No more minnows

Woolmer death
Nobody expected the ex-champions to quit in the first round. But what followed was devastating, the gruesome murder of one of the most influential and innovative coaches of the era, Bob Woolmer. The mystery surrounding his death is still far from lucid. It sends tremors round the cricket world and a question mark over the shape the game has assumed of late.

Inzamam and Sachin
As the hysteria over the subcontinent died, a genius called Inzamam also says goodbye. As a 22-year-old he had scripted a fairytale success for his team Down Under. In India it created a national debate over the role and accountability of senior-pros and this time even Sachin Tendulkar was not spared.

Greg and Sachin
India’s Aussie coach Greg Chappell refused to carry on after reportedly talking against senior players. The reverberations of the verbal assault were heard when Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan came out in the open lambasting Chappell and his ways. Tendulkar and Yuvraj were slapped show-cause notices by the Board.

Lara quits
All-time great, and without doubt the most exciting batsman of the last two-decades, Brian Lara, called it quits following his team’s dismal outing. A far from inspirational batting performance and a moment of self-doubt, that is how the greatest lefthander bid adieu to the cricketing arena. But, of course, he entertained.

McGrath swansong
In stark contrast, Lara’s long-time nemesis, and the meanest fast bowler of all time, Glenn McGrath left the biggest stage happy in his own successes. He goes with his highest tally of wickets. At 37, the Pigeon was still the best fast bowler on show.

Hayden’s return
After being dubbed unfit for limited-overs cricket for over a decade, the big man found the big stage to announce what his bat can do. Starting off with a 66-ball hundred Matty demolished and demoralized all.

Tait for Lee
Replacement Man went on to be the hit-man. Notorious for spraying it all around, the youngest member of the Aussie side chose the biggest stage to unleash his thunder-bolt. As Dennis Lilee puts it, “He has all the resources to take it right to the batsman’s nose.”

Mahela and captaincy
After the initial troubles with coach Tom Moody, Jayawardene has moulded the smartest outfit in the subcontinent. The Lankan’s captaincy was acclaimed by all.

Slingshot Malinga
The game is left with a few characters who connect with the fans. And no one is better at that than the man with the slingshot. Unpredictability was his forte.

Fire in hotel
It started with a fire and ended up in smoke. The hotel that hosted both Pakistan and Ireland presented contrasting fortunes for them. While Pakistan’s campaign ended up in ashes as quickly as it started, the Irish fire kept growing and they returned home with plenty of moments and mementoes.

Fleming quits captaincy
In England they say ‘If life was a semi-finalist it has to be Tim Henman’ but the same analogy holds for New Zealand who have bowed out in the last four at five occasions.

Coaches quitting
Coaching at the World Cup can be injurious for health. While no one has been fired, but except for a few like New Zealander John Bracewell and Protean coach Mickey Arthur, the world coaching order is set for a complete overhaul and some like Chappell, Fletcher, King are already gone.