How To Kiss: Mar 9, 2012

Mumbai: India batting great and old Skipper Rahul Dravid announced his retirement from international cricket on Friday, saying it was the right time to "move on" and make way for the next generation of players.

In Pics: Rahul Dravid's glorious Test career | Rahul Dravid Profile | Statistical highlights of Rahul Dravid's Test career

The 39-year-old second highest run scorer in Test history announced his decision at a press conference in Bangalore with Indian cricket board (BCCI) president N Srinivasan and former India leg spinner Anil Kumble was also present.

Dravid has scored 13,288 runs in 164 Tests, including 36 hundreds, and became the first of India's top batsmen to retire from the longer format after the team slumped to eight consecutive Test defeats away from home.

"I would like to announce my retirement from international and domestic first-class cricket," a melancholy aspect Dravid read from prepared statement, confirming what many observers expected when the conference was arranged on Thursday.

"Already 16 years since I played my first Test for India. I feel its time for me to move on.

"I had a wonderful time but now its time for a new generation of young players to make their own history and to bring the Indian cricket team even more."

Flanked by Srinivasan and former India captain Kumble, who is now president of the Karnataka state cricket association, the father of two intended to now look forward to spending more time with his family.

"Being away from my family became more and more difficult over the years and I look forward now to spend time at home and doing the simple things, like just taking my children (Samit and Anvay) to school," he said.

NEW BLOOD

Critics and unhappy fans called Dravid and Vangipurappu Laxman (37) to make way for new blood after India were whitewashed 0-4 in their last two away series in England and Australia.

"I would like to believe that regardless of how the Australian series went, in my own mind I was pretty sure after Australia I am going to sit down and evaluate a lot," Dravid said.

"It's easy for me to say now, but I think I would have come to the same conclusion."

The third member of the 'Big Three' Sachin Tendulkar (38) has struggled for form since reaching his 99th international century, year, and 38, could soon be expected to limit his participation to Test matches only.

Dravid said he had given his all to become the best cricketer he possibly could.

"My approach to cricket was reasonably simple: it was to give everything to the team, it was about playing with dignity, and it was about upholding the spirit of the game," said Dravid, nicknamed "The Wall" for his impeccable defense.

"I hope I have done some of that. I failed sometimes, but I never stopped trying. It is why I leave with sadness but also with pride."

Last year, Dravid retired from the limited-overs formats of the game after India's disastrous tour of England, where the team did not win a single match.

The elegant right-hander, one of cricket most technically sound batsmen, also has 12 hundreds in one day internationals, and while he will be unable to add this bill, cricket lovers still be able to see him play in the shortest format.

Dravid continues to play in the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 tournament, where he will lead the Rajasthan Royals, replacing the retired Shane Warne as captain of the franchise.

"I will play my part in helping young children (in cricket). But to be honest I have not made my mind, is not decided," he said of his future plans.

"I have two months in IPL to go through and then come June, I sit down and think.

"I really believe that the time away from the game will be good for me ... I played this game for 20 years ... it was a surreal world, was far from reality."

How To Kiss

Friday, March 9, 2012

I have failed at times, but I never stopped trying: Rahul Dravid

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