Gavaskar Trophy Test: Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect. Ashwin revealed his decision at the end of the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Brisbane, which ended in a draw due to rain.“This will be my last day as an Indian cricketer in all formats at the international level. I do feel there's a bit of punch left in me as a cricketer, but I would like to expose and probably showcase that in club level cricket, but this will be the last day. I've had a lot of fun. “I must say I've created a lot of memories alongside Rohit and several of my other teammates, even though I've lost some of them over the last few years. We are the last bunch of OGs, if you can say that, left out of the dressing room. I'd be marking this as my date of having played at this level,” said Ashwin in the post-match press conference. Ashwin ends his career with 537 wickets at average of 24 in 106 Tests and becoming India’s second leading wicket-taker after legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble. He also scored six Test centuries and 14 fifties with the bat. His last international game was the day-night Test in Adelaide, where he took 1-53. His retirement announcement looked imminent once TV visuals showed an emotional Ashwin being given a hug by Virat Kohli on the balcony of the dressing room during the rain delay. Ashwin also played 116 ODIs for India, taking 156 wickets, and being a member of 2011 ODI World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy winning teams. Ashwin also played 65 T20I matches and took 72 wickets. “Obviously, there are a lot of people to thank, but I would be failing in my duties if I didn't thank the BCCI and fellow teammates, several of them. I want to name a few of them. “All the coaches who've been a part of the journey, most importantly, Rohit, Virat (Kohli), Ajinkya (Rahane), (Cheteshwar) Pujara, who've taken those spending catches around the back to give me the number of wickets I've managed to get over the years. Also, a big thank you to the Australian cricket team, who've been very fierce competitors. I've enjoyed my time playing against them,” added Ashwin. In Tests, Ashwin was one of the big figures in the Indian team’s 12-year long home domination and played a starring role in the 2020/21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy win in Australia. Ashwin was one of 11 allrounders to clinch the double of 3000 runs and 300 wickets in Tests. He also won a record 11 Player-of-the-Series awards, level with Muthiah Muralitharan. “I think it's already getting long. I wouldn't be taking any questions, but it's truly a very emotional moment. I don't think I'm in a position where I would be answering the questions in the right way, so please pardon me for that. Once again, that's my time. “Thanks for being the journalist that you've been, writing good things and, of course, writing nasty things on occasions. That's a relationship I think we would maintain forever. I hope the cricketers to come in the future will also get the same amount of love that you've given them. “I think it's already getting long. I wouldn't be taking any questions, but it's truly a very emotional moment. I don't think I'm in a position where I would be answering the questions in the right way, so please pardon me for that. Once again, that's my time. Article Source: IANS Read the full article

Gavaskar Trophy Test: Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood said the next 24 hours are crucial in deciding his availability for the crunch Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Brisbane, starting on December 14.Hazlewood was ruled out of Australia’s day-night Test in Adelaide, which the hosts’ won by ten wickets to square the five-match series 1-1, due to a side strain. On Monday, Hazlewood had two bowling sessions at Adelaide Oval on Monday, with the Australian team fitness experts gauging if he’s fit enough to play in the third game at The Gabba. "I think it'll be how I pull up in the 24 hours following it really. It’s just that repetitive (action) and obviously two spells makes a big difference. Cooling down pretty much fully and then going again in the same day, and the intensity has got to be right up there as well. "So a few boxes to tick, but it's probably the 24 hours that follow and pulling up again the next day and then thinking 'yeah, I'd be right to go again if I had to'," said Hazlewood to reporters on Monday. Hazlewood also explained his latest injury was not a typical side strain, as compared to his past history of this issue. Instead, it’s a part of an existing issue which had left searching for a solution. “I think if this was the last Test of the summer, I could have potentially run the gauntlet and played (but) I think I would have been in a pretty bad state by the end of the game, even though it was only a short game. It just wasn’t quite right. “It’s not necessarily your typical side strain, which I’ve had a couple in my career, (where) you’re running in to bowl and you just grab your hat and you’re off and you’re out for six weeks. It’s not that sort of side strain. It’s from a sort of repetitive use. “It’s caused me a lot of trouble over the last few years, but (I had a) perfect prep this year, and played the Shield game and ticked all that off. I was very happy (with) where I was and it still happened. So I was pretty annoyed there for a few days.’ “There was plenty of meetings from CA's point of view (with) physios, (and) doctors, all that stuff. So (we will) come up with a few options and see if we can stop it from happening again. I've ticked every box so far this week. The side's obviously been a troublesome area for me in the past. So if I can lean on the side of caution, I guess (I will) a little bit," he elaborated. If Hazlewood is cleared to play the Brisbane Test, the Australian selectors will be forced to choose between him and seamer Scott Boland, who picked figures of 5-105 as his replacement in the Adelaide Test. "Obviously (we've) got Scotty there, who does a fantastic job every time he plays. That sort of makes the decision a little easier. Sometimes you've sort of got to be pretty much 100 percent to play. And if not, Scott is there (ready) to go. (It's) just admiration, he just sticks to his guns. If Hazlewood is cleared to play the Brisbane Test, the Australian selectors will be forced to choose between him and seamer Scott Boland, who picked figures of 5-105 as his replacement in the Adelaide Test. Article Source: IANS Read the full article