A Graceful Exit

As the whole Cricketing World seems to be ecstatic over a Pak India Semi final clash..
I am quietly sitting here in my TV lounge, and thinking about a Champion Player who made his final exit from the World Cup today. Ricky Thomas Ponting, one of the last two survivors of the Invincible Australian Team has bowed out of the World Cup Cricket - and it is a tragic, yet I would say, a very Graceful exit.
The Champion batsman fought with valor.. like a lone warrior who gives everything to protect his land and dies fighting..
His ODI form was probably at its lowest ebb before this match, but he lifted his game for this occasion.. responded to the pressure and stood up to the challenge yet again.. like a boxer who stands back up on his feet from a near-knockout situation..
Played a real gem of an innings on a very difficult surface under not-so-favorable circumstances.. a very responsible innings.. held the australian innings together.. but he did not get the support he required.. there were not many skilled warriors by his side this time.. there was no Damien Martyn at the other end to support him.. there were just the failures of Hussey, Clarke and White at the other end.. and as Brian Charles Lara and Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar would probably confirm.. Cricket is mostly about 11 players.. and the heroics of merely 1 player seldom win matches..
Not all the tales have happy endings.. Ponting's World Cup tale has also ended in a dramatic and tragic manner, but still I guess he can hold his head high.. and leave with grace from this World Cup arena.. a grace which he so richly deserves too..

Edited : 25-Mar-2011 8:20 PM
People might hate him for his arrogance or attitude, but I am talking about his batting prowess here, not discussing any other attributes or characterisitics. I even received a comment on fb 'Cricket is a gentleman's game. True, he has great statistics to boast off but unfortunately he wasn't a gentleman' .
So what ? no one is giving him a Character Certificate here, we are talking about his on-field competitiveness. Ultimately, to win matches, you need to score runs with the bat in the field, that's what it is all about.. and that's what he was good at.. that's what should be appreciated.. and enjoyed..
Besides... with pitch digging, ball biting, spot fixing, match fixing etc. going on in the game.. it is hardly a "Gentleman's Game" now.. :-)