Former India batsman V.V.S. Laxman has been elected an honorary life member of Marylebone Cricket Club, it was announced on Thursday. Laxman joins fellow former India top-order team-mates Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly as an honorary life member of MCC, the owners of London's Lord's ground - widely known as the 'Home of Cricket'.

The 42-year-old Vangipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman played 134 Tests, 86 one-day internationals and 25 Twenty20 internationals for India. A stylish right-hander, Laxman was also responsible for some superb innings, with his match-turning 281 in the third Test against Australia at Kolkata in 2001, which helped set up a remarkable win, regarded as one of the best batting displays cricket has seen. "It is an absolute honour to be conferred membership at such a prestigious and historic cricket club," said Laxman, who averaged over 45 in Tests, said in an MCC statement. "I have always admired the rich heritage MCC stands for and I look forward to being a part of the incredible culture of the club."

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2017