The Hindu : Sport : I'll be back, says Laxman

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Wednesday, Nov 01, 2006
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I'll be back, says Laxman

V. V. Subrahmanyam

— FILE Photo: K. Murali Kumar

KEEN TO PROVE A POINT: Laxman wants to let his bat do the talking.

HYDERABAD: V.V.S. Laxman was once again left in the wilderness when the Indian team for the one-day series in South Africa in November was announced.

Does he believe it is the end of the road for him as far as the one-dayers are concerned? "Definitely not. I have plenty of opportunities to come back as I have done so many times in the past. I still believe that I can contribute to the success of the Indian team," said Laxman in a chat with The Hindu.

Apparently startled by the observations of Dilip Vengsarkar, the chairman of the selection committee, that his fitness was not good enough for international matches, Laxman said that he had completely recovered from the hamstring injury he suffered during the Moin-ud-Dowla Gold Cup in Hyderabad recently. "Obviously, no one wants to be injured. It is definitely sheer bad luck that I had to miss the Challenger Series because of that. Now I am fully fit and keen to prove a point or two," he said.

Hopeful

Does he believe that the omission from the South African tour means that he doesn't figure in the plan for the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies? "I don't look at it that way. Personally, I do believe that I still can force my way by virtue of my performances. There are quite a few opportunities including the Duleep Trophy matches," he said.

Laxman is confident that a couple of sterling performances in the Test series in South Africa should do him a world of good. "Well, it is always important and good to get runs at the highest level and hope for the best. I reiterate that selection is one thing that is not in my control. I will be keen to let the bat do the talking and leave the rest to the selectors," he said.

Laxman is happy that no one disputes his credentials including Dilip Vengsarkar. It is the fitness, or lack of it, that is weighing against him right now, according to the selectors. "There is no better way to demonstrate your fitness than by scoring.

Statistics

The statistics of the other main contenders, who might have blocked his chances for a comeback, are as follows: Mohammad Kaif — 122 one-dayers, 2,725 runs, 32.83 avg., 2x100, 17x50; Suresh Raina — 33 one-dayers, 585 runs, 27.85 avg., 3x50; Dinesh Mongia — 53 one-dayers, 1,154 runs, 28.85 avg., 1x100, 4x50. What is Laxman's record in the one-dayers? 85 one-dayers, 2,338 runs, 31.17 avg, 6x100, 10x50.

To his delight, Laxman gets support from ex-cricketers such as Navjot Singh Sidhu and Mohinder Amarnath who feel that he should be an automatic choice by the sheer weight of his class and experience. But the selectors look the other way.

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