5 eventful comeback attempts in cricket

Martin Crowe

Martin Crowe fielding at third slip on his comeback match

In 2011, legendary Kiwi batsman Martin Crowe made a sensational announcement that he would attempt to stage a comeback to first class cricket at the age of 48, saying that he wanted motivation to get fit and to also knock off the remaining 392 runs required for him to touch the magic figure of 20,000 FC runs. He had said then, "Hey! If Ganguly can do it, anyone can do it!" Crowe had retired from international cricket in 1994, citing a bad knee.

For five months, Crowe was on a comeback trail, and he assumably found the motivation he wanted, perfecting his batting in the nets. However, his comeback match turned out to be a huge anti-climax. Three balls into his innings while batting for Cornwall against Parnell, he pulled a thigh muscle while attempting a single, and was forced to retire hurt. “So three balls into my first premier match back, it's over,” he said with more than just a tinge of regret in a letter he sent out to media outlets. "I said from the start it would end in tears.”

It can be hoped Crowe had found joy in his attempted comeback though, because an even crueller blow was about to come. The next year, he was diagnosed with lymphoma.