On Jan 7th it was Mr Cricket - who caught Cricketing fraternity offside by calling it Quits unexpectedly. Watching Australian open today I miss Mr Tennis - Nadal. These two have made sport a treat to watch - some say they are not the most talented but for many sport lovers like they bring the joy in sport.
The sheer joy of No-fuss Huss walking to the crease at any moment of match is gone forever. Even the fiercest competitor would have applauded the tenacity and passion this man brought to the field. There could be countable better talented cricketers who embarrassed the sport but none more so committed than Mr Cricket. Any format he was Mr. Dependable. Switching gears at ease, there will be none like him. Calmness under pressure and never giving up brought him accolades and made him a super star. But, he was grounded, accumulated runs - caressed the ball like there will be no tomorrow. The short arm pull and cover drive will be missed, but more importantly the sheer energy of a man with sun-cream over the nose standing at the Gully or under the helmet or at cover or at long on cheering and enjoying every moment of match is what the sport has lost forever. It will be safe to say there will be none like him as complete and committed. Completely dependable Mr Cricket flew beneath the headlines as his retirement at the peak of the game indicates his modest approach to stardom.
As Hussey retired on his own terms, we can live it by calling it an end of an era. But the continued absence of Rafa in tennis since Wimbledon is hurting the sport. Last time around in Aus open the 11 time grand slam winner participated in a dual over 5 hrs and came second best to Novan but ultimately sport won. Nadal's relentlessness is missed, making opponent hit one more extra ball, that extra rally is not seen. The hard courts and greens are not his favorite but the beauty of his game is that even his losses are a victory to Tennis as they make the opponent stronger, just take a look at career of Djokovic. Federer - swizz express, arguably the greatest to have taken to tennis has lost almost twice as many games to this Spanish Bull than he has won. At a time when sport needed to break to the swizz jinx the Nadal forehand spins brought balance to sport and elevated the game to next level. The measured spinning serve, the precision moment, sliding retrievals, double handed backhand with brute force and the magnified follow through of the bouncing forehand is what tennis is craving for. The best of the top 4, at 26, with injuries might pick and chose tournaments from here on, fewer tournaments for sure, but a fit Nadal is a guaranteed treat to the eyes, especially during the business end of Grand slams. Today it is that much less intense, that little less romantic and that little easier to win without him.
The sheer joy of No-fuss Huss walking to the crease at any moment of match is gone forever. Even the fiercest competitor would have applauded the tenacity and passion this man brought to the field. There could be countable better talented cricketers who embarrassed the sport but none more so committed than Mr Cricket. Any format he was Mr. Dependable. Switching gears at ease, there will be none like him. Calmness under pressure and never giving up brought him accolades and made him a super star. But, he was grounded, accumulated runs - caressed the ball like there will be no tomorrow. The short arm pull and cover drive will be missed, but more importantly the sheer energy of a man with sun-cream over the nose standing at the Gully or under the helmet or at cover or at long on cheering and enjoying every moment of match is what the sport has lost forever. It will be safe to say there will be none like him as complete and committed. Completely dependable Mr Cricket flew beneath the headlines as his retirement at the peak of the game indicates his modest approach to stardom.
As Hussey retired on his own terms, we can live it by calling it an end of an era. But the continued absence of Rafa in tennis since Wimbledon is hurting the sport. Last time around in Aus open the 11 time grand slam winner participated in a dual over 5 hrs and came second best to Novan but ultimately sport won. Nadal's relentlessness is missed, making opponent hit one more extra ball, that extra rally is not seen. The hard courts and greens are not his favorite but the beauty of his game is that even his losses are a victory to Tennis as they make the opponent stronger, just take a look at career of Djokovic. Federer - swizz express, arguably the greatest to have taken to tennis has lost almost twice as many games to this Spanish Bull than he has won. At a time when sport needed to break to the swizz jinx the Nadal forehand spins brought balance to sport and elevated the game to next level. The measured spinning serve, the precision moment, sliding retrievals, double handed backhand with brute force and the magnified follow through of the bouncing forehand is what tennis is craving for. The best of the top 4, at 26, with injuries might pick and chose tournaments from here on, fewer tournaments for sure, but a fit Nadal is a guaranteed treat to the eyes, especially during the business end of Grand slams. Today it is that much less intense, that little less romantic and that little easier to win without him.
Tennis needs a fit Nadal at French Open and his energy is what Tennis can't miss. Any grand slam winner at French open with an unfit Nadal or without him will not feel the victory - Roger knows it best. As for Mr Cricket : a salute for the joy and purity he brought to the game and hope we do find an apt successor in time until then Cricket will miss that dependability.
