A never-say-die spirit walks into the sunset

When a dejected Sourav Ganguly was walking back after falling 15 runs short of what would have been a rare landmark in the first innings, he was almost sure this was the last time.

So much so, that he stopped for a split second to look at the replay of his dismissal on the giant TV screen at the stadium - not out of doubt - but perhaps as an attempt to 'freeze' the moment in his mind.

Now in hindsight, he may well be thinking that the second innings need not have come at all. Having just arrived at the crease, the stylish batsman failed to get to the pitch of the ball - mistiming his drive at Jason Krejza to spoon him a return coach: Sourav Ganguly c & b Krejza 0.

This is not the first time a famous batsman has scored a duck in his last Test innings. If anything, the former Indian skipper has joined an exclusive club which includes even Sir Don and has legendary names from the sub-continent like Imran Khan and Vinoo Mankad.

Poignant note

Any retirement story has a ring of poignancy about it - it doesn't matter if he or she is at the prime of abilities or past their sell-by date.

What sets Ganguly's story apart is often the untold saga of all that he had to endure over nearly the last three years - just to prove that he had enough international cricket left in him.

Quite a paradox, when you consider that the stigma of being a lazy cricketer had hung around him like an albatross since his first brush with international cricket way back in 1992.

When he was dumped from the national squad in 2005, Ganguly already had very little left to prove. If anything, there were often the Doubting Thomases not willing to rate his exploits in Tests at par with that of one-dayers.

An anomaly, which he has corrected with an exemplary show of character ever his comeback in late 2006.

There should be really no regrets now!