aamer Sohail walked out for the toss instead ofAkram, who had been declared unfit just before the match. The official reason was that he had ruptured his side muscles, but with the previous year's bribery allegations still in the air, conspiracy theorists weren't having any of it. The reason for Akram's absence raised more than a few eyebrows, and after the team was knocked out of the tournament that starry evening, matters in Pakistan reached a crescendo. Effigies of Akram were burnt, his house was stoned, his father was kidnapped, and one fan reportedly shot his television and then himself. An offended Akram denied charges of match-fixing, but many fans back home - a number of whom had lost their savings on a Pakistan win - didn't buy it.
Herschelle Gibbs v India, Champions Trophy 2002
South Africa stumble at the end. Again. Chasing 262 to beat India and enter the finals of the 2002 Champions Trophy, South Africa were 192 for 1 after 37 overs when Gibbs (116) retired due to dehydration and body cramps. He had taken South Africa to victory's doorstep with a superb century, but the remaining batsmen took it as a signal to fall apart. Just two runs later, Jonty Rhodes was brilliantly caught by Yuvraj, who took a stunner at leg gully, easily the catch of the tournament. Boeta Dippenaar played the sweep to Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble snapped up the catch on the fine leg fence. Then Mark Boucher also perished sweeping, top-edging an easy catch to Yuvraj. What was normally the most productive shot against spin for the South Africans proved their downfall. The air was thick with tension and could have been cut with the proverbial butter knife. With 21 needed from six balls, Jacques Kallis nonchalantly launched Virender Sehwag into the midwicket stands. Fifteen needed from five balls then. Kallis tried to repeat the stroke, top-edged to the keeper and India were one inch closer. Lance Klusener, the pain of the 1999 World Cup semi-finals perhaps having its say, could not free his arms and managed just four more runs off the over before offering a catch off the last ball of the innings. Depending on how you saw it, either India had pulled off a stunning win in breath-stopping, heart-thumping style, or South Africa had merely lived up to their billing as chokers.
South Africa stumble at the end. Again. Chasing 262 to beat India and enter the finals of the 2002 Champions Trophy, South Africa were 192 for 1 after 37 overs when Gibbs (116) retired due to dehydration and body cramps. He had taken South Africa to victory's doorstep with a superb century, but the remaining batsmen took it as a signal to fall apart. Just two runs later, Jonty Rhodes was brilliantly caught by Yuvraj, who took a stunner at leg gully, easily the catch of the tournament. Boeta Dippenaar played the sweep to Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble snapped up the catch on the fine leg fence. Then Mark Boucher also perished sweeping, top-edging an easy catch to Yuvraj. What was normally the most productive shot against spin for the South Africans proved their downfall. The air was thick with tension and could have been cut with the proverbial butter knife. With 21 needed from six balls, Jacques Kallis nonchalantly launched Virender Sehwag into the midwicket stands. Fifteen needed from five balls then. Kallis tried to repeat the stroke, top-edged to the keeper and India were one inch closer. Lance Klusener, the pain of the 1999 World Cup semi-finals perhaps having its say, could not free his arms and managed just four more runs off the over before offering a catch off the last ball of the innings. Depending on how you saw it, either India had pulled off a stunning win in breath-stopping, heart-thumping style, or South Africa had merely lived up to their billing as chokers.
Shane Warne World Cup 2003
Warne flew home from South Africa on the very day that Australia opened their defence of the World Cup. He was banned from playing cricket until February 2004 after he failed a drugs test. The drug he was accused of taking - a diuretic known as Moduretic - was available on prescription and widely used in the treatment of hypertension, high blood pressure and fluid retention. It was banned because it had the potential to act as a masking agent for steroids. Warne's excuse was that his mother had given it to him for weight loss. Few bought it. Australia ended up not really missing him in their successful campaign, but the incident left a bad taste all over, especially back home.
Warne flew home from South Africa on the very day that Australia opened their defence of the World Cup. He was banned from playing cricket until February 2004 after he failed a drugs test. The drug he was accused of taking - a diuretic known as Moduretic - was available on prescription and widely used in the treatment of hypertension, high blood pressure and fluid retention. It was banned because it had the potential to act as a masking agent for steroids. Warne's excuse was that his mother had given it to him for weight loss. Few bought it. Australia ended up not really missing him in their successful campaign, but the incident left a bad taste all over, especially back home.
Sourav Ganguly v Australia, 2003-04
Two tumultuous collective groans from the estimated 100,000 fans at Eden Gardens, who had gathered hours before the toss of the TVS Cup final, summed up this match for India. The first, when it was announced that Ganguly was not playing, the second when Australia won and chose to bat. Ganguly was ruled out because of a groin injury, having failed a fitness test in the morning at his home ground. He sat near the boundary line, giving instructions, but his absence out in the middle seemed crucial, as did the lack of application and determination of the Indian batsmen. At 159 for 4 it seemed India were on course for a famous victory, but they folded spectacularly to lose by 37 runs.
Two tumultuous collective groans from the estimated 100,000 fans at Eden Gardens, who had gathered hours before the toss of the TVS Cup final, summed up this match for India. The first, when it was announced that Ganguly was not playing, the second when Australia won and chose to bat. Ganguly was ruled out because of a groin injury, having failed a fitness test in the morning at his home ground. He sat near the boundary line, giving instructions, but his absence out in the middle seemed crucial, as did the lack of application and determination of the Indian batsmen. At 159 for 4 it seemed India were on course for a famous victory, but they folded spectacularly to lose by 37 runs.
Sourav Ganguly v Australia, 2004-05
This one will always haunt the most intriguing Indian cricketer of this era. Apparently neither demoralised nor bitter over being slapped with a two-Test ban by the ICC, a determined Ganguly told reporters a week before the third Test against Australia that he would take the field. But no sooner had the green pitch at the Vidarbha Cricket Association ground been unveiled - "Looks like home, don't it?" said umpire David Shepherd, in his familiar West Country burr, as he surveyed it - than Ganguly was clearly miffed. He had apparently told the head curator to remove the grass from the strip a week before but been ignored, and come the morning of the deciding Test, he withdrew just before the start, citing an upper-thigh strain, throwing the Indians into disarray. The pitch suited tall fast bowlers - Australia had three, India none - and the visitors crossed the "final frontier" and won their first series in India for 35 years in a crushing manner.
This one will always haunt the most intriguing Indian cricketer of this era. Apparently neither demoralised nor bitter over being slapped with a two-Test ban by the ICC, a determined Ganguly told reporters a week before the third Test against Australia that he would take the field. But no sooner had the green pitch at the Vidarbha Cricket Association ground been unveiled - "Looks like home, don't it?" said umpire David Shepherd, in his familiar West Country burr, as he surveyed it - than Ganguly was clearly miffed. He had apparently told the head curator to remove the grass from the strip a week before but been ignored, and come the morning of the deciding Test, he withdrew just before the start, citing an upper-thigh strain, throwing the Indians into disarray. The pitch suited tall fast bowlers - Australia had three, India none - and the visitors crossed the "final frontier" and won their first series in India for 35 years in a crushing manner.
Glenn McGrath v England, 2005
The turning point of the most thrilling Test series in England for decades, and arguably the best ever in the modern era. An extraordinary Test began with McGrath being stretchered off the field during the pre-match warm-up. The reason? McGrath, who had predicted a 5-0 Australian sweep and who had taken nine wickets in the previous game, at Lord's, had twisted his ankle after treading on a stray cricket ball. The result? Australia missed his controlling and calming effect and England tied the series one apiece. That one freak incident set the tone; though McGrath was passed fit ahead of the third match at Old Trafford, he was not at his incisive best there or for the rest of the summer.
The turning point of the most thrilling Test series in England for decades, and arguably the best ever in the modern era. An extraordinary Test began with McGrath being stretchered off the field during the pre-match warm-up. The reason? McGrath, who had predicted a 5-0 Australian sweep and who had taken nine wickets in the previous game, at Lord's, had twisted his ankle after treading on a stray cricket ball. The result? Australia missed his controlling and calming effect and England tied the series one apiece. That one freak incident set the tone; though McGrath was passed fit ahead of the third match at Old Trafford, he was not at his incisive best there or for the rest of the summer.
Marcus Trescothick v Australia, 2006-07
England landed in Australia for the return series a confident outfit, but were dealt a massive blow when Trescothick - their best batsman in the summer of 2005 - was ruled out of the Ashes with a recurrence of his "stress-related illness". It was the culmination of a year of torment for Trescothick, who the previous winter had flown home in tears ahead of the first Test in Nagpur. In an Ashes campaign that began with such a crushing blow, England were annihilated 5-0, and Trescothick would never play for England again.
England landed in Australia for the return series a confident outfit, but were dealt a massive blow when Trescothick - their best batsman in the summer of 2005 - was ruled out of the Ashes with a recurrence of his "stress-related illness". It was the culmination of a year of torment for Trescothick, who the previous winter had flown home in tears ahead of the first Test in Nagpur. In an Ashes campaign that began with such a crushing blow, England were annihilated 5-0, and Trescothick would never play for England again.
Brad Haddin v England, 2009
Four years after the freak McGrath incident, the man responsible for leaving that fateful cricket ball on the outfield was involved in a last-minute team-changing development. Haddin broke his left finger after the toss in the third Test, at Edgbaston, dealing Australia a major blow. That left Australia without the services of their first-choice wicketkeeper and leading run-scorer in the series. A consultation with Andy Flower and Andrew Strauss - whose consent was needed - resulted in Haddin being replaced by Graham Manou, who became the fifth Australian wicketkeeper to play a Test since the debut of Ian Healy in 1988.
Four years after the freak McGrath incident, the man responsible for leaving that fateful cricket ball on the outfield was involved in a last-minute team-changing development. Haddin broke his left finger after the toss in the third Test, at Edgbaston, dealing Australia a major blow. That left Australia without the services of their first-choice wicketkeeper and leading run-scorer in the series. A consultation with Andy Flower and Andrew Strauss - whose consent was needed - resulted in Haddin being replaced by Graham Manou, who became the fifth Australian wicketkeeper to play a Test since the debut of Ian Healy in 1988.
West Indies v Bangladesh, 2009
The relationship between West Indian players and their board has been rocky since 2005, largely over a new contract with Digicel. The situation has flared up sporadically with isolated strikes and considerable ill-will, and it reached a flashpoint in July 2009, when the entire first-choice team pulled out of a home Test series against Bangladesh at the 11th hour. These tumultuous events led to West Indies playing a second-string team, and that gave Bangladesh a great opportunity to win an away series for the first time. Did they seize the moment? The answer was there for all to see.
The relationship between West Indian players and their board has been rocky since 2005, largely over a new contract with Digicel. The situation has flared up sporadically with isolated strikes and considerable ill-will, and it reached a flashpoint in July 2009, when the entire first-choice team pulled out of a home Test series against Bangladesh at the 11th hour. These tumultuous events led to West Indies playing a second-string team, and that gave Bangladesh a great opportunity to win an away series for the first time. Did they seize the moment? The answer was there for all to see.
Jamie Alter is a senior sub-editor at Cricinfo