Dravid to announce retirement

Indian batting superstar Rahul Dravid, the second-highest run scorer of all time in Tests, is set to announce his retirement from international cricket on Friday, reports say.

The Press Trust of India and the Cricinfo website both said the 39-year-old was poised to call time on his career in the national team after a wretched Test series in Australia, where India were whitewashed 4-0.

Dravid, popularly known as "The Wall", scored only 194 runs in eight innings and was bowled out in six of them as Australian paceman Ben Hilfenhaus repeatedly breached his once-formidable defences.

India's famous but ageing batting stars Dravid, Virender Sehwag, V.V.S. Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar are all under pressure, with the national team in crisis less than a year after it lifted the World Cup on home soil. AFP