So Farewell Then
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The selection of Kuggelijn over Wagner for this test was always going to be controversial for a variety of reasons. The were several arguments raised either way (n0t all of them relating to cricket) and it raised various points of debate like whether potential runs with the bat should be a factor*.
But one argument that was a complete nonsense was that Wagner deserved a Farewell Test. Nobody, regardless of their contribution to the sport or team deserves a farewell test. It’s all well and good if it just happens that way, but there is absolutely no justification for selection decisions to be swayed in order to engineer it.
Like so many needlessly sentimental aspects of cricket it appears to have started in Australia. And given the uniformity of their test schedules it ends up happening in Sydney.
In 1984 long time greats Greg Cappell, Dennis Lillee and Rob Marsh bowed out together, and got a group photo to recognise it, but little more. All three players announced their retirement during the test. When Marsh was asked why he was retiring he said ““Because all my mates have gone.”
Jump ahead to 2007, and it’s the turn of Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Justin Langer to retire together. That had the bonus of completing an Ashes whitewash. Warne and McGrath were actually out-bowled in that match by Stuart Clark and Brett Lee, and Langer made just 26 in his only innings. Never mind; they pulled out all the stops turning it into quite the event. Their children got added to the photo which was taken in the middle of the SCG in front of a packed house.
Before that there was the Steve Waugh farewell test with Billy Bowden trying to get in on the action, and earlier this year there was the excruciating Dave Warner show.
In New Zealand such occasions are rarer and more understated. Fleming, McCullum and Taylor got them at home, and Chris Cairns had one in England. But there are several greats of the sport from Turner to Crowe to Boult who for various reasons never did.
It’s a nice distraction when it happens but that’s all it is.
*With the benefit of hindsight that last slot should have gone to Santner.