Time to go?

The saying goes that all political careers end in failure. Sporting careers are usually different in that they most often end in mediocrity, that gradual process of slipping away from your prime, still desperately hoping for that one shining moment when everything comes back to how it used to be. There are exceptions to the rule, as there are to any aphorism, but it generally holds - you don't generally see sporting tributes lingering on the later years of someone's career.

Fate, with just a little bit of that final shining moment, seems to have conspired to give Nasser Hussain the perfect moment to end his England career. While I don't think anyone would begrudge him continuing following his excellent match-winning century yesterday, it does seem as though he may choose this moment to finally drop out of the side and end his time in the England squad. While most of the papers seem to take his post-match statement as evidence of his wish to retire, I think Angus Fraser, writing in The Independent, has the most perceptive analysis. He's one of the few cricket writers who has played with Hussain for any period of time so he's well-placed to interpret Hussain's exit from the pitch yesterday:

After scoring his 14th Test hundred and securing England's joint fifth-highest run chase the former England captain walked from the home of cricket with his hands held high, acknowledging each corner of the ground. His passionate nature has always ensured each century is greeted in memorable fashion, but with the applause of the 20,000 spectators ringing in his ears he seemed to be saying goodbye.

Personally, I think Hussain will go. As with his decision to give up the captaincy in favour of Michael Vaughan last year, he seems to have a sense of knowing when it's a good time to take matters into your own hands rather than waiting for the selectors to make it up for you. While he's often been referred to as a rather self-obsessed player, his time as captain has made him sensitive to knowing what's best for the team and if he judges that this is the best time both for him and the team to go, he'll take it, knowing that Andrew Strauss has already proved himself to be an adequate replacement. Besides, with both Paul Collingwood and (from September) Kevin Pietersen both pressing for places in the eleven, his time is almost over, even if England decide to play seven batsmen.

No batsman ever retires completely undefeated, but to end your career with a not-out century has to come close. There's no risk of an ignominious dismissal to end that last innings, no chance of being caught on the wrong end of a run out. He won't get his century of England caps, but sometimes it's the innings that don't make the landmarks that are remembered more than the big ones.

And, he does have one little achievement that he might not be aware of: he's one of that very rare breed - a cricketer whose name is known to Americans. I watched the end of the game yesterday with an American friend who recognised his name. Why? Because he's mentioned in Bend It Like Beckham.