At the fag end of the year on December 23, 2012, Sachin Tendulkar announced his retirement from ODI cricket. The maestro had played in 463 ODIs, scored 18,426 runs at a healthy average of 44.83 with 200 not out being his highest score. He has also taken 154 wickets with 2 five-wicket hauls. Photo: K.R. Deepak
Photo: K_R_DEEPAK
Rahul Dravid known as "The Wall" of Test cricket, retired in 2012. He had played 164 Tests, scored 13,288 runs at an average of 52.31 with 36 centuries and 63 fifties. In 344 ODIs, he scored 10,889 runs at an average of 39.16 with 12 centuries and 83 fifties. Dravid also holds a record in Tests by having taken 210 catches. Rahul Dravid also received the Castrol Test Cricketer of the Year Award on August 29. Photo: K. Murali Kumar
Photo: K_MURALI_KUMAR
Another icon of Indian cricket, VVS Laxman, popularly known as "Very Very Special" Laxman also retired before the New Zealand series. He had played 134 tests and scored 8781 runs at an average of 45.97 with 17 centuries and 56 fifties. In the 86 ODIs, he had scored 2338 runs at an average of 30.76 with 6 centuries and 10 fifties. Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.
Photo: Bhagya Prakash K
Victoria Azarenka of Belarus poses with her trophy on the banks of the Yarra River following her win over Russia's Maria Sharapova in the women's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship during January 2012.
Photo: Sarah Ivey
U.S.' Serena Williams, left, poses with the winners trophy with runner up Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland following the women's final match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon on July 7, 2012.
Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth
Russia's Maria Sharapova reacts as she defeats Italy's Sara Errani in their women's final match in the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris on June 9, 2012. Sharapova won 6-3, 6-2.
Photo: Michel Spingler
Britain's Andy Murray poses with the trophy after beating Serbia's Novak Djokovic in the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
Photo: Mike Groll
Serena Williams holds the U.S. Open championship trophy after beating Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus. File photo: AP
Photo: Darron Cummings
Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong during a cycling race in Paris. Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned for life by cycling's governing body on Oct. 22 ollowing a report from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency that accused him of leading a massive doping programme. UCI President Pat McQuaid announced that the federation accepted the USADA's report on Armstrong and would not appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Photo: AP
Photo: LAURENT REBOURS
