The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : One more special from V.V.S.

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Thursday, Dec 30, 2010
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

One more special from V.V.S.

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: At Kingsmead, Durban, India was looking for someone to stand tall, someone who could show them the way. And Hyderabad's V. V. S. Laxman provided the answer with yet another memorable innings.

At 36, this stylish batsman from the city served yet another reminder that he was a cut above the rest when it came to playing under pressure.

For all those who followed the game over the years, Laxman's match-winning 96 in the second innings of the Durban Test, which helped India set a 300-plus target, brought back memories of the famous G. R. Vishwanath's knock of 97 on a difficult wicket at the Chepauk, in Chennai, in the 1974-75 series against the formidable Caribbean bowling attack.

Like Vishwanath, Laxman has rarely disappointed his team when it looked up to him in a crisis. “We have the potential to win Test matches in South Africa and all that is needed is to play the ball on merit on any given day,” was his belief.

By all means, Laxman's batting is so special that he has assured for himself a place in the league of all-time batting greats from India.

“Well, he is a gem of a batsman. The best part of his batting is the way he makes the non-striker, even tail-enders, so comfortable,” says N. Shivlal Yadav, who was also manager of the Indian team on a recent Australian tour.

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