By Ayanjit Sen

Ganguly was "disappointed" after the latest blow

Legendary Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar has urged Sourav Ganguly not to retire from playing despite being overlooked for the first Test against England.

The 33-year-old has been in and out of the team and the centre of a public row with India coach Greg Chappell.

But Gavaskar, who made 10,122 runs in a Test career that he ended at the age of 38, says Ganguly should keep playing.

"Thirty-three is no age to quit. I'd only remind Sourav to let his bat do the talking," the former opener said.

Ganguly says he will continue to play in domestic cricket for West Bengal for the immediate future, but there have been suggestions he might quit if he fails to make an international return soon.

But Gavaskar, like Ganguly a former India captain, insists "there is still some cricket left in Sourav".

He added: "If 33 was the number where you stop, then I would have not gone on to score my 34th Test hundred."

He should not have been treated like this Vivek Razdan on Ganguly

Ganguly was India's most successful skipper until he was sacked and then left out of the one-day side after a dispute with Chappell last August.

The left-hander was also eased out of the Test squad but returned against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, where he enjoyed moderate success.

Another former Test player, Vivek Razdan, believes the situation has been handled badly by the Indian hierarchy.

"He should not have been treated like this, especially after a not bad performance against Pakistan," he said.