Don't follow the leader

UMPIRE'S POST

Australia's finest cricketers are quitting, but their talent ought to be nurtured, not retired.

According to reports, Damien Martyn has enrolled in real estate and land management courses, suggesting that he is looking to cultivate his wealth in property.

About a year and a half ago, Martyn was a star in Australia's cricket team, the mainstay of its middle order for the bulk and aesthetics of the runs he scored.

He was instrumental in Australia's Champions Trophy win in India and one of those who, in a moment of irrational exuberance, nudged Sharad Pawar off stage. He was the picture of a committed and enthusiastic cricketer.

That was until he, aged 35, renounced the game midway through the last Ashes series in Australia and disappeared. In the ensuing months, he has steadfastly guarded his seclusion, barring the occasional calls to just a few mates. Ricky Ponting, who was Martyn's captain and the best man at his wedding, has not heard from him.

And now Shaun Tait is going away, though not into hibernation. He is taking an indefinite break from all levels of cricket due to "physical and emotional exhaustion". Only 24, he says he needs time to rest and recover.

Tait, known as "Wild Thing" for his erratic delivery, is one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket and was named in 2007 as the International Cricket Council's emerging player of the year. His Test career has yet to really take off, but he has met with a reasonable amount of success in ODIs, claiming 33 wickets in 18 appearances. He was also a key member of the Australian side that won last year's World Cup in the West Indies.

Tait's decision came just three days after Adam Gilchrist announced his retirement to join Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Justin Langer and Martyn as those that have quit in the last 14 months.

Australia has dominated world cricket for about a decade and a half and its systems have come in for much praise. Many of its rival teams want to adopt the Australian way, which has included nudging great players into retirement (think Steve Waugh).

Along the way, this system perhaps acquired the arrogance of one who invariably wins easily. Thus, talent perhaps came to be regarded as a commodity.

Now, its cupboard seems suddenly bare. The absence of Mathew Hayden was felt sorely in Perth since neither Jaques nor Rogers quite measured up. In the bowling department, Lee is the only one that matches up to the old "" now retired "" guard. The hunt for a Test-class spinner is likely to continue for some time.

That brings us to the what-not-to-do lesson to be learnt from Australia: talent is precious; it is to be nurtured and preserved.