By BV Swagath
VVS Laxman today has announced his retirement from International Cricket with immediate effect! This means that the 37-year-old has decided not to play in the 2-Test Series against New Zealand despite being selected in the squad. Laxman had the choice of playing a farewell Test at his hometown Hyderabad but surprisingly decided against it!
Laxman addressing a press conference at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium said that the thought of retiring from International Cricket came in the last 4-5 days. The 37-year-old said that it was important for the youngsters to get the opportunity to play Test Cricket at home before playing in overseas series. Laxman revealed that he wasn’t clear about his decision till last night whether to retire with immediate effect or do so after the Test Series.
Watch VVS Laxman announce his retirement
The Hyderabadi star revealed that he had communicated his decision to retire with immediate effect with the Selectors and the BCCI this morning. Like Rahul Dravid with whom he had shared several great partnerships for India, Laxman will be quitting International Cricket without any farewell match! So with this VVS Laxman ends up with 134 Tests with his last appearance for India being the 4th Test against Australia at Adelaide in January 2012.
Laxman has finished his Career with 8781 runs in 134 Tests with 17 centuries and 56 fifties. With a career average of 45.97, VVS Laxman has been one of the greatest batsmen for India in the longer format of the game. His highest score in Test Cricket is 281 which came against a formidable Australian team at Kolkata in 2001 when India had its back to the walls after following on.
VVS Laxman, who made his International debut in 1996 had limited success in ODIs, playing only 86 matches and scoring 2338 runs at a modest average of 30.76. He has scored 6 100s and 10 50s. One of the lowest points of VVS Laxman's 16-year-old International Career was the fact that he couldn't make it to the Indian Squad in any of the World Cups.
Although Laxman has announced his retirement from International Cricket, he said that he will play for Hyderabad in Ranji Trophy. On the toughest bowler he has ever faced, VVS has named Pakistani legend Wasim Akram for his variations.
