http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DPMD-Jayawardene-c1397 calls VVS Laxman ‘the finest player’ - Cricket News Update
Sri Lankan skipper, Mahela Jayawardene, is the latest to join the chorus to heap praise on the recently retired Indian veteran batsman, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/VVS-Laxman-c2772, claiming that the game will indeed miss one of its finest players.
Despite being selected for the home series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hyderabad-c792.
"Laxman was one of the finest players of our times and world cricket will miss him. He has contributed a lot to the game and to his country's success," Jayawardene was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of SLPL.
The retirement triggered off a chain of reactions with some even speculating over a possible rift between the 37-year-old batsman and skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028.
While there could be little truth in the assertions, the Sri Lankan captains still expressed his surprise over the player’s decision to call time on his career after the Indian side was already recovering from the loss of another great in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/R-Dravid-c2229, who bid farewell to international cricket earlier in the year.
"I don't know under what circumstances he retired but every international cricketer will have to take a call finally and he must have thought it was time for him to go. Rahul (Dravid) surprised people when he decided to quit. VVS must also have some plan for his future,” the Sri Lankan captain said.
The veteran batsman made his international debut against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 in 1996 and played 134 Tests, scoring 8,781 (at 45.97) runs with 17 centuries. He also represented his country in 86 One Day International (ODI) matches, and scored 2,338 (at 30.76) runs including six centuries.
Along with Laxman remained the mainstay of the Indian batting lineup for well over a decade, and was instrumental in propelling his side to the Test summit in 2010.
His 281 against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 in the Kolkata Test in 2001 remained the hallmark of his career - the historic innings symbolises a major cornerstone that took the Indian cricket to greater heights.
“You cannot take away his achievements as a cricketer. As a person also he is a fantastic guy," the Sri Lankan captain concluded.
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