The first thing that springs to mind when you think V V S Laxman is runs. Lots of them.
After his epic innings of 281 in Kolkata in 2001 came the knock at Adelaide against Australia that saw India win its first Test Down Under in more than 22 years.
On March 24, India was playing the deciding Limited Overs International against Pakistan in Lahore. Laxman had failed in the three games he had played before that. But on the crucial day, Laxman, for the fifth team in his LOI career, scored a fifty and went on to score a hundred. The century ensured that India won the match and with it the series.
The man who was famously excluded from India's World Cup challenge last year has now stamped his authority on the limited overs version of the game. He spoke to Assistant Editor Faisal Shariff ahead of the Test series against Pakistan. Excerpts:
Was there any pressure at all after the initial failures in the one-day series against Pakistan?
My confidence was quite high since last year. My form has been going well in one-dayers as well as Tests. I was disappointed after the first three games, but then analysed what the problem was and worked on it. I was prepared for the final one-dayer, having had a very good net session the day before working on my technique. And in the most important game, I fired.
What was the problem?
In Rawalpindi and Peshawar I was dismissed off good balls. In the fourth one-dayer in Lahore I played back to a ball that was pitched up. It would have worked in Australia, but here it was different and I figured that.
In the fifth game I decided to commit myself on the front foot. So I practised and ensured that I don't pick the wrong length.
I don't mind getting out to good balls. I have been playing for a few years now and that doesn't bother me. Before settling down if I get a good ball there is little I can do about it. But if I am set and I throw away my wicket it upsets me. When I am set I try to get a big score.
How would you compare the Pakistani and Australian bowling attacks?
They are very similar in nature. Australia has attacking bowlers like Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie and Brad Williams. Pakistan has Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Sami. Australia has spinners Andrew Symonds and Michael Clarke who bowl the middle overs well. Pakistan has Shoaib Malik. Where pace is concerned, Pakistan is the best. Abdur Razzaq and Ian Harvey are similar bowlers.
You have an obsession for tall scores.
I basically do what the team requires. If the team requires tall scores I get them. I think Ranji Trophy helps a lot in making tall scores. Ever since my under 19 days, I have always tried to win games off my bat.
And you also rise to the occasion. Kolkata, Adelaide, and now Lahore.
It is a good coincidence. Also in Trinidad, I was there when India won the game. Contributing in these victories gives me a lot of pleasure. I have been like that. Bigger the game and bigger the pressure, the better my performance. Of course, it does not mean that I don't like to perform in other games [laughs].
What is the reason for India's good showing in world cricket of late?
We have done a lot of hard work and the consistency has been there for a while now. Before that our record was not great. But we are doing the right things at the right time.
We have a good coach and a great support team. The younger guys have also been very pro-active. They have fun and take it up as a challenge.
The dressing room atmosphere is great. I have always believed that for a team to play well, the dressing room has to be happy.
We enjoy our success.
You were criticised for your batting style in one-dayers. What changes have you made to your game?
During the off-season I worked hard on my shortcomings. I took the World Cup exclusion in a positive manner. I decided to play more balls early on, then go for my shots and rotate the strike regularly. And it worked.
Does pace trouble you or good swing bowling?
The nature of the surface is important. I believe that line and length are most important. On a flat wicket, pace helps a bowler. But I think good control is important.
And if you look closely Irfan Pathan was the most successful bowler in Australia. And he is not the fastest in the world.
Cricket is not about bat and ball, it is about one team against another. It will be crucial for India to put pressure on Pakistan in this Test series to pile huge totals.
How important is bat swing for a batsman?
For my batting, rhythm is very important. My backlift is extremely crucial for me. When you are hitting the ball well, your bat is an extension of your arm. When you are not batting well, you feel like you are using something else to hit the ball. The bat has to meet the ball at the right place. The arc of the bat is of prime importance. When you are batting well the bat will come down from first or second slip. When you are not in good form, then the bat comes down from third slip.
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