A perfect Test Batsman. Review on V V S Laxman

The Hyderabadi Stylist

As I sit to write the review for VVS Laxman, I know that nobody would recommend him high. Very few would agree that he deserves a place in the Indian team. You are thinking about the One-day team ..right ?? Well, I am not blaming you for it. Everybody seems to be taken over so much by the One-day games, that test cricket does not come often to mind when the word cricket is spelt. And perhaps that’s what has gone wrong with the Stylish batsman. The scoring rate of one-day players like sachin, shehwag, yuvraj has forced people to forget the style of Laxman. The term 'Hyderabadi stylist' is one that is not new to Indian cricket. First popularised by the late ML Jaisimha, an attacking batsman, the mantle was taken over for many years by Mohammed Azharuddin. Today, VVS Laxman has honourably made the title his own. A spate of high scores in the 1999-2000 Ranji Trophy season, including ten centuries in as many firstclass matches, confirmed Laxman's pedigree and penchant for tall scores. Essentially a middle order bat, Laxman was pushed to the top in India's search for genuine opening batsman after Navjot Singh Siddu.

The Making of History

In Test cricket however, apart from a sparkling 167 against Australia at Sydney in a losing cause, Laxman had done little to show that he was a world-beater. All that changed dramatically when the Australians toured India in early 2001. when he carved himself a splendiferous place in history with a match-winning 281 against Australia at the Eden Gardens. That single innings rocked his world; nothing has been the same for Laxman, and the knock now almost two years past, his critics insist that he has done nothing of note since then. Laxman would point out that he has scored almost 1,500 Test runs at an average of more than 47, with two centuries and nine fifties, but in the fever-pitch speculation that inevitably precedes one-day cricket's greatest bonanza, Test records count for little. More than the sheer volume of runs scored, it was the manner in which he made his record breaking 281 at Kolkata that will remain etched in memory for years to come. It was a flawless innings under pressure that changed the complexion of a whole series, and signaled the emergence of a new batting hero. Laxman's 281 surpassed Sunil Gavaskar's record innings of 236 not out against West Indies at Madras in 1983 as the highest Test score by an Indian.

The ODI player

Spurred on by the success in Tests, Laxman was a changed man in the onedayers, scoring his maiden ton in the fifth match against the Aussies at Goa. In short, the series against Australia changed Laxman's destiny as a cricketer. Rather, Laxman rewrote Indian cricket's destiny at the expense of the Australians. With critics incessantly hounding him for not batting with consistency, Laxman departed for the West Indies only because Virender Sehwag was injured. And once again he defied the odds, topping the batting charts with 474 runs at an average of 79. He was the Man of the Match in India's win at Port of Spain with scores of 69* and 74.

The Stats

As I never forget to let the MS readers know the statistics of the players,here is the summary of Laxman’s statistics.

Born in Hyderabad on 1 November 1974

Batting Style Right hand batsman

Bowling Style Right arm off break bowler

Test Debut: India v South Africa at Ahmedabad, 1st Test, 1996/97

Latest Test: India v New Zealand at Hamilton, 2nd Test, 2002/03

ODI Debut: India v Zimbabwe at Cuttack, Pepsi Triangular Series, 1997/98

Latest ODI: India v New Zealand at Christchurch, 3rd ODI, 2002/03

Test Career Batting Averages

Mat I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St

43 70 7 2660 281 42.22 4 15 50 -

ODI Career Batting Averages

M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St

51 49 3 1250 101 27.17 1 9 20 0

I agree that in the current scenario he is not one of the best one day players but, he definitely deserves a place in the test side. He was a great test batsman and he will be. If people like him are rested then the word style will no longer be associated with the gentleman’s game.

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