(Stephen O'Loughlin is a cricket fan and BPL contributor.)

On his 1979 album Rust Never Sleeps, Neil Young sang the iconic words "it's better to burn out than to fade away". When asked about the lyrics a year later in a Playboy interview, John Lennon said: "I hate it. It's better to fade away like an old soldier than to burn out." Unfortunately for the former Beatle he didn't get to choose his fate. 

In the cricketing world, the champions of the game do get to make the choice but as with all things cricket, timing is everything. The choice is thus: do I pull the pin while my flame burns bright and therefore not tarnish my legacy or do I "fade away" and leave it up to the powers that be to tap me on the shoulder and make the decision for me? 

In recent years, modern greats Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer retired after contributing heavily to the 5-0 Ashes whitewash of 2006-07. Among the highlights of that series were the amazing Adelaide Test when Warne and McGrath suffocated the life out of the tourists by taking a combined 6 for 64 from 42 miserable overs and, before that, the 82 and unbeaten 100 from Langer in the first Test in Brisbane which helped set up the series win. 

Adam Gilchrist famously knew when to walk throughout his career and retired the following season after breaking the then Test wicketkeeping record of 414 dismissals. This had followed his magnificent freewheeling 149 from 104 balls in the 2007 World Cup final. 

Before the third Test of that 2006-07 series, classy No.4 batsman Damian Martyn could see the writing on the wall and announced his retirement in stunning circumstances. A complex individual, he had managed just 45 runs in the three digs in the first two matches and pulled the pin despite assurances he was to be selected in the Perth squad. 

Matthew Hayden, the powerful and prolific Queensland opener who incredibly, in 103 Tests, made more hundreds (30) than fifties (29) unfortunately labored to the end with an old man's Achilles injury and no score over 50 in his final two Test series. 

Gilchrist's predecessor, Ian Healy, didn't receive the "dream little finish" he craved. With Gilchrist already a one-day superstar, Healy made only 25 runs and took four catches in the three Tests of the 1999 Sri Lanka tour. Despite requesting a farewell 1999-2000 home series, and then at the very least a farewell home Gabba Test, Gilchrist was selected and Healy retired from all forms of the game. 

Current greats Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey have had a wonderful summer against the hapless Indians and will be more than tempted to tour the Caribbean, then take on South Africa, Sri Lanka, India and then have one last crack at the Ashes. But to burn out, fade away or hand over the brightly burning torch? 

The precedents are there for all to see. Clearly in the ruthless world of Test cricket, the game is far bigger than one man and owes no individual a thing. Timing is the essence of the game, never moreso when it comes to the decision about ending a career.