Cricket's Steve Jobs Calls It A Day
Surya Shekhar Das
Shell-shocked.
And this was the response
expressed by the cricketing world. The South African champion cricketer AB de Villiers
announced his retirement from all international cricket on 23 May 2018. Effectively, de Villiers has
stunned the cricket aficionados across the globe. He was playing really well.
In fact, he was in his element as he was
winning matches on his own. The typical old chutzpah of AB de Villiers was back.
He was dishing out those unique, brilliant shots. He was taking some outlandish
catches as well as effecting some jaws-dropping run outs. Like others, I too have
thought that AB de Villiers will play till the 2019 World Cup. And suddenly he announced his retirement. He said that he "is
tired and has run out of gas."
Here comes the inevitable question. Why did AB (AB de Villiers is fondly known as AB) quit far too ahead of the world cup ? Did he really run out
the steam? As I have already mentioned, he was playing really well. Just think about
the two South Africa versus India Test match this January. In the first Test
match, South Africa were staring at the barrel at the very first hour of the match.
Team India bowlers were bowling exceedingly well. At one time, the South
Africans were reeling at 12/3. After picking 3 early wickets, captain Kohli was
sensing blood. The Team India were sensing history. AB de Villiers arrived to
the batting crease and discovered immediately that the pitch was like a green
mamba and the Indian pace bowlers were spitting venom with consummate ease. In
these extremely trying circumstances, anyone except de Villiers would have played
an ultra defensive too safe game. And India knew very well that if they prised out
de Villiers quickly, they could script a famous victory. AB thought differently.
AB decided to execute his thoughts into action immediately. And he mounted a breathtaking
counterattack. He hit the boundary number one. Then the two. Third and fourth
came very fast. And the bat of AB retaliated against the Indians bowlers beautifully
. AB came up with a magnificent reposte, South Africa roared back into the Test match,
subsequently Indian bowlers lost their rhythm and the Proteas (South African) bowlers
completed a famous victory. But it's AB who initiated a virtually unthinkable comeback
from the dead for the Men from the land of Nelson Mandela. Even in the second
Test, when the Team Indian pacers were almost ready to slit the throat of the South
African batting, de Villiers engineered a terrific comeback. De Villiers launched
a free flowing assault on the rampaging Indian pacers, he essentially turned the game on its head. AB gave the much needed
momentum from nowhere, the competent fast bowlers from the rainbow nation accomplished
the rest of the task. Effectively, AB's
intent was so rock-solid against the all odds, it spoke volumes about his indomitable soul as
well as the self-belief .It's easy to
write about the intent, but it's extremely difficult to apply or execute it in
the middle in an ever increasing difficult situation. When somebody likes AB achieves
that, we must doff our hat and say this man is a genius. AB did same thing against
the Australians in the Tests. And in this IPL, he has played some innings of unforgettable
brilliance. And that gravity-defying catch of Alex Hales! The ball was
destined to be a six. AB leaped like a superman and took a virtually impossible
catch given the human standards! Virat Kohli said that it's a Spiderman stuff. Effectively,
AB was flying like a free bird. He is the living embodiment of the supreme athleticism.
Why did he quit the international cricket, then ? Was fatigue the only
reason? Was there any pressure from the South African Cricket Board? Or was there any deep-seated, hidden reason? Whatever
be the reasons, AB is a nature's freak. As a result you cannot define him
within a specific parameter. He gives us a strong sense of his infinite skills. Leave
alone Tendulkar, Lara, Pointing, Steve Smith, Joe Root or even Kohli, ...AB de Villiers
is the only 360-degree, complete cricketer on this planet after the legendary Sir
Gary Sobbers. Just think about his 31-ball century against West Indies in a 50-over
match in 2015. It's the fastest century till today. In that match, he hit some monstrous
sixes which might had given a stern message to the aliens in the universe - even a human being could be that competent
beyond normal comprehension. It was such an innings that even a man couldn't play
so fast in a video game or in a book cricket. AB can seamlessly manufacture any
kinds of shots on a cricket ground. And if the situation demands, he can be monastic.How
could we forget his match-saving 33 off 220 balls in more than 4-hour against a
murderous Australian bowling lineup in 2013? It was a fifth day-ravaged Test
match pitch. As a result, the pitch became extremely unpredictable in nature. The more the Australian
bowlers hurled missiles at AB, the more he
batted with monkish serenity. The level of concentration was of the highest order.
It was such a gritty knock that pulled the
match from the iron-grip of the Aussies.
And then his 43 off 297 balls against India on a viciously turning track in 2015. Here
AB cut his natural instincts, put premium on his wicket, applied to the task
with a hitherto unseen work ethic and batted as if he was the last
custodian of the entire Rainbow nation , i.e.,South Africa. It is a forgone conclusion that he can be devastating
with the bat, again he can serenely composed as well as unmovable in front of the
wicket if the situation arises. If you want to to enjoy supreme method, follow Tendulkar or Kohli, but
if you want to relish the magnificent madness, you better watch Lara or AB
play. Nobody could discount Lara's epic 277 against Australia in a Test in
1993. It was the Calypso music at its very best. And then his century against
the seemingly invincible Proteas in the 1996 World Cup on a sluggish track was
for the ages. Lara played in an West Indies team that virtually lost the
typical Caribbean flavour as well as the
vigour. When he was batting, his partners were falling like nine pins. But Lara
batted as if he was blissfully aware of the grim reality. His colleagues were playing
callous shots and getting out, Lara was dishing out some shots of outrageous brilliance.
In a team infested with self-destructors, the Caribbean prince was the supreme
entertainer with the bat. Like Lara, AB has found each and every cricket ball
like brand new adventure. At times, he has dribbled past Lara. AB, with his crystal
clear mind, has invented unique strokes. He could hit a 90-mile pin-pointed
yorker for a colossal six. He could sweep a 150-km fast delivery for a well orchestrated
maximum. If the game of cricket is a civilisation, AB is one of the most
prestigious, seemingly infinite sculptures. If somebody says that he has played for 14 years and
scored more than 20000 international runs, it is mere a dry statistics. AB's contribution
to the game has gone well beyond the numbers that he generated. In many ways,
he has changed a series of new dimensions into the game. If Kohli is the CEO of a MNC, the Australian Steve Smith is a
skilful engineer, and the English Joe Root is a highly esteemed professor at a famous
B-School, AB de Villiers is the Steve Jobs of cricket who is the ultimate innovator
with the bat. Like Jobs, he believes as
well as practises those eternal words, "Stay hungry. Stay foolish." Like
the iconic founder of Apple Inc., AB delves deep into a game and always looks for the forensic details. Here
is a champion player whose mind is like a tranquil or serene river in the
tempestuous nature of world cricket. His 360-degree, well-rounded personality has
been supplemented very well because he is also a composed golfer, rugby player
and tennis player. As he has decided to hang up his boots, there will be a monstrous
void not only in the South African cricket but also in the world cricket.
So AB, the grand piano has left the building. Already a few competent South African cricketers
deserted their national team and settled in the County cricket in England in search
of a stable financial climate. Yes, the financial crisis has hit hard the cricket in the land of Mandela. And
there is a distinct possibility that this beautiful rainbow nation is hurtling towards
destruction. Cricket is virtually finished in Zimbabwe. Who could deny that
Zimbabwe produced some world-beaters... Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Heath Streak
left indelible marks in the game. Once the ruler of the game, now West Indies are
fading fast into oblivion because of the endless chaos between the cricketers
and the administration. Pakistan,with all its magnificent reposte, is suffering
from the financial ailments as the international cricket has received a painful
dent due to the endless terrorism in the
enigmatic land of Imran Khan. Even the mighty Australia, now without their inspirational
Steve Smith and David Warner, are in a delicate health . As one of the greatest
statesmen of the game, Martin Crowe said
a few years back, "There will be a situation in future where India
will play against India!" Martin Crowe with his inimitable penetrating vision
looked into the deepest soul of the game. We are aware of the financial clout of the BCCI as well as the
Team India which has been built on the immense monetary hubris. We, the proud
Indians, should feel awkward if we find the Team India too strong and the rest
of the cricketing world are starved of money as well as the requisite system.
An egalitarian cricketing universe is the need of the hour.
As of now, it's a time for profound mourning as one of the greatest entertainers
of cricket, the Steve Jobs of this beautiful game has said good bye to the
international cricket far too early.
