Hyderabad, Aug 18 : Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president N. Srinivasan on Saturday said the game of cricket will miss VVS Laxman's "elegance" and "grace, " while calling him an "exceptional cricketer, who excelled in pressure situations."

In a statement issued shortly after the classical middle-order batsman announced his retirement from international cricket, Srinivasan said, "Not many batsmen made batting look as easy as VVS Laxman. He was an exceptional cricketer, who excelled during pressure situations."

"Indian cricket-lovers, and the game of cricket itself, will miss him for the elegance and grace that he epitomised, on and off the field," the statement said of the wristy Hyderabadi.

Recounting his outstanding performance against Australia, particularly the epic 281 at the Eden Gardens in 2001, Srinivasan said, "The classic innings that he essayed in crisis situations shaped the history of Indian cricket, none more so than the 281 against Australia at Kolkata in March 2001. If a cricketer's greatness is to be measured in terms of his performances against the best opposition of his time, then Laxman stands right at the top. His record against Australia, the world's no. 1 team for the better part of his career, speaks for itself."

Laxman announced his retirement from international cricket here on Saturday, after having played for 16 long years.

"Laxman, who made his Test debut against South Africa in 1996 in Ahmedabad, became part of the famous batting quartet also comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid.

Laxman got his first test half-century (51) in the second innings of his debut match against the South Africans, but it took him another 29 innings before he got his first test hundred - a magnificent 167 against Australia in the Sydney Test.

Laxman played 134 Tests, amassing 8,781 runs at an average of 45.97, with his highest being the monumental 281 against Australia. His innings of 281 against Australia at Kolkata in 2001 was ranked sixth in Wisden''s list of 100 great Test innings in the history of the game.

The 37-year-old Hyderabadi made his one-day International debut against Zimbabwe in Cuttack in 1998. Laxman, who could not be a regular member of the ODI side, scored 2,338 (average 30.76) ODI runs with six hundreds and
10 half centuries.

Laxman, who batted in all positions barring No. 9 and 11, always had a pair of safe hands and pouched 135 Test catches too. He has the record of taking the most number of catches (12) by a non-wicketkeeper in a single ODI series. He shares this record with Allan Border.

Laxman has the Padma Shri and Arjuna Award to his credit in recognition of his outstanding achievement in sports. (ANI)