All rounder Vijay R Bhardwaj hangs his boots

Bangalore, Nov 3 (UNI) Karnataka cricketer Vijay R Bharadwaj who had played for the country in three tests and ten one-day matches today announced his retirment from first class cricket expressing his displeasure over non inclusion in the Karnataka Ranji team.

Replying to a question after announcing his retirement, all-rounder Bharadwaj said ''I was very eager to play for Karnataka, but my name was not included in the list of 30 probables.

May be selectors might have thought youngsters should be encouraged.

Anyway I had been thinking of quitting the game for some time. I think the time has come. This is better than waiting for one more year for my inclusion.'' Saying that he intended to take up coaching, he said he wanted to give back whatever he had learnt during his 15-year career.

Replying to a question, he said he was rather forced to play for Jharkhand during the last Ranji season. ''I was not really interested, but I was forced to play. But this year I had determined to play only for Karnataka and not for any other state.'' The right-handed batsman who also bowled off spinn made the Test debut in 1999 against New Zealand and had played in three Test matches with the last test against Australia. In ODI he made debut against South Africa in 1999 and had played in 10 matches with last ODI being against Zimbabwe.

Coming into the national side on the back of a 1000-run domestic season, Bhardwaj was considered as Indian cricket's next big thing.

However, a serious back problem laid him low which led to the all rounder lose his place in the national team.

On his debut series, the LG Cup at Nairobi in 1999-2000, he took 10 wickets at 12.2 and scored 65 runs without being dismissed.

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