Hearts sank,
Spectators shell-shocked,
Galleries dumb-founded,
Kangaroos perplexed,
Stoic silence pervaded
Not merely in the Sydney stadium
But in every nook and cranny of the country.

Never did he have an inkling
That it was a disastrous shot;
By the time he realized it
The ball was already in the cupped hands of the Master Blaster.
He was OUT!
Unhesitatingly went up the umpire’s index finger.
A terrible, painful experience!
How many lamented, God alone knows;
But only for a fleeting second the rude shock lasted,
Suddenly the veil of gloom vanished.
Like the music in a melodrama,
Slowly rose his adoring fans to their feet,
And a long-lasting standing ovation
They accorded him with veneration.

No Aussie sportsman has ever received
Such a prolonged lavish applause,
Such an emotional public farewell,
Such a lap of honour on his team-mates’ shoulders.
The infectious smile on his cherubic countenance,
The charm, charisma, charity, icy cool composure
Won him at home and abroad friends galore.

The last innings of eighty,
A pinnacle innings, defiant indeed,
A skipper’s master knock
Though in no way surpassed any of his glittering records
Had a magic touch to rescue his team:
A team fostered under him with indomitable spirit,
A team clamoured by cricket pundits as invincible
From the impending danger of being conquered,
And to save him from an ignominious exit.

A gem of a man,
An ornament to the game,
A role-model to the up-coming cricketers,
An inspiring personality with his towering achievements
Deserving to be envied and emulated worldwide.
Cheerio, Steve, cheerio!