Ganguly has suffered a slump in form Former India captain Sourav Ganguly is to retire after the upcoming Test series against Australia in India. Ganguly, 36, has played 109 Tests, 49 as captain, amassing 6,888 runs at an average of 41.74, including 15 hundreds and 34 fifties. The 21 matches won during his tenure as skipper is an Indian record. India's selectors picked Ganguly in a 15-man squad for the first two Tests against Australia despite speculation beforehand that he would be dropped. "This will be my last series," Ganguly told reporters after a training session ahead of the first Test starting in Bangalore on Thursday. "To be honest, I didn't expect to be picked for this series." "Before coming here, I spoke to my team-mates and hopefully I will go out with a winning knock." Ganguly's announcement came at the end of what was expected to be routine media conference and gave further credence to suggestions the Indian cricket board had drawn up an exit plan for five senior players. 606: DEBATE And so it begins... One bloke goes, next Dravid, then Kumble and finally the big dog, Tendulkar

slowie A board official said last week that skipper Anil Kumble, Sachin Tendulkar, Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman had been told to plan their retirements by December. However, Ganguly denied such a directive had been given: "As far as I am concerned and some of the senior players are concerned, we have not received any intimation from the board on anything." Ganguly staged a remarkable comeback after losing his captaincy and later his spot in the team following a public spat with then coach Greg Chappell. He was recalled to the Test side in December 2006 and scored 1,571 runs at 50.67 up to and including the home series against South Africa earlier this year, including a maiden double-century. However, Ganguly managed only 96 runs in six innings during India's 2-1 series defeat in Sri Lanka this summer and was overlooked for a selection match between the Rest of India and Delhi. Ganguly finished his one-day international career with 11,363 runs in 311 matches and is one of only seven batsmen to have passed 10,000 runs.



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