http://www.senore.com/Cricket/R-Dravid-c2229 bids adieu to international cricket – Cricket News Update
The batting stalwart of India, Rahul Dravid, on Friday became the first, of a few ageing Indian players to bid adieu to international cricket.
Dravid, also known as the ‘Wall’ of the Indian cricket team, announced his retirement from all formats of the game during a packed press conference in his home city of Bangalore today, March 9, 2012.
The president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), N http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Anil-Kumble-c44737, accompanied him at the farewell conference.
"I hereby announce my retirement from International cricket and domestic as well,” said Dravid.
“It has been 16 years since I started playing. I never thought I would play for India that long...I have failed at times but I have never stopped trying, which is why I leave with sadness but also with pride,” the batting veteran added further.
The Indian No. 3 batsman used the occasion to thank his domestic as well as his national coaches, his family, friends and fans for supporting him throughout his career. He also thanked the BCCI selectors for picking him in the national squad for more than
five hundred times.
"In the Indian team I have been fortunate to have been part of an era where we won home and away,” said the veteran. “I found support and encouragement from my parents and brother. My wife Vijetha has been a single parent as I travelled all over," he added.
The legendary Indian batsman, who was the leading run getter in Test cricket during the 2011 season at the age of 38, played 164 Tests during an international career spanning 16 years, from 1996 to 2012 and compiled 13288 runs at an average of 52.31. With
a tally of 13288 Test runs, Dravid stands second on the all time http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SR-Tendulkar-c2556.
In 344 One Day International appearances for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750, the prolific middle order batsman scored 10889 runs at a batting average of 39.16, which included 12 centuries and 83 half centuries.
Though Dravid has announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect, he will honour his commitments with the IPL franchise, the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rajasthan-c837 Royals, who he will be leading in the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League.
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