The man who played the greatest test innings by an Indian will no longer demonstrate the magic of his flamboyant wrists in manoeuvring a cricket ball through the gaps to send it to the fence. VVS Laxman, one of the most stylish and prolific batsmen test cricket has ever seen, has called it a day leaving behind a legacy that few cricketers can hope to emulate.
If there is one test innings that has ever changed the course of the cricket history of a nation, then it is the 281 of VVS Laxman against the Aussies at Eden Gardens in 2001. After following on to a world beating Aussie side under the leadership of the charismatic Steve Waugh, India won the test match after a dream innings by VVS in partnership with the great Rahul Dravid, which saw the famed Aussie bowling attack of Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz falling apart. That innings and the resultant win revolutionised Indian cricket and made it a force to reckon with. This writer has fond memories of watching that epic innings from the comforts of his home. It was a sort of an innings that was never seen before, where the great Aussie bowlers appeared to be mere university level bowlers in front of VVS. He played them to all parts of the ground at will and it appeared that he was not going to get out at any time. One whole day he pulverised the bowling and got out only in the morning session of the fifth day of the test match, by then the match was under Indian control.
VVS Laxman was the most feared batsman by the Aussies, who gave him the name Very Very Special, an interesting extension of his initial VVS. Once Brett Lee quoted Steve Waugh as saying, “if you get Dravid, it’s great, if you get Tendulkar, it’s brilliant and if you get VVS, it’s a miracle.” As a part of the renowned big three of Indian batting line up along with Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, VVS made 17 centuries in his test career at an average of 45.97, in which 6 centuries were against his favourite opponents, Australia. Many a time he had to bat with the bowlers of the team and in every such occasion he handled them with prudence and got the best out of them for the team. VVS has been a saviour to the team in many occasions in test match cricket and his services would really be missed by the Indian team in the future. A gentleman to the core, VVS Laxman is a role model for the youngsters in the country who showed how to be aggressive on the field, yet calm and composed off it.
Thank you very much VVS for your many very very special moments for Indian cricket and world cricket and you will always be remembered as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of the game. Thanks for the memories.
1 comment:
You have been truely Very Very Special and no one can replace you. However, I will want Laxman to help in grooming more Cricketer for the country by selecting people from every section, including poor child who truely have passion and love for the game.
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