IndiaPost.com - Ganguly calls it quits

BANGALORE: Taking cricket world by surprise, Sourav Ganguly announced his retirement from Tests after the end of four-match series against Australia, bringing to an end an era in which he brought aggression to the Indian team. "Before I leave, I have to make an announcement. This is going to be my last series. I have decided to quit.

These four Tests are going to be my last," he said in brief remarks at a pre-match press conference, capping days of speculation that he was selected on the understanding that he will bid adieu after the series. "I have spoken to my teammates that these four Tests would be my last matches.

Thanks for all the support, hopefully I will go out on a winning note," said the stylish 36-year-old left-hander from Kolkata.

The announcement by the most successful cricket captain India ever produced, ended the 16-year brilliant career which in the last over three years had shown a slump and was punctuated by his run-in with the establishment.

His retirement was hailed by the chief selector and former captains and players, including bitter critic Kiran More, who endorsed the timing of his decision. Ganguly, a veteran of 109 Tests, has been in and out of the team after he lost captaincy in 2005 following a spat with the then coach Greg Chappell during tour of Zimbabwe.

He had assumed the captaincy in the most difficult time when Mohammad Azharuddin stepped down on match-fixing charges and Sachin Tendulkar refused to continue as the skipper.

The overall fifth-highest run-getter for India, Ganguly is also among only seven batsmen in the world to cross the 10,000-run mark in one-day internationals.

He is also the second after Sachin Tendulkar in terms of overall runs scored in ODIs. Ganguly led India to 21 wins in 49 Test matches before he was sacked in 2005 at the height of his problems with disciplinarian Chappell, who did not like his laid back approach towards practice.

The elegant batsman had then fallen out with his mentor former BCCI Chief Jagmohan Dalmiya and cozied up to Sharad Pawar only to mend fences with Dalmiya again. Ganguly, however, was a surprise inclusion for the first two Tests against Australia being ignored for the five-day domestic Irani Cup tie last month, a selection trial for the series.

His inclusion spawned reports in the media, questioning the longevity of seniors in the team with captain Anil Kumble accusing the media of not treating them with respect. Last year, he was dropped from the one-day team during the England tour and ever since had failed to make a serious comeback.

Ganguly made his debut in international cricket in 1992 by being selected for the one-day team and later entered the Test format in 1996.