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Living it up at second chance saloon
Javagal Srinath had hoped for a peaceful retirement but his match-winning performance against Sri Lanka has elevated him to one of sport's most revered groups - the comeback kings.
India paceman Javagal Srinath had hoped for a peaceful retirement but his match-winning performance against Sri Lanka has elevated him to one of sport's most revered groups - the comeback kings.
The 33-year-old's four wicket blast in the 183-run win at the Wanderers not only helped his team into the World Cup semi-finals but also illustrated the rejuventing impact of the second chance saloon.
In 1988, Imran Khan, under pressure from president General Zia-ul Haq, agreed to return to the national cricket team and the decision was vindicated when he led his men to their first and only World Cup in 1992 with a victory in the final over England in Melbourne.
Not to be outdone, batsman Javed Miandad quit in 1994 but the temptation of holding the record for six World Cup finals appearances was too hard to resist and he reappeared in 1996 but he was a shadow of his former self.
He should have asked countryman Shahbaz Ahmed for advice. He quit hockey in 1992, came back to help win the World Cup in 1994, coached in 2001, played again in 2002 before heading off into the sunset for a final time.
There are comebacks and there are comebacks.
Basketball legend Michael Jordan has set the standard having retired in 1993 after winning three successive NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls, returning in 1995 for another three championships before quitting for the second time.
But the desire to play burned deep and he came back again in 2001 this time with the Washington Wizards.
"I am returning as a player to the game I love," Jordan said.
In Britain, Steve Redgrave recognised that competitive spirit.
The rower entered the history books winning golds at five successive Olympics with his crowning glory coming in Sydney in 2000.
He had famously announced his retirement in 1996 after winning his fourth gold in Atlanta and said: "I hereby give permission to anybody who catches me in a boat again to shoot me."
Asked if Sydney was definitely his last hurrah, he replied: "Once I've made my mind up to do something or not do something I stick to it."
The Games in Australia also prompted Cathy Freeman to take a year's sabbatical after winning her high-pressure 400m gold medal although she is now ready to resume her track career.
"My personal life is intact, I think I'm training harder than ever before, I'm so much more relaxed than ever before," said Freeman, who has separated from her husband.
Other comebacks are eased by moving the goalposts - just ask tennis players where has-beens are determined to remain contenders via the seniors tour.
Five-time Wimbledon winner Bjorn Borg, who made a disastrous return to the All England Club in the 1990s, losing to a qualifier, is a regular on the circuit as are John McEnroe and Boris Becker.
However, Jimmy Connors hasn't been tempted. In 1984, he arrived at the All England Club proclaiming: "My hips go, my knees stiffen up, my back gets sore. My 13-year-old son would have a chance against me now."
