Less than a year after we despaired at the loss from the game of greats like Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Brian Lara, and the next generation has already presented itself.

Clearly, while such celebrated names who also include Pakistan great Inzamam-ul-Haq are never going to be replaced, their place as entertainers and ambassadors in the world game that help elevate the sport on a global level can be.

There has been a distinct shuffle in personnel amongst several countries this year and most notably South Africa’s decision to dispense with the services of their most successful-ever bowler in international cricket Shaun Pollock in Tests and how India have omitted the ever-reliable Rahul Dravid from their ODI team.

Two of England’s integral performers in helping the team reach second in the Test rankings Andrew Flintoff and Marcus Trescothick have disappeared, albeit on possibly a temporary basis because of injury and illness respectively, while former world number one paceman Steve Harmison is scrapping to regain his place after injuries.

The truth is, and it’s something we all knew but need reminding about occasionally, that players are only commodities that come and go. Obviously some leave a more lasting impression than others but there will always be new models on the conveyor belt ready to make their mark on the cricket industry.

The way Brett Lee and Dale Steyn have dominated two-match series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand respectively – with both claiming the man of the match awards in the two games and subsequently the player of the series awards – illustrates how they have stepped up to answer the increased responsibilities on them after McGrath and Pollock dominated the previous generation.

Hashim Amla made back to back centuries against the Black Caps as did opener Phil Jaques for Australia after being handed his long-awaited chance following the retirement of Justin Langer. Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey have also helped us forget that Steve Waugh and Damien Martyn were such vital figures in that team not so long ago.

Stuart Broad, Ryan Sidebottom and James Anderson plied their trade admirably in the English summer when the more familiar seam trio of Flintoff, Harmison and Matthew Hoggard were injured for the entire India series. Sidebottom and Anderson earned central contracts because of their efforts. Trescothick’s illness, sad as it was and continues to be, at least gave the opening prodigy Alastair Cook an opportunity earlier than expected. What happened? Cook scored a century on his Test debut in Nagpur and has flourished ever since.

Robin Uthappa has emerged in India’s one-day team as has teenage leg-spinner Piyush Chawla in place of veteran Anil Kumble, while Yuvraj Singh has taken his game to a new, more mature plateau after Dravid suffered an unusual loss of form and was dropped.

Sri Lankan Marvan Atapattu retired this week and Sanath Jayasuriya probably won’t be far behind, but their exits will be present a long-term route into the Test team for the impressive Upul Tharanga and Michael Vandort to open together. 

Inzamam’s runs and presence have been an assuring asset for Pakistan for the last 15 years, though whereas Younis Khan and Mohammed Yousuf will help cushion his loss, namesake Misbah-ul-Haq has already suggested he is worthy of an extended run in the side after promising innings at the ICC Twenty20 World Cup, which earned him a place on the Test tour of India.

I could go on, but the statement is there made by the next generation, which is a pattern that has happened frequently but not always consciously. Who would have thought years ago that a West Indies batting order in the early to mid-1970’s of Fredericks, Rowe, Kallicharran, Kanhai, Lloyd, Sobers and Murray could be succeeded seamlessly as it was in the next era?

I presume few would have predicted the dominance that Greenidge, Haynes, Gomes, Richards, Lloyd, Richardson/Logie and Dujon would have had, complimented by those magnificent fast bowlers.

In the same way, Morris, McDonald, Harvey, Hassett and Miller were followed by Simpson, Lawry, Ian Chappell, Walters and O’Neill, as Hutton, Washbrook, Hammond and Compton were emulated by Cowdrey, May, Graveney, Barrington and Dexter.

It’s a trend in world cricket that has gone on for generations. But just as we were still grieving at the loss of Warne, McGrath, Lara etc., we shouldn’t be too shy in saying to Lee, Steyn, Jaques, Amla and Co, thanks for reminding us that the sport will always nurse itself back to full health – however great the departing stars may be.