Kamlesh Barjati
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- 26 May 2011
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When VVS Laxman reached 85 on a typically bouncy and pacy Barbados pitch, he became just the 4th Indian to cross 8000 Test runs. It is as fitting a time as any to look back at the trials and tribulations of one of the least appreciated stars of the golden generation of Indian cricket.
Making his debut against South Africa in November 1996, Laxman promptly celebrated with a vital 51 in the second innings of the first Test at Ahmedabad. Considering that India won the match by 65 runs, Laxman's knock was pivotal to the victory. Laxman's joy at representing India though, lasted all of 2 Test matches after he was summarily dropped from the team. He returned in the December 1996 tour of South Africam, but on the fast and bouncy surfaces there, a fractured finger saw him unable to play any substantial role.
With a packed middle-order consisting of some of the giants of Indian cricket, the only way Laxman could make a comeback into the Indian side was as an opener during India's tour of West Indies in March 1997. Laxman took upon the role of an opener as a challenge though he always longed to play in his favorite middle order. The experiment with Laxman as an opener lasted only 4 matches as he struggled through his makeshift job and was axed for the fifth and final Test at Georgetown, Guyana.
Laxman was left out in the cold for close to a year while India unsuccessfully tried out 5-bowler combinations in the home and away series against Sri Lanka before finally making his way back into the team during the 1998 Australia series at home - albeit again as an opener. He started his second innings of the second Test as an opener in bright fashion with a sparkling knock of 95 against Australia at Kolkata, but it needed just 3 failures for him to be sidelined yet again. Being a middle order batsman by nature, Laxman found the going tough as an opener and took the principled decision to bide his time and wait for an opportunity there rather than sacrificing himself as a lamb for slaughter while opening.
This refusal to open cost Laxman a year of international cricket since he could not find a place in the packed middle order for the tours of Zimbabwe and New Zealand. The failure of Ajay Jadeja and the subsequent retirement of Navjot Singh Sidhu saw Laxman return to open the innings one last time. However, his struggles continued at the top of the order and he ended up with modest scores. The table below depicts his record as an opener.
Laxman as an Opener:
Matches Innings Runs NO Average 100s 50s 0s Highest
15 25 685 1 28.54 1 4 3 167
His modest form coupled with his refusal to open saw him being axed yet again for the home series against New Zealand in late 1999 with India going into the series with players like Devang Gandhi and Vijay Bharadwaj. His Test career seemed all but over after India received drubbings at the hands of Australia in Australia and South Africa at home which ended in Sachin Tendulkar resigning as skipper. VVS though showed flashes of brilliance with a stroke-filled 167 in the final Test in Australia. He was, however, axed just one Test later. His reluctance to open did play a role, but it was already getting pretty evident that he was being made the scapegoat for any Indian reversals.
Laxman returned to the Indian team for the home series against Zimbabwe in his favorite middle order and what transpired for the next few years was the stuff of dreams. It included the unforgettable 281 against Australia at the Eden Gardens, which is considered the best knock by an Indian batsman.
Laxman's Renaissance (March 2001 to April 2004):
Matches Innings Runs NO Average 100s 50s 0s Highest
35 61 2784 12 56.82 6 14 2 281
In spite of this, the first name on the chopping block was almost always that of Laxman, and there are plenty of instances when he had to make way for inferior talents.
The 2003 World Cup selectorial blunder: When the World Cup squad was announced, everyone expected Laxman to make the grade easily, but more disappointment was in store for him as Ganguly plumped for Dinesh Mongia - who in all honesty was nothing more than a bits and pieces player. Even today, Laxman rues the fact that he has zero World Cup appearances to his credit.
Want 5 bowlers? Drop Laxman: India once again went in with a 5-bowler combination for the third and final Test against the visiting Englishmen in March 2006. VVS Laxman had missed most of the net session prior to that match - enough reason for the management to bench him and play a fifth bowler. One need not mention that India missed the services of the ever dependable man and self-combusted to a humiliating loss which helped England square the series 1-1. While it was a fact that Laxman had the least runs amongst the specialist batsmen in that series, having seen many instances of established players being given a longer rope, VVS certainly deserved one.
The scapegoat turns savior:
After a time of some upheaval that included Greg Chappell's tumultuous reign as India's coach, things settled down for the Indian team when Anil Kumble was appointed captain after Dravid's sudden resignation. The succession from Kumble to Dhoni was seamless and Laxman has gone on record to say that he played his best cricket under the captaincy of Kumble and Dhoni. Perhaps this had to do with the fact that his place in the side was much more secure. His record since Kumble assumed the captaincy, certainly tells a tale.
Laxman since Kumble's captaincy:
Matches Innings Runs NO Average 100s 50s 0s Highest
39* 66 2917 15 57.2 6 21 4 200*
There is little doubt that VVS Laxman has now blossomed into a fine cricketer with his hand very visible in a lot of recent Indian wins. He is a constant at No.5 and has rivaled the great Steven Waugh for his ability to play with the tail. He is also the youngest amongst the old guard of the team (Tendulkar and Dravid both being older), and one only hopes that he will continue to entertain with his attractive brand of cricket for a long time to come.
http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/42303/very-very-special-scapegoat-turned-savior
Making his debut against South Africa in November 1996, Laxman promptly celebrated with a vital 51 in the second innings of the first Test at Ahmedabad. Considering that India won the match by 65 runs, Laxman's knock was pivotal to the victory. Laxman's joy at representing India though, lasted all of 2 Test matches after he was summarily dropped from the team. He returned in the December 1996 tour of South Africam, but on the fast and bouncy surfaces there, a fractured finger saw him unable to play any substantial role.
With a packed middle-order consisting of some of the giants of Indian cricket, the only way Laxman could make a comeback into the Indian side was as an opener during India's tour of West Indies in March 1997. Laxman took upon the role of an opener as a challenge though he always longed to play in his favorite middle order. The experiment with Laxman as an opener lasted only 4 matches as he struggled through his makeshift job and was axed for the fifth and final Test at Georgetown, Guyana.
Laxman was left out in the cold for close to a year while India unsuccessfully tried out 5-bowler combinations in the home and away series against Sri Lanka before finally making his way back into the team during the 1998 Australia series at home - albeit again as an opener. He started his second innings of the second Test as an opener in bright fashion with a sparkling knock of 95 against Australia at Kolkata, but it needed just 3 failures for him to be sidelined yet again. Being a middle order batsman by nature, Laxman found the going tough as an opener and took the principled decision to bide his time and wait for an opportunity there rather than sacrificing himself as a lamb for slaughter while opening.
This refusal to open cost Laxman a year of international cricket since he could not find a place in the packed middle order for the tours of Zimbabwe and New Zealand. The failure of Ajay Jadeja and the subsequent retirement of Navjot Singh Sidhu saw Laxman return to open the innings one last time. However, his struggles continued at the top of the order and he ended up with modest scores. The table below depicts his record as an opener.
Laxman as an Opener:
Matches Innings Runs NO Average 100s 50s 0s Highest
15 25 685 1 28.54 1 4 3 167
His modest form coupled with his refusal to open saw him being axed yet again for the home series against New Zealand in late 1999 with India going into the series with players like Devang Gandhi and Vijay Bharadwaj. His Test career seemed all but over after India received drubbings at the hands of Australia in Australia and South Africa at home which ended in Sachin Tendulkar resigning as skipper. VVS though showed flashes of brilliance with a stroke-filled 167 in the final Test in Australia. He was, however, axed just one Test later. His reluctance to open did play a role, but it was already getting pretty evident that he was being made the scapegoat for any Indian reversals.
Laxman returned to the Indian team for the home series against Zimbabwe in his favorite middle order and what transpired for the next few years was the stuff of dreams. It included the unforgettable 281 against Australia at the Eden Gardens, which is considered the best knock by an Indian batsman.
Laxman's Renaissance (March 2001 to April 2004):
Matches Innings Runs NO Average 100s 50s 0s Highest
35 61 2784 12 56.82 6 14 2 281
In spite of this, the first name on the chopping block was almost always that of Laxman, and there are plenty of instances when he had to make way for inferior talents.
The 2003 World Cup selectorial blunder: When the World Cup squad was announced, everyone expected Laxman to make the grade easily, but more disappointment was in store for him as Ganguly plumped for Dinesh Mongia - who in all honesty was nothing more than a bits and pieces player. Even today, Laxman rues the fact that he has zero World Cup appearances to his credit.
Want 5 bowlers? Drop Laxman: India once again went in with a 5-bowler combination for the third and final Test against the visiting Englishmen in March 2006. VVS Laxman had missed most of the net session prior to that match - enough reason for the management to bench him and play a fifth bowler. One need not mention that India missed the services of the ever dependable man and self-combusted to a humiliating loss which helped England square the series 1-1. While it was a fact that Laxman had the least runs amongst the specialist batsmen in that series, having seen many instances of established players being given a longer rope, VVS certainly deserved one.
The scapegoat turns savior:
After a time of some upheaval that included Greg Chappell's tumultuous reign as India's coach, things settled down for the Indian team when Anil Kumble was appointed captain after Dravid's sudden resignation. The succession from Kumble to Dhoni was seamless and Laxman has gone on record to say that he played his best cricket under the captaincy of Kumble and Dhoni. Perhaps this had to do with the fact that his place in the side was much more secure. His record since Kumble assumed the captaincy, certainly tells a tale.
Laxman since Kumble's captaincy:
Matches Innings Runs NO Average 100s 50s 0s Highest
39* 66 2917 15 57.2 6 21 4 200*
There is little doubt that VVS Laxman has now blossomed into a fine cricketer with his hand very visible in a lot of recent Indian wins. He is a constant at No.5 and has rivaled the great Steven Waugh for his ability to play with the tail. He is also the youngest amongst the old guard of the team (Tendulkar and Dravid both being older), and one only hopes that he will continue to entertain with his attractive brand of cricket for a long time to come.
http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/42303/very-very-special-scapegoat-turned-savior
