BRIDGETOWN (Barbados), April 20: West Indies captain Brian Lara announced his retirement from international cricket on Thursday, ending a record-breaking career of one of the sport's greatest ever batsmen.

Lara, said his last match for West Indies would be Saturday's World Cup match against England at the Kensington Oval.

“I've given this extensive consideration and on Saturday I will be bidding farewell to international cricket as a player,” Lara told a news conference after West Indies beat Bangladesh by 99 runs in a Super Eights match on Thursday.“I've already spoken to the board and to my players.”

The 37-year-old Trinidadian holds the record for the highest Test score (400 not out) and in the first-class game (501 not out). He is also the leading run scorer in Tests with 11,953 from 131 matches. In One-day Internationals he amassed 10,387 runs from 298 games.

Lara had already announced he was quitting one day internationals at the end of the World Cup but had been expected to lead the side in a Test series against England which begins in May.

During the press conference, where an emotional Lara reflected on his career, he indicated that he had been frustrated as captain during the team's disappointing World Cup campaign.

Lara is expected to be replaced by Ramnaresh Sarwan as skipper and asked if he felt that would be the right choice he said: “Whoever takes over the team, I think it is important that they get the support, what you see on the surface isn't everything.

“You have got to get the support from the very beginning and a wholehearted support from the board, from the selectors, from the team from everyone, for the captain to feel comfortable in the position.”

When asked if he felt he had not received such wholehearted support, Lara replied: “It is not the time for that sort of criticism, it is done and gone and spilt milk. We have just got to move on and focus on Saturday and West Indies cricket in the future.”

Before making his surprise announcement Lara had been asked to reflect on how he would like to be remembered as a player.

“I just want to be remembered as someone who went out there and tried to entertain — it is a sport where people pay to come through the turnstiles and watch you and it is most important that someone can leave and say they have enjoyed watching Brian Lara play and enjoyed watching West Indies play.

“Another thing I am really proud of myself for is that I have been knocked down so many times as a player, as a person, and it is that strength, that I suppose comes from my parents, to be able to pick myself up each time and go out there in the face of adversity.

“That is something that I didn't read in a book or wake up in the morning with, it is deep down and it is a part of my family trait.”

Meanwhile, Lara hinted he did not want to turn his back on the game and suggested he would be interested in an off-the-field role in Caribbean cricket.

“I have unconditional love for West Indies cricket and (am willing) if at any point in time, if need be, to make a contribution outside of just the playing field.

“I have played with some great players in the past and I know that we have got the ingredients here to put it together, on paper, on the practical side and ensure that our cricket grows. Our cricket needs a strong foundation and that is what's missing,” he said.

“I think the West Indies players and the administrators will always have unconditional support from myself and it is not time for me to go into hibernation.

“I have played the game, I think I am a student of the game and I have read a lot and know the history of West Indies cricket. I know what it means to the people.”—Reuters