Ordinary run ends a special career: Laxman to quit after series

Ironically — and in some ways fittingly — the end will come against the opponents who have accorded him the highest respect in the past,for his masterful stroke play and match-winning knocks. But on those very same fast,true wickets and conditions that he once relished,Laxman is now struggling to make significant contributions.

“Laxman will retire at the end of the ongoing Tests series in Australia,” said a top BCCI official,speaking to The Sunday Express. “He is 37 and India’s next Test series is still at least six months away. Plus his form has dropped significantly and his fitness ,especially a troublesome back,is hampering him.”

Laxman’s poor run with the bat has coincided with India’s embarrassing overseas record of six defeats in a row — four in England and the ones at Sydney and Melbourne — the team’s worst away run since 1969.

Laxman,in his last 14 innings outside the subcontinent,has scored 284 runs at an average of 20.28,with a highest of 66 — made in the second innings of his favourite Australian ground,the SCG. These numbers pale in comparison to those recorded during the 16 innings preceding the aforementioned poor run — 704 runs at 54.15 with one century and six fifties made outside the sub-continent.

Unsure of Adelaide

It isn’t clear if Laxman will play the final Test in Adelaide,but his current tally on this tour reads: 102 runs at 17 with one fifty in six innings. In England,Laxman scored a fifty more,but he failed to arrest the slide or score runs when it mattered most — a key feature of his career.

“We need to plan for the future after the poor show in England and now in Australia. Youngsters need to be given a long run now. Laxman has been one of our finest batsmen but he has run out of time as he has failed to make it count against Australia,a team he has dominated at his best,” another top BCCI official said.

Against Australia in their backyard,Laxman has made 1,183 runs at 45.5,with four hundreds and as many fifties. Overall against the same opponents,Laxman has 2381 runs at 50.65,with six hundreds and twice the number of half centuries.

His match-winning 281 at Kolkata after India were forced to follow-on was rated by Wisden as the sixth-best Test match innings ever played.

Tendulkar’s ODI future

Sachin Tendulkar could also make a big decision regarding his One-day International career. Tendulkar is set to play the tri-series — also involving Sri Lanka — in Australia,a tournament which could well be his last in limited-overs cricket.

However,the source suggested that Tendulkar’s decision will hinge on whether or not he scores his hundredth hundred in Australia — during the final Test in Adelaide or during the tri-series.

Tendulkar is said to have informed the BCCI that he would be available for selection for the tri-series starting on February 5. The batsman is expected to take a final decision about his ODI career during the tri-series beginning next month.