A Very Very Special cricketer has finally decided to call it quits. He could have easily gone on to play the two Tests against the Kiwis. But his decision is quite timely. Sourav Ganguly is unnecessary trying to give vent feelings to his own frustrations at this moment.
The last eight Tests - 4 each against England and Australia had been his worst streak. An average of less than 20 in 16 ininngs as India kept on losing Test after Test should have prompted him to retire may be soon after returning from Australia, just like Dravid. Dravid had scored back to back hundreds in England but struggled through the Aussie tour.
Criticism is what all players have to endure. Laxman and Dravid have had to live through that as they were dumped from the ODI team even though Dravid did have a great one-day career. Laxman was simply not cut out for that version of cricket.
In 2008, Sourav Ganguly was dropped from the Rest of India team for the Irani Trophy with the selectors clearly indicating they did not want him for the home series against the Aussies. But the fighter that he is, he negotiated a farewell, which perhaps Laxman was not adept at. The selectors had, by picking him for the two Tests versus the Kiwis given him the opportunity to call it quits before being dropped. So they cannot be blamed. Dada is simply venting out his frustration. Let us not forget he is still playing first-class cricket for Bengal so as to keep himself in the limelight vis-a-vis IPL.
During that same 2008 series Kumble, struggling through with injury, announced his retirement. Even when he found that RCB did not want him for IPL, he gracefully pulled himself out. After flopping year after year, Dada too should quit IPL.
In his very very special style Laxman has signed off. What if he had failed? Hence his decision is timely and right. Dada is unnecessarily trying to cast aspersions on the selectors. This is not to suggest that the selectors are always right. They have picked far too many batsmen for two Tests against the Kiwis. We all know that Raina and Rohit are Dhoni's favourites. Let us not forget that cash-rich IPL franchises will do anything to see their recruits in the Test team. Test cricket is anyway not the BCCI's priority. So one wouldn't be surprised to find Raina and Rohit being picked ahead of Pujara and Rahane in the Test team to fill in the vacancies created by the retirement of Dravid and Laxman.
The selectors should take this opportunity to push Sehwag down to the middle-order so as to lend more stability to it as we won't have Dravid and Laxman there. Sehwag may have created records as an opener but let us not forget he is too unpredictable. Rahane should open with Gambhir, followed by Pujara at no. 3, Sachin at no.4, Sehwag at no.5 and Kohli at no.6. The selectors should also back Irfan when he is in such great form. He is the all-rounder India badly needs, which it had lost for five straight years thanks to the Chappellian tragi-comedy.
Wishing Indian cricket all the best. And we respect you Dada for instilling in the team the killer instinct it lacked. But please don't take anything away from the solemnity of Laxman's moment.
The last eight Tests - 4 each against England and Australia had been his worst streak. An average of less than 20 in 16 ininngs as India kept on losing Test after Test should have prompted him to retire may be soon after returning from Australia, just like Dravid. Dravid had scored back to back hundreds in England but struggled through the Aussie tour.
Criticism is what all players have to endure. Laxman and Dravid have had to live through that as they were dumped from the ODI team even though Dravid did have a great one-day career. Laxman was simply not cut out for that version of cricket.
In 2008, Sourav Ganguly was dropped from the Rest of India team for the Irani Trophy with the selectors clearly indicating they did not want him for the home series against the Aussies. But the fighter that he is, he negotiated a farewell, which perhaps Laxman was not adept at. The selectors had, by picking him for the two Tests versus the Kiwis given him the opportunity to call it quits before being dropped. So they cannot be blamed. Dada is simply venting out his frustration. Let us not forget he is still playing first-class cricket for Bengal so as to keep himself in the limelight vis-a-vis IPL.
During that same 2008 series Kumble, struggling through with injury, announced his retirement. Even when he found that RCB did not want him for IPL, he gracefully pulled himself out. After flopping year after year, Dada too should quit IPL.
In his very very special style Laxman has signed off. What if he had failed? Hence his decision is timely and right. Dada is unnecessarily trying to cast aspersions on the selectors. This is not to suggest that the selectors are always right. They have picked far too many batsmen for two Tests against the Kiwis. We all know that Raina and Rohit are Dhoni's favourites. Let us not forget that cash-rich IPL franchises will do anything to see their recruits in the Test team. Test cricket is anyway not the BCCI's priority. So one wouldn't be surprised to find Raina and Rohit being picked ahead of Pujara and Rahane in the Test team to fill in the vacancies created by the retirement of Dravid and Laxman.
The selectors should take this opportunity to push Sehwag down to the middle-order so as to lend more stability to it as we won't have Dravid and Laxman there. Sehwag may have created records as an opener but let us not forget he is too unpredictable. Rahane should open with Gambhir, followed by Pujara at no. 3, Sachin at no.4, Sehwag at no.5 and Kohli at no.6. The selectors should also back Irfan when he is in such great form. He is the all-rounder India badly needs, which it had lost for five straight years thanks to the Chappellian tragi-comedy.
Wishing Indian cricket all the best. And we respect you Dada for instilling in the team the killer instinct it lacked. But please don't take anything away from the solemnity of Laxman's moment.
