We have no respect for V V S Laxman who has turned around Indian Test Cricket

I have been reading recent press reports and find most of these seem to kind of demand Laxman's retirement, which is nothing but asking for his resignation (since no one can demand and seek retirement). I also find the esteemed writers focusing only on England & Australian series, conveniently omitting the West Indies Series played in West Indies & India (prefixing and suffixing the series played in England). Has anyone for once thought about our state if Laxman failed against West Indies (in West Indies) & against West Indies in India. Why are we omitting these critical statistics? I feel extremely sorry at this attitude of the media and some of the ex-Indian Players who seem to be unduly interested to hound out these stalwarts.



Knowing Laxman from close quarters, I know for one how much he thinks about Indian Cricket. He has performed well for the country in the toughest of times. Both he & Rahul are gentlemen and we will never get such individuals back to the game (at least for the length of period and consistency with which they performed).

The below article was published on 20th November 2011 in Times of India. Two months thereafter, after his first failure in Australia the pundits forget the past and demand Laxman’s retirement/sacking from the game. I am reminded of this famous song from Umrao Jaan:

yeh kya jagah hai dosto.n  - What is this place, friends?

yeh kis maqaam par hayaat... To what resting place has life

mujhko leke aa ga'ii... brought me,

na bas khushii pe hai jahaa.n... where I have neither command over joy,

na gam pe ikhtiyaar hai... nor power over my sorrow?

yeh kya jagah hai dosto.n What is this place, friends?

yeh kaunsa dayaar hai Which region is this?

LAXMANS TRUE CALLING 129 TESTS AND STILL COUNTING

JAC Gladson

TNN November 20 , 2011

Hyderabad: VVS Laxman has come a long way from being the baby of the side when he made his Test debut for India 15 seasons ago.That was in Ahmedabad against South Africa where scores of 11 and 51 gave a glimpse of potential that would see him play 129 Tests and counting.Now hes one of the Big Four in the Indian team;not bad for someone who wanted to be a doctor.

It feels great to represent the country where cricket is more religion than sport for 15 years, Laxman told ToI as the Indian team arrived in Mumbai for the third Test against the West Indies.Honestly,I wanted to be a doctor but once I decided on cricket as a profession it was a dream come true in Ahmedabad, Laxman added.

The desire to do well for the country has been a constant ever since.It is a coincidence like his rise in prominence to that of Indias surge to the pinnacle of Test cricket that his first and latest Tests resulted in Indian victories,the most recent at his favourite hunting ground where the elegant right-hander has logged five centuries to continue Hyderabads love affair with Eden Gardens,Kolkata.

It was a proud moment for all of us when we became No.1 in the world in 2009.It was the right culmination for a bunch of players who took great pride in performance, said the Hyderabadi stylist who revelled in Indias transition from poor travellers to a team that can win against all comers.Laxman owed it to a change in mindset.We had the reputation of being poor travellers when I started but it got better with time.For the likes of Sourav (Ganguly),Rahul (Dravid) and Anil (Kumble) winning overseas mattered a lot and we could successfully change the trend with a different mental approach to series abroad.

His unbeaten 176 in Indias innings and 15-run win over the West Indies last week fetched him the man of the match award,only the sixth in his career;India won four times and drew two Tests.But statistics tell only little of Laxmans value to the side.

His selflessness and ability to get the best out of his teammates in hopeless situations are exemplified by his 281 that stopped Australia at the Final Frontier.Did that act of stout defiance sow the seeds of doubt in Aussie psyche that marked the beginning of their end at the top Port of Spain,Durban,Mohali were courageous acts too.

It was only natural progression for Laxman so used to hauling Hyderabad out of woods,though unlike on domestic cricket where his proclivity to bat big matched his voracious appetite for runs,he could have had more than 17 Test centuries if he had converted any of his 55 half-tons.Its not the numbers that matter but performances that win the game for your country, he averred.Im content and satisfied with what I have done but like any professional sportsperson I always strive to improve.

Many captains,different approaches and perspectives.Any regrets Im very lucky to have played under great leaders.Everyone could win a match on their own, said Laxman for whom not representing India in World Cup and more One-dayers rankle.

But not quite the kind to dwell on negatives,the 37-year old looked ahead with hope.After what happened in England we would like to get back to the top spot again and Id like to play innings that make a difference to the team numbers are just a byproduct.Also,I have always dreamt of winning a series in Australia.

Australia beware.