VVS Laxman bids adieu to international cricket

Hyderabad -  One of India's most stylish batsman, VVS Laxman, on Saturday announced his retirement from international cricket after having played for 16 long years.

"I feel the time has now come to move on. I now announce my retirement from international cricket," he told a press conference in Hyderabad.

"As a youngster it was dream to represent India and it took lot of pride to wear India cap.  I would like to give youngsters an opportunity to prove themselves," he added.

Laxman further said he felt that he played the best cricket not only in India, but overseas as well.

"I am grateful to almighty for blessing me to live my dream of playing cricket. I have always felt that I have got the opportunity to serve my country and have played the best cricket not only in India but overseas as well," he said.

Laxman, who made his Test debut against South Africa in 1996 in Ahmedabad, became part of the famous batting quartet also comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid.

Laxman got his first test half-century (51) in the second innings of his debut match against the South Africans, but it took him another 29 innings before he got his first test hundred - a magnificent 167 against Australia in the Sydney Test.

Laxman played 134 Tests, amassing 8,781 runs at an average of 45.97, with his highest being the monumental 281 against Australia. His innings of 281 against Australia at Kolkata in 2001 was ranked sixth in Wisden's list of 100 great Test innings in the history of the game.

The 37-year-old Hyderabadi made his one-day International debut against Zimbabwe in Cuttack in 1998. Laxman, who could not be a regular member of the ODI side, scored 2,338 (average 30.76) ODI runs with six hundreds and 10 half centuries.

Laxman, who batted in all positions barring No.9 and 11, always had a pair of safe hands and pouched 135 Test catches too. He has the record of taking the most number of catches (12) by a non-wicketkeeper in a single ODI series. He shares this record with Allan Border.

Laxman has the Padma Shri and Arjuna Award to his credit in recognition of his outstanding achievement in sports.