Players who will have their swansong in 2015

Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.

Not many are blessed with a chance to bow out in style. Even the best of them all, Sir Donald Bradman, needing four runs in his last innings to finish with a perfect average of 100, fell for nought.

But as time flows, this adds to their everlasting appeal.

So it does for the few who actually go out in style. As far as World Cup swansongs are concerned, no one could have had it better than Imran Khan and Sachin Tendulkar. The former, at the grand old age of 39, and the latter, barely a month shy of the same age, won their first and only winner's medals in 1992 and 2011.

The 2015 event in Australia-New Zealand will also have its share of players dreaming to finish on a high. A look at some of them:

Kumar Sangakkara & Mahela Jayawardene (both 37): Gentleman’s Game, cricket might no longer be, but if it has to associate that with some of the ilk it will most definitely be the legendary Sri Lankan duo. The two have lived through four World Cup final defeats – 2007 and 2011 in ODIs, and the 2009 and 2012 in T20s. They finally got hold of the 2014 World T20 trophy. Does the ODI crown beckon this time around?

Shahid Afridi (34) & Misbah-ul-Haq (40): Common wisdom suggests that one should never see the words - Afridi and retirement - in the same breath. But the man has said, at least for now, that his fifth appearance in the quadrennial extravaganza will be his last. So has Misbah, who, though, can be expected to keep his word. As captain, he is only a year older than when Imran won in 1992!.

Dale Steyn (31): “We are just trying to be a part of that puzzle, that when it's finished, it has a big W on it. If I can win that World Cup without taking one wicket, I can still have a winner's medal around my neck,” ESPNCricinfo quoted Steyn as saying. That’s how desperate he is to win the ultimate prize. It may be his last chance, but with a team as well-rounded as the one South Africa possesses, his best.

Brendon McCullum (33): Few men can hurt a bowling attack like the Kiwi. The most recent example was the blistering 134-ball 195 against Sri Lanka in Christchurch. If the last year is anything to go by, he, as an astute captain, has turned the New Zealand side into the most-improved lot, and with that has come the tag of 'dark horse.'

Younis Khan (37), Chris Gayle (35), and Daniel Vettori (35) are the others who will be keen to bow out with a bang.