India's pace spearhead Javagal Srinath retired from Test cricket on Saturday, but said he would be available to play in next year's World Cup. "Test cricket is over for me," the 32-year-old Srinath told reporters in his home town Bangalore. "I think it is the right time to call it quits from Test matches, but if the selectors feel I can contribute in one-dayers, I will be available."

Srinath said he will play one-day cricket till the next World Cup to be hosted by South Africa in February-March next year. He claimed just 13 wickets during the recent five-Test series in the West Indies, but asked to be rested for the subsequent one-day internationals.

Srinath, who made his debut during the tour of Australia in 1991, claimed 232 wickets from 64 Tests at an average of 30.46. He was India's second most successful fast bowler after all-rounder Kapil Dev's tally of 434.

Srinath had rung up chairman of selectors Chandu Borde on Friday to convey his decision, but refused a plea by Indian cricket chief Jagmohan Dalmiya to reconsider his move. Srinath was expected to lead India's attack on the upcoming tour of England where they will play four Tests and a triangular one-day series also featuring Sri Lanka.

"I think Srinath had lost his enthusiasm for the game," former Test cricketer and comentator Ravi Shastri said. "Its not for us to call the decision premature, because only Srinath knows if his physical fitness could take the rigours of Test matches. He would have been an automatic selection for Test matches, but he will have to work really hard to prove his fitness to make it to the one-day squad."

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd