— Photo: AP

ETERNAL WAIT: Though his credentials are never doubted, V.V.S. Laxman has always been trying to prove his case.

DHAKA : When Sachin Tendulkar singled out Sourav Ganguly for special praise, it only reflected the strong bond that marks their admiration for each other. Having played together for more than a decade and seen quite a few ups and downs, the two are best qualified, along with Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble and V.V.S. Laxman, to be rated the senior statesmen of Indian cricket.

Tendulkar, with his exceptional deeds, commands a mind-blowing following while Ganguly has acquired cult status in his city of joy. Ganguly is second to none in terms of popularity in Kolkata and it was evident when he lost his place in the national team. The fans demonstrated and demanded his immediate recall.

Unfair ouster

Ganguly's ouster was deemed unfair. So was Laxman's. The gentle Hyderabadi lost his place a few times and failed to make it to two World Cup squads but never complained. Neither did his fans who did not take to the streets demanding his inclusion.

So, when Tendulkar insisted it was "always a pleasure'' to bat along with Ganguly, he was effectively wanting to make a point for many. He termed the left-hander a "wonderful player" and said, "we have been playing together for many years now. It is a pleasure to bat with him. We enjoyed our innings. We had fun in the middle. ''

Tendulkar, always measured in his comments, was simply waiting for an occasion to reaffirm his liking for a player who has, of late, strongly backed himself and believed in letting his bat do all the talking.

Laborious centuries

There was nothing spectacular about the centuries that Tendulkar and Ganguly hit at Chittagong. Their knocks, on a flat pitch and against some mediocre bowling with the exception of Mashrafe bin Mortaza, did not radiate the joy that one has come to associate with their batting.

It was laborious by their standards but it was vital for one significant reason — their passion to score was unstinted — only the method had changed.

They may not have any point to prove, as Tendulkar insisted, but there was a desire to show they had plenty to offer. A pity, Laxman missed out on the run feast, as he has many times in the past in batting-friendly conditions. It was been hard for Laxman. He first lost his No. 3 slot; then the vice-captaincy, and now his place.

A proven match-winner, he finds himself at a difficult crossroad again, and needs to begin from scratch. It is indeed a reflection on the `talent' available that the team management can afford to exclude a batsman who has revelled in the most difficult situations overseas.

Better treatment

Laxman has a hundred wherever he has batted, from number three, four, five and six. For someone who has 4,878 runs from 80 Tests, at an average of 42.41, with 10 centuries and 27 fifties, and 86 catches to boot, he deserves better treatment.

Laxman, during Greg Chappell's stint as a coach, hit three centuries — one at No. 4 and the other two batting at No. 3 — and two half-centuries, but struggled to cement a place in the side. That Laxman has the third highest average in the team makes his case all the more intriguing.

Placid pitches

The irony is that none questions the value of the second-best `wall' in the side when playing overseas but the equation changes when picking the batting line-up on the placid pitches in the subcontinent. Dravid does not need to prove anything while Kumble would be glad to show the winning way after missing the first Test.

The seniors are backing themselves in the interest of Indian cricket, only Laxman waits to play his role.

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