The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Laxman to leave for England today

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Laxman to leave for England today

HYDERABAD: V.V.S. Laxman will leave for England on Thursday to play for Lanchashire in the county championships this season. Under the current format, he’ll be the only overseas professional in the side.

“I’m looking forward to doing well there and get into good shape to play for the country in the upcoming season,” he told The Hindu on the eve of his departure. “Lancs is a great county to be associated with and has a great set of boys to play alongside with,” he said of the side that includes Andrew Flintoff.

“This outing will help me be actively involved with the game in preparation for international competition and nothing better than the English county championships to stay keen,” he added. Laxman’s earlier stint with Lancashire was for just six weeks in 2007 in a side where the other imports were Australians Stuart Law, Brad Hodge and Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan.

Though short, it was a most fruitful tenure for the stylish right-hander. That the elegant batsman enjoyed his brief stay immensely became evident when his contributions to the run tally mounted as the championship drew to a close.

Notable among these were the 103 against Warwickshire and an unbeaten 55 against Durham. Laxman’s 53 and a quick-fire 100 in as many deliveries against Surrey brought it tantalisingly close to clinching the championship after a 73-year wait.

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