Laxman, a wonderful player from down South, who has been one of India's batting mainstay for the past decade in this format of cricket. This unassuming player who perhaps has never got his due. Despite VVS Laxman's assuring presence in India's middle-order, the question of his retirement would continue to crop up till he actually calls it a day.
Ditto for Rahul Dravid, the Wall. It was same for Sourav Ganguly, who at the twilight of his career faced more questions about his impending retirement rather than mentions of his heroics with the bat.
When Laxman finally packs up his bat, he will be remembered more for his 281 against Australia at the Eden Gardens that immortalized him, but on the personal level, he would perhaps remember that innings as the one which cemented a permanent place for him in the Test squad.
Although he will be best remembered for that innings, there are quite a few which would rank quite high on the list of great Indian knocks. He has always preferred remaining low profile, and perhaps that's why he has been overshadowed by the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Dravid and Ganguly through out his career. Laxman would always be the last name taken when India's Fab Four of this decade come up for discussion (Only the Aussies might prefer placing him right after Tendulkar).
Even the 91 at Ahmedabad, which helped in earning India a draw against New Zealand, was overshadowed by an unlikely Harbhajan.
There are many such performances from Laxman that are worth a mention. The century at Adelaide in 2003-2004 is one of them. That match-saving innings was by no means inferior to the Kolkata miracle, although not as dramatic. Again, it was Dravid giving him company. Laxman has a particular liking for the Aussies, and as Ricky Ponting would say, never underestimate him when the Baggy Greens are his opponents.
Late last Saturday afternoon, when India were just about effecting a strong but eye-pleasing fightback, VASELINE inevitably made its appearance ( it seems to be making an appearance everytime ENGLAND or AUSTRALIA play). V. V. S. Laxman, on 27, jabbed at a swinging delivery and missed it; the bowler, James Anderson and the slip cordon promptly went up, claiming an edge. Umpire Asad Rauf had a long look at it and shook his head. Not out. England were not convinced though: they sought a review. Third umpire Billy Bowden watched a few replays, enlisting the HOT SPOT technology too, but just couldn't detect the edge. Laxman survived again. This should have been the end of it, however, commentators mostly former England players, were also certain that he was out; the 'snicko' that the broadcaster was using, flashed the tremor indicating that the ball had hit the bat. They were obviously not going to let it go; they argued that the Hot Spot was not good enough, that it didn't catch the fainter nicks. Micheal Vaughan, however, took it to another level by tweeting: "Has Vaseline on the outside edge saved the day for Laxman?"
What cheek to indirectly label someone a cheater? Maybe like Ravi Shastri said this is what he did when he played and hence he knew best what was happening.
Vaughan, realizing that he had stirred a dangerous pot this time, claimed that he was joking on Sunday. "Friends from India, I didn't accuse VVS of using Vaseline," he wrote. "Even if batsmen do, it's not cheating," he added. There is, of course, no law against applying stuff on the bat, unlike on the ball.
The Irony of it is this controversy and useless needless controversy on the day on which India taught the cricketing world a lesson in sportsmanship.
England's hat-trick hero Stuart Broad later said that he even had a feel of Laxman's bat to check if there was vaseline or any liquid in it but found nothing. What cheek?
Ganguly was scathing in his attack on Vaughan, saying that the former England skipper was trying to play a psychological game against the Indians which he said will no longer work on the world number one visiting side. Talking about Broad's reaction at the end of the second day's play, Ganguly advised the youngster to rather concentrate on his cricket. "Broad has just played two Tests. Before this, there was talk of him being dropped. He should not only try to earn world's respect but also the respect of fellow players," said Ganguly.
Phew.. what methods people adopt for some publicity!!!
Ditto for Rahul Dravid, the Wall. It was same for Sourav Ganguly, who at the twilight of his career faced more questions about his impending retirement rather than mentions of his heroics with the bat.
When Laxman finally packs up his bat, he will be remembered more for his 281 against Australia at the Eden Gardens that immortalized him, but on the personal level, he would perhaps remember that innings as the one which cemented a permanent place for him in the Test squad.
Although he will be best remembered for that innings, there are quite a few which would rank quite high on the list of great Indian knocks. He has always preferred remaining low profile, and perhaps that's why he has been overshadowed by the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Dravid and Ganguly through out his career. Laxman would always be the last name taken when India's Fab Four of this decade come up for discussion (Only the Aussies might prefer placing him right after Tendulkar).
Even the 91 at Ahmedabad, which helped in earning India a draw against New Zealand, was overshadowed by an unlikely Harbhajan.
There are many such performances from Laxman that are worth a mention. The century at Adelaide in 2003-2004 is one of them. That match-saving innings was by no means inferior to the Kolkata miracle, although not as dramatic. Again, it was Dravid giving him company. Laxman has a particular liking for the Aussies, and as Ricky Ponting would say, never underestimate him when the Baggy Greens are his opponents.
Late last Saturday afternoon, when India were just about effecting a strong but eye-pleasing fightback, VASELINE inevitably made its appearance ( it seems to be making an appearance everytime ENGLAND or AUSTRALIA play). V. V. S. Laxman, on 27, jabbed at a swinging delivery and missed it; the bowler, James Anderson and the slip cordon promptly went up, claiming an edge. Umpire Asad Rauf had a long look at it and shook his head. Not out. England were not convinced though: they sought a review. Third umpire Billy Bowden watched a few replays, enlisting the HOT SPOT technology too, but just couldn't detect the edge. Laxman survived again. This should have been the end of it, however, commentators mostly former England players, were also certain that he was out; the 'snicko' that the broadcaster was using, flashed the tremor indicating that the ball had hit the bat. They were obviously not going to let it go; they argued that the Hot Spot was not good enough, that it didn't catch the fainter nicks. Micheal Vaughan, however, took it to another level by tweeting: "Has Vaseline on the outside edge saved the day for Laxman?"
What cheek to indirectly label someone a cheater? Maybe like Ravi Shastri said this is what he did when he played and hence he knew best what was happening.
Vaughan, realizing that he had stirred a dangerous pot this time, claimed that he was joking on Sunday. "Friends from India, I didn't accuse VVS of using Vaseline," he wrote. "Even if batsmen do, it's not cheating," he added. There is, of course, no law against applying stuff on the bat, unlike on the ball.
The Irony of it is this controversy and useless needless controversy on the day on which India taught the cricketing world a lesson in sportsmanship.
England's hat-trick hero Stuart Broad later said that he even had a feel of Laxman's bat to check if there was vaseline or any liquid in it but found nothing. What cheek?
Ganguly was scathing in his attack on Vaughan, saying that the former England skipper was trying to play a psychological game against the Indians which he said will no longer work on the world number one visiting side. Talking about Broad's reaction at the end of the second day's play, Ganguly advised the youngster to rather concentrate on his cricket. "Broad has just played two Tests. Before this, there was talk of him being dropped. He should not only try to earn world's respect but also the respect of fellow players," said Ganguly.
Phew.. what methods people adopt for some publicity!!!
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