Dravid, Laxman- and the magical Eden

The opponents are different here. In fact, the Shoaib Akhtar-led Pakistan bowling arsenal is no match for the unforgiving Australian bowling battery that Laxman and Dravid had so famously tamed in that rearguard action at Eden.

Yet, it’s the recent records of the duo that overshadow that six-year-old match-winning effort.

Take Laxman for example. The stylish batsman has had many a fling at his favourite Eden Gardens ever since the 281 of March 2001. And statistics show that his showing in all forms of cricket at Eden in the last few years have been no more than pedestrian.

The most recent memories are those of Hyderabad skipper Laxman scoring a duck and 18 in a poor Ranji Trophy outing against Bengal earlier this month. And last winter at Eden, Laxman managed forgettable scores in South Zone’s Duleep Trophy final against Sri Lanka A.

For Laxman’s hallowed partner of the March 2001 saviour act, Dravid, the run up to this Eden Test isn’t that uninspiring, although the former Indian skipper has yet to prove a point since getting the boot from ODIs.

In the first Test, Dravid’s contributions in India’s win were 34 and 38. Laxman, for a change, blossomed in the opening Test with a classy unbeaten 72.

The obvious question thrown at Dravid this evening at a promo function was his old Eden connection and the 180-run knock flashback. And the former Indian captain admitted his passion for playing in Kolkata. “Eden Gardens is special for me, it will always be a favourite ground for me. That innings (180 runs) and the partnership with Laxman, that’s one of the high points of my career. But I am not thinking about any records here now. I just want to play well and score a lot of runs here,” Dravid said.

Incidentally, the last time Dravid and Laxman played in a Test match at Eden was against Pakistan, back in March 2005. That match saw Dravid strike two telling match-winning tons, but Laxman flopped in that clash.

Today, Laxman is 33 and Dravid 34. They may not have too many more outings together at Eden Gardens again. And cricket fans in Kolkata will surely want history to repeat itself. Will it be back to 2001?