The Hindu : A peep into the Laxman diary...

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 23, 2003

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Sport - Cricket

A peep into the Laxman diary...

By K.C. Vijaya Kumar

— Photo: G.P. Sampath Kumar

The Indian fans will hope the stylish Hyderabadi batsman to be in full flow during the tough season ahead.

BANGALORE Aug. 22. Silken strokes and warm smiles are never far away when V.V.S. Laxman is around. The man who made 281 an unforgettable number, and along with Rahul Dravid forced the Australians to crashland at Eden Gardens, is busy setting benchmarks for the ensuing season.

"The season ahead will be tough as the Indian team has done well in the World Cup and expectations remain high. If we do well in these two series (against New Zealand and Australia), we should be up there among the best,'' he says.

Laxman had a mixed bag last season. After making runs against the West Indies, he suffered a drought in New Zealand, then came the omission from the World Cup squad and a horrendous run with the bat as India `A' captain in the West Indies.

However, Laxman would rather dwell on the positives, particularly with the tour of Australia ahead. "In Australia, the pitches will have more bounce and lateral movement. We have to adjust but I guess it is a mental thing. If we play to our potential we have the capability to beat Australia. But right now we need to focus against New Zealand, which is an extremely competitive side. It is the start of the season and it is important that we defeat them,'' he says.

Laxman's Australian diary is full of fond memories. "The last series when Australia came here was amazing. The level of cricket went one level higher. Even the last tour was a great experience, especially the Sydney knock (167).''

The flashback continues. "I think last season was one of my best. I have seen my cassettes for the last year and I was really happy with my shot selection. I performed well against the West Indies and during the England tour. The only disappointment was the New Zealand tour but everyone knows that the wickets were not ideal for international cricket. As far as the one-dayers go, I did well especially against the West Indies and to average 52 while coming in the lower order is good.''

There is a tinge of regret when Laxman talks about his exclusion from the World Cup squad. "I missed the 1999 World Cup and I was keen to play in the World Cup at South Africa. I love playing there because the ball comes along nice and fine and I can play my strokes. I was very depressed after I was dropped,'' he says.

In the race for `multi-skilled' players, Laxman lost because he was regarded only as a batsman. He, however, clarifies, "now you require players who can contribute in various departments. I do bowl off-spin regularly at the nets though I have never got my chances in matches. I genuinely think that I am a safe fielder but I don't know what others think.''

The disappointment is gone and a smile lights up his face when he says, "I need to look forward as I really love this game and God has given me this opportunity to represent the country.''

Laxman reiterates he gives his best in the middle-order. "Batting at six is a different kind of role but I have mentioned that as long as I am in the middle-order I am comfortable. I am very happy that once I came back to the middle-order my average and performance have become better.''

The 281 has become his identity card as well as a cross that is becoming too heavy to carry. On the knock that changed his life, Laxman says, "281 against Australia at Eden Gardens was a once in a lifetime knock and it is good that people are expecting a lot from me. But I think they should remember that I scored that big knock coming in at No. 3, but while batting at No. 6 there are times you are set well and yet you are stranded without partners. That is something that people should understand.''

Poor run

Laxman's miserable performance while leading India `A' in the West Indies remains a blot in his record. He says, "in the West Indies I thought that I was running out of luck. In three or four innings I got wrong decisions. For instance at Trinidad, the ball hit my blade and I got an lbw decision, it was one of those days. And there was also pressure in leading the India `A' cricketers. It was unfortunate that we did not qualify for the semifinals. And then at Guyana I developed a side-strain and I missed out on the last few matches.''

Laxman feels he has completely recovered and has no fitness worries. "After the West Indies tour I went to the United States to attend a Telugu convention but there were rumours that I went for medical consultation. I then took one-month rest and did all the physiotherapy exercises. After that I have been following the training regimen that Adrian, our former trainer, had given for the off-season. I am fully fit and looking forward to the season ahead,'' he says. That is good news for the Indians though McGrath & Co. may have other opinions.

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