IF you thought my dislike for DRAVID Srinath & Prasad was too much then behold!!!! ...I have never hated a cricketer so much in my life as I hated this ’’Very Very Special Laxman’’ before the EPIC Eden Gardens knock. He was so pathetic that I remember there were roumours during India’s tour of australia that Aussies let Laxman make that 165 runs century so that he is taken in the one day team & they can again get his wicket without any effort. And thats what happened. He wasnt supposed to be in the One Day Squad but after that century the selectors changed their mind. THings happened exactly how the Aussies wanted them to be. Laxman didnt play 1 innings worth talking about in the one day series. And I seriously believe in that roumour to be true.
Now ofcourse I have turned my opinion full 360degrees in a matter of one fateful day when the miracle happened in Calcutta(where else but Eden). Now talentwise Ithink laxman is immensely gifted. But then Talent is not all it takes to shine in this world.
Let me explain why Laxman was subject to so much hatred all these years. Because he never clicked. He was given so many chances in all these years & still he never clicked. It was so painfull to see laxman take up a place among the 11 & fail once again. I was told he is talented. But I was like yeah sure I sure cannot see the talent. But then theres something called DESTINY. Destiny wanted Laxman to shine on what I believe the best day of Indian cricket since I became interested in cricket. It was one of the best knocks ever. Theres no arguing that.
And he had a dream run during that Australia series alongwith Bhajji & Mathew Hayden. He played pretty consistently throughout making blistering 30-40 runs & getting out. There my friend lies the problem. From whatever I have seen of Laxman recently I have rarely found Laxman getting beaten by the bowler. VERY RARE. He comes in, doesnt even take time to ’’settle down’’(unlike dravid) & hits some extraordinary shots & all of a sudden gets out to some atrocious shot. Its so sad to think of such a talent getting wasted day after day. You’ll rarely find when Laxman got out ’coz the bowl was extraordinary. He gets out in such silly ways that one day one of us should sue him for wasting his talent. But then how dare we speak ill about Laxman . He made that 281 u see.
Laxman has done precious little till now for India except for that ’’281 Knock’’ when he made the world gasp at his amazing talent. I think he should me told & warned firmly that if he keeps getting out like that then theres no place for him in the one day team. I mean I repeat like I said in dravids case ’’ what use is the talent if its no use for the team’’ Laxman should atleast score some runs to show us that he is talented. He comes like an enigma & depaarts soon after ’’having hit some extraordinary boundaries’’. His batting style somehow reminds me of Mark Waugh. They both make batting look so effortless & simple. On the other hand when Dravid plays a defensive shot also he makes it look so Exquisite. But what happens it goes straight to the fielder. Note- thats what happens when u hit text book shot, fielders stand in the way.
Now I hope Laxman realises how important his talent is for our country & starts playing more consistently. Tendulkar, Laxman & sehwag r the only guys i’m pinning my hopes on in the South Africa series.
Laxman deserves 4 stars rating....but he himself has to blame for the 3 star hes got from me.