Selected excerpts:
*“I would like to announce my retirement from international cricket with immediate effect,” Laxman said. “I have always kept my country’s success and need ahead of my personal aspirations. And while I would love contributing to the team’s success, especially against England and Australia, I think this is the right time to give the youngsters a chance in home conditions ahead of international assignments coming up next year.” The chance he said, could be, "no better than against an inexperienced New Zealand bowling attack.
He admitted that this sudden retirement had been “a tough decision to take,” adding, “I have always listened to my inner conscience. I have always done that right through my career. There was a lot of debate in the last four days. I felt this is the right time to move on.”
The decision to quit had been arrived at only on Saturday morning after Laxman admitted he had toyed over the idea over the last few days. “Till last night I was unable to make up my mind, but in the end I listened to my inner voice and arrived at my decision to retire. I informed the chairman of selectors (Krishnamachari Srikkanth) this morning that I would not continue playing for India. I also spoke to many of my team-mates, they were surprised that I was retiring before the series. It was all very emotional.”
Laxman read out a prepared statement in which he thanked everyone who had been part “of my journey” in which he said he had been able to “live his dream” and felt “blessed that I had got the opportunity. Very few get the opportunity to play for their country.” His voice shook only briefly in the early part of his statement and his wife Sailaja was seen wiping away tears. Laxman gathered himself, finished his statement and took questions about quitting only five days before the first Test against New Zealand in Hyderabad. He said that while his family had waned him to play in the Hyderabad Test but he had made up his mind in what had been the “toughest three or four days of my career.”
Laxman represented India in 134 Tests, scoring 8781 runs at 45.97. He made his debut against South Africa in the home series in 1996 but shot to the limelight with a knock of 167 against Australia in Sydney in 2000. Perhaps his greatest achievement was his 281 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata in 2001, against Australia, then the highest score by an Indian batsman in Tests. Part of a record stand with Rahul Dravid, it set up a stunning victory for the home team after following on and ended Australia’s consecutive 16-match winning streak.*
I would remember Laxman the most for the 281 knock which was what I think one of the best turnaround test victories by any test team. 2nd Test: India v Australia at Kolkata, Mar 11-15, 2001 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo
He is one of the few modern players who consistently did well against the Australians when they were on their peak.
Career stats:
[TABLE=“class: engineTable, width: 629”]
[TR=“class: head”]
[TH=“class: left, align: left”][/TH]
[TH=“class: left, align: left”]Span[/TH]
[TH]Mat[/TH]
[TH]Inns[/TH]
[TH]NO[/TH]
[TH]Runs[/TH]
[TH=“class: padAst”]HS[/TH]
[TH]Ave[/TH]
[TH]BF[/TH]
[TH]SR[/TH]
[TH]100[/TH]
[TH]50[/TH]
[TH]0[/TH]
[TH]4s[/TH]
[TH]6s[/TH]
[TH][/TH]
[/TR]
[TR=“class: data1”]
overall
1996-2012
134
225
34
8781
281
45.97
17785
49.37
17
56
14
1135
5
Profile
[/TR]
[TABLE=“class: engineTable, width: 629”]
[TR=“class: headlinks”]
[TH=“class: left, align: left”][Grouping
http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/blackArrowUp.gif](Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com)[/TH]
[TH=“class: left, align: left”]Span[/TH]
[TH]Mat[/TH]
[TH]Inns[/TH]
[TH]NO[/TH]
[TH]Runs[/TH]
[TH=“class: padAst”]HS[/TH]
[TH]Ave[/TH]
[TH]BF[/TH]
[TH]SR[/TH]
[TH]100[/TH]
[TH]50[/TH]
[TH][/TH]
[TH]4s[/TH]
[TH]6s[/TH]
[TH][/TH]
[/TR]
[TR=“class: data1”]
v Australia
1998-2012
29
54
5
2434
281
49.67
4480
54.33
6
12
3
338
0
http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/guruInvestigate.gif
[/TR]
[TR=“class: data1”]
v Bangladesh
2004-2010
3
4
1
117
69*
39.00
172
68.02
0
1
0
13
0
http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/guruInvestigate.gif
[/TR]
[TR=“class: data1”]
v England
2001-2011
17
28
3
766
75
30.64
1696
45.16
0
6
2
103
0
http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/guruInvestigate.gif
[/TR]
[TR=“class: data1”]
v New Zealand
2002-2010
10
17
3
818
124*
58.42
1810
45.19
2
6
2
112
1
http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/guruInvestigate.gif
[/TR]
[TR=“class: data1”]
v Pakistan
1999-2007
15
25
7
775
112*
43.05
1532
50.58
1
6
2
105
1
http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/guruInvestigate.gif
[/TR]
[TR=“class: data1”]
v South Africa
1996-2011
19
31
5
976
143*
37.53
2044
47.74
1
6
1
126
2
http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/guruInvestigate.gif
[/TR]
[TR=“class: data1”]
v Sri Lanka
1999-2010
13
22
3
900
104
47.36
1884
47.77
2
8
1
98
0
http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/guruInvestigate.gif
[/TR]
[TR=“class: data1”]
v West Indies
1997-2011
22
36
6
1715
176*
57.16
3741
45.84
4
11
3
194
0
http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/guruInvestigate.gif
[/TR]
[TR=“class: data1”]
v Zimbabwe
2000-2005
6
8
1
280
140
40.00
426
65.72
1
0
0
46
1
http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/guruInvestigate.gif
[/TR]
[TR=“class: data1”]
[/TR]
[TR=“class: data1”]
[/TR]
Dravid’s tribute - ‘Nothing calms you like Laxman’ - Great read ‘Nothing calms you like Laxman’ | Specials | Cricinfo Magazine | ESPN Cricinfo](http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/current/story/377042.html)
Some fantastic stats here - Stats Analysis : VVS Laxman stats analysis: muggles | Cricinfo Magazine | ESPN Cricinfo
I think this is good timing. Great chance for another new guy to step in and play the first game against weak NZ at home haha. Ease his way in etc.
As for Laxman, his 2nd innings performances is what I will remember him most by including that legendary 281.
He’s another level headed intelligent man like Kumble and Dravid, and I’d like to see him involved with cricket administration.. either at state or national level.