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India's batting stalwart Rahul Dravid is likely to announce his retirment from Test cricket on Friday, bringing the curtains down an illustrious career which made him the second highest run-getter in the longer format till now.
Although there hasn't been any official confirmation of the news but the Board of Control for Cricket in India on Thursday sent a media release about Dravid holding a joint press conference along with president N Srinivasan at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday afternoon.
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"Mr. N. Srinivasan, president, BCCI, and Mr. Rahul Dravid will address the media at 12:30 pm on Friday, 9 March 2012, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru," the release stated.
The 39-year-old Dravid had a disastrous tour of Australia where he scored only 194 runs in eight innings at an average of 24.25. Even more disappointing was that Dravid popularly known as 'The Wall' was bowled in six out of the eight innings as the Australian pacer Ben Hilfenhaus repeatedly breaching his defence with ease.
There has been intense speculation about Dravid's impending retirement ever since he failed with the bat during the Australian tour.
Dravid had already announced his retirement from One-Day Internationals after the away series against England when he was surprisingly recalled in the shorter format due to his stupendous performance in the Test series where he scored three centuries in four matches.
One of India's greatest ever Test players, Dravid had scored a whopping 13,288 runs in 164 Tests at an average of over 52 which made him second highest scorer behind Sachin Tendulkar. He has hit 36 centuries and 63 half-centuries with 270 against Pakistan being his highest score.
He also has a very impressive ODI record where he had scored 10,889 runs at an average of shade less than 40. He has 12 centuries and 83 half centuries in the shorter format.
Under his capataincy, India won away Test series in the West Indies as well as England but had a disastrous 2007 World Cup where they were knocked out in the first round.