Lara announces retirement from Tests as well

Bridgetown, Barbados, Apr 20 (UNI) Brian Lara today announced retirement from both forms of the game amid reports that the West Indies board could have disciplined him by axing the skipper from the England tour.

''Tomorrow I shall be playing last one-day international against England and that is the end of my career,'' the highest run getter in Test cricket announced before a stunned world media.

He had already announced retirement from one-day international but was widely believed to continue to play the Tests.

Ending all speculation this evening after the emphatic 99-run victory over Bangladesh, Lara said that he would not be going for the England tour.

Lara was initially reluctant to speak anything on his future but when pressed by the newsmen, he stunned by announcing the retirement.

He, however, hinted that he did not receive enough support from selectors, team management as well as board officials.

''Hopefully whoever succeed me as captain would get all these things for the better of the West Indies cricket,'' he said adding that only talent was not enough for success in international cricket.

''What we need is a foundation and West Indies cricket must have to plan 10-15 years at a stretch and I am sure the Board and other who are in the cricket committee will do so for the betterment of the West Indies cricket which has been in downhill for the last decade or so,'' he said.

Lara will be playing his 299th one-day international tomorrow.

''I wished to play my 300th matches in this World Cup but it did not happen. We had a very ordinary World Cup,'' he said.

''I played cricket for 17 years, played over 131 one day tests and I would like to remembered as one who tried to put the flag of the West Indies high and gave joy those watched Brian Lara play and West Indies play,'' he said in an emotional outburst.

Barely a fortnight from his 38th birthday, he dropped hints that he was hurt at the media reports that he would not be selected for the forthcoming England tour. There are both media reports and speculations that West Indies Cricket Board would drop him.

He has been a running battle with the selectors mainly Andy Roberts as Brian Lara was complaining that he was not given the best team to lead while it was open secret that selectors did not want Lara as captain of this West Indies team.

Anticipating the sack from England bound time, he acted fast and did not give them any chance to do so. However the West Indies Cricket Board had not officially announced that Brian Lara would not be traveling to England along with the team. England series starts from a month from now and they are to play three matches against them.

The Wisden cricketer of the year, 1995 he has 34 Test hundred against his name as well as 19 tons in the one day internationals.

He holds the record for the highest Test score (400 not out) and in the first-class game (501 not out).

UNI