Few cricketers can brag of a formidable file in opposition to a specific opposition fairly like VVS Laxman in opposition to Australia. Having made his Test debut in opposition to the Aussies in 1996, it wasn’t till 2001 that Laxman introduced himself along with his epic 281 on the well-known Eden Gardens Test. From there, Laxman went on to ascertain himself because the Fab 4 of Indian cricket together with Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly. Laxman by no means seemed again and by the point he was finished enjoying Test cricket, his file in opposition to Australia in Tests was a stable 2434 runs from 29 Tests at a median of 49.67. Six of Laxman’s 17 Test centuries got here in opposition to Australia.
Sachin Tendulkar’s one pep-talk did wonders for VVS Laxman’s profession.(Getty)
Having stated that, Laxman’s actual tryst with Australia was not 2001. It was two years in the past when India toured Australia for a 3-Test collection in 1999-2000. As India have been drubbed 0-3 in Tests and received only one ODI within the tri-series involving Pakistan, Laxman emerged as one of many few positives for India in an in any other case horror tour as he ended the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with an epic 167 on the Sydney Cricket Ground – albeit in a dropping trigger. Before the SCG Test, Laxman’s file learn 626 runs from 16 Tests. He was stuffed with promise however wasn’t in a position to convert it into a giant rating. Hence, heading into the ultimate match of the collection, Laxman acquired a pep-talk from none aside from Tendulkar, which triggered an enormous turnaround in his profession.
“I would like to narrate one story here to elaborate on Sachin’s man-management skills. After we lost the first Test match in Adelaide, Sachin, VVS. Laxman, and I went for a walk and a meal. We were discussing how we need to adjust in the remaining matches. Then the conversation veered towards who were our favourite players. I said I liked Dravid, Ganguly and Laxman. Laxman also took a couple of names,” Prasad was quoted as saying within the ebook ‘Sachin at 50’.
“Then Laxman asked Sachin about his favourite player. Sachin replied: Laxman if you don’t smile and show your teeth, I’ll say you are my favourite player.?’ Laxman started laughing and said Sachin was only making fun of him. Sachin interrupted and added: Laxman, I’ll tell you one thing. You are blessed with so much talent. You can see the ball a split second earlier than me. God has given you exceptional talent which you are not able to understand. God gave me minimum talent, which I am maximising: I have four gears in my batting defence. push, drive and loft. I understand the conditions and use my logic and perform accordingly. “
Tendulkar defined to Laxman the present of timing that he possessed, which triggered the start of what would develop into a legendary profession for India. Laxman completed because the fourth-highest run-getter for India in Tests behind Tendulkar, Dravid and Sunil Gavaskar with 8781 runs at a median of 45.97. Even in ODIs, the place he performed simply 86 matches, Laxman scored 739 runs from 21 one-dayers in opposition to Australia at a median of 46.18, together with 4 centuries. After Tendulkar, if there was ever an India batter to made Australia dance to his tunes, it was Laxman.
“You have so much talent that you can straightaway bat on fourth gear. You see the ball so early that you don’t worry about the conditions. That way, sometimes you click, and sometimes you fail. The day you realise the value of the first three gears, you will become a legend of the game’. After that conversation, I saw a different V.V.S. Laxman. We opened together later in the tour, and he got 167 in the Sydney Test match. After that, there has been no looking back for Laxman,” added Prasad.
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Source: www.hindustantimes.com
