By Oliver Brett BBC Sport

I think people jump on the wagon and have a go at our spin-bowling Robert Croft Read More: Croft calls time

Robert Croft's decision to pull out of England's tour of India at the end of 2001 did not seem at the time to have cost him his international future.

But the cold truth is that the Glamorgan captain has not since represented his country.

And on Friday, he announced he would not do so again.

Having performed so well in Sri Lanka at the start of that year, the tour to India might have also have been a success for Croft.

Along with Andrew Caddick, the Welshman was concerned about the security in India.

But whereas Caddick was swiftly drafted back into the fold, it was decided that in situations were Giles was either injured or required back-up, Richard Dawson, or latterly Gareth Batty, would instead be called up.

The man responsible for that particular youth policy was chairman of selectors David Graveney.

He told this website that Croft's international retirement was a further worry within the general malaise that exists in the slow-bowling department.

"Crisis would perhaps be the wrong word," said Graveney.

"But because of the presence of overseas spinners in domestic cricket and the type of pitches and so on, slow-bowling has, over the past few years, been a concern.

"There are various areas of the world which are encountering similar problems but I think there's a fantastic opportunity for a younger spinner to come through.

"We've got a number of spinners in the Academy."

Croft's international retirement paves the way for Gareth Batty

Former captain Mike Gatting sympathises with Croft's decision to call it a day, despite his relatively young age (33).

Gatting said: "Having not initially been in the squad he went over to Sri Lanka but didn't get a game.

"In many respects he feels it's probably time to say 'thanks very much' rather than wait agonisingly for another call-up.

"I think he must have had an indication from the selectors that he wouldn't go to the West Indies."

Croft said after making his decision that he had a "challenging and full" career with England.

But Gatting was surprised he felt that way having only featured in 21 Tests.

"I would have thought he would possibly be disappointed because he has been a very good cricketer," he said.

"He might have played a bit more for England but if he's happy with what he's done, then fine."

Croft's first real success in Test cricket came in an unlikely part of the world, New Zealand, where he contributed well to a 2-0 Test series victory in 1997.

Generally struggled

But one of his finest hours of all was with the bat, when he hit his highest Test score of 37 not out in more than three hours on the final day to save the match.

In 50 one-day internationals he generally struggled, and his batting, so handy in domestic limited-overs cricket, never flourished.

As a parting-shot, Croft said he would prefer people to give all of England's spin-bowlers a bit of a break.

"I think people do jump on the wagon and have a go at our spin-bowling," he said.