So, to return to the matter in hand - comebacks are in fashion.
Cricketers may have noticed the press reports about the weekend comeback of Martin Crowe, rightly dubbed New Zealand's greatest batsman - 77 Tests, 5444 runs @ 45.36. Crowe gave up cricket 16 years ago, and is now in his 50th year but has decided to turn out again. He played for Auckland Cornwall club's second eleven, making what is described as a painstaking 15*. Reports say that his innings was peppered with enthusiastic appeals from teenage bowlers on the opposition. He is also reported to have commented that the pitch was the slowest he had ever played on - he should try playing Scotland at the start of the season.
Crowe states that his objective is to make some first class appearances and hopes to be selected for the MCC against the county champions at Dubai in April. In doing so he wishes to promote further day-night tests and the use of the pink ball. Good luck to him.
Crowe at Lord's 1994 - as elegant as you can get |
Slimline Warne |
Fantasy Bob's comeback to league cricket a few years ago was less trumpeted than those of Crowe and Warne. There is no accounting for this - it was equally memorable. At least FB remembers it. Childcare and a policy of Mrs FB appeasement had led him to retire from weekend cricket in the mid 1990s. But eventually he made himself available for Carlton and has never looked back. He's never looked any use either but that is another issue.
All these comebacks are united by the love of the game they demonstrate. Equally all these comebacks represent but fleeting moments of time compared to John Traicos who made a return to Test cricket in 1992 for Zimbabwe, 22 years and 222 days after the last of his 3 Tests for South Africa. Some wait.
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