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Agence France-Presse

Reuters

India’s off-spinning great Ravichandran Ashwin announced his immediate retirement from international cricket following the third Test against Australia in Brisbane on Wednesday.
The 38-year-old took 537 wickets in his 106 Tests at an average of 24.00, leaving him seventh on the all-time list and second only to Anil Kumble (619) for his country.
He also played 116 one-day and 65 Twenty20 internationals.
“This will be my last day as an Indian cricketer in all formats at an international level,” Ashwin said at the post-match press conference alongside skipper Rohit Sharma after the match was drawn.
“I feel there’s a little bit of punch left in me as a cricketer, but I’d like to express that, showcase that, in club-level cricket.”

He was not selected for Brisbane with his final Test coming in Adelaide last week where he took 1-53.
“I’ve had a lot of fun. I have made a lot of memories alongside Rohit and several of my teammates,” he added.
“Obviously there are a lot of people to thank, but I will be failing in my duties if I didn’t thank the BCCI and fellow teammates.”
He took more wickets against Australia than any other country, with 115 at 28.58 in 23 tests against them.
“A big thank you to the Australian cricket team, who’ve been very fierce competitors,” Ashwin said. “I’ve enjoyed my time playing against them.”
Sharma said he was aware of Ashwin’s desire to walk away before the start of the series, but convinced him to play in Adelaide last week.

However, he decided during that Test that his time as an international cricketer was over and the 38-year-old spinner was left out of the third Test in Brisbane, with Ravindra Jadeja taking his spot.
“He felt if I am not needed now in the series, I am better off saying goodbye to the team,” Sharma said.
“As a team we have to respect that decision,” Sharma said.
“He was very sure about what he wanted to do and the team has complete backing of his thought process.
“He’s had so many big moments with the Indian team and he’s been a big match-winner for us.
“He’s allowed to make these decisions, and if it is now, so be it.”

Ashwin’s call means he will not be available for the final two tests in Australia, with Jadeja and Washington Sundar the two remaining spinners in the squad.
Australian captain Pat Cummins said Ashwin had been a fierce competitor.
“He’s obviously been a fantastic player all around the world – there aren’t that many finger spinners that have that kind of longevity,” Cummins said.
“He’ll go down as one of the all-time greats.
“There’s a massive respect from our change room for the career that he’s had.”
Ashwin made his Test debut in 2011 against the West Indies and was also handy with the bat, scoring 3,503 runs with six centuries and 14 fifties.


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ICC (International Cricket Council)

India’s Ravichandran Ashwin (right) dismisses Australia’s Mitchell Marsh in the second Test in Adelaide, his final international match. He took more wickets against Australia than any other country. Photo: EPA-EFE 

Ravichandran Ashwin (centre) celebrates after a five-wicket haul in the last Test against England in March. Photo: AFP

Ashwin (centre) is congratulated after taking his 500th wicket, England’s Zak Crawley, in February. Photo: AFP

Ashwin, seen here after scoring a century against Bangladesh in September, was also handy with the bat. Photo: AFP

Isa Guha, part of England’s squad that won the World Cup and World T20 in 2009, made the comments on Sunday while commentating for Fox. Photo: WireImage

The incident raises memories of the 2008 “monkeygate” scandal where Australia’s Andrew Symonds (left) accused India spinner Harbhajan Singh of calling him a “monkey”. Photo: AP

‘You guys are amazing’: Indian chess champion Gukesh Dommaraju returns to hero’s welcome

World chess champion Gukesh Dommaraju, his father Rajinikanth, and his mother Padmavathi at a ceremony in Chennai on his return from Singapore on Monday. Photo: AP

Gukesh Dommaraju has garlands of flowers draped around his neck as he brandishes his trophy. Photo: AP

Gukesh Dommaraju looked almost overwhelmed by the rock star welcome on Monday. Photo: AFP

Sport

Cricket

The 38-year-old took 537 wickets in his 106 Tests, leaving him seventh on the all-time list and second only to Anil Kumble for his country


The 38-year-old took 537 wickets in his 106 Tests, leaving him seventh on the all-time list and second only to Anil Kumble for his country.


India