Legendary Jhulan Goswami: Jhulan Goswami, whose name is synonymous with “quick bowling” in women’s cricket, will play her final game at Lord’s on Saturday. The Indian side will want to make it a special farewell for her by sweeping the English in the ODI series. For a cricket player, playing just one game at Lord’s is the ultimate goal. A hundred runs or a five-for is a different high than saying goodbye to cricket after a successful career at the “Mecca of Cricket,” which is exclusively reserved for a select few.
Although he played his final first-class game there, Sunil Gavaskar was denied the chance. On their final playing day, neither Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, or Glenn McGrath had the chance to descend the stairs of the revered Long Room.
Call it fate or design, but Goswami’s final celebration is taking place at Lord’s.
A more memorable scene could not have existed as the svelte 5 feet 11-inch woman made her way through the Long Room to the MCC’s “suits,” who would then stand and offer her a “Guard of Honour” before she onto the field with her teammates.
Impact of Goswami both then and now
Back in 1999, when Goswami hadn’t even made her international debut, India’s women last defeated England in an ODI series.
So that the cherished “Jhulu Di” of the Indian squad will know that she is a contented soul as she plays in her 204th and final game.
Perhaps an ICC trophy would have looked lovely (she had two chances at that in 2005 and 2017 when India competed in the final), but sometimes certain things are not meant to be.
She might recall a lot of things when she makes her bowling mark for the final time and walks up the Lord’s slope to add to his 353 international wickets (across formats).
There won’t be another Jhulan Goswami.
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