I was nervous like hell, says Laxman

“It might not have appeared so, but I was nervous like hell,” he said when asked how he felt nearing his century. “One, I was remembering I had got out on 95. Two, the atmosphere at the SCG was overwhelming.” Explaining his refreshing approach in the innings, Laxman said concentrating extra hard has not really helped. “Extra concentration could mean extra caution and you could turn strokeless and sure your dismissal would come,” he said.

The technically-sound Rahul Dravid was a victim of such an approach, compiling 93 runs fromsix innings despite spending considerable time at the crease.

Asked whether he was comfortable opening the innings, Laxman said, “I have no complaints with the selectors wanting me to open. It is an honour to play for your country. I would be happy to play at any spot they ask me to.

But I have always been a middle order batsman. The only time I have opened is in Tests,” he added. On the extra bounce that has done the Indian batsmen in several times in the series, Laxman said he was shaping well in the first innings of the first Test in Adelaide to reach 41 before he tried to cut mcgrath but was undone by extra lift to hit to Steve Waugh at point.

Did he nurse the ambition of a double hundred?

“Actually, I did. Not when Anil Kumble (with whom he put on 89 runs for the seventh wicket) was there, because then I was still a long way off but when (Javagal) Srinath showed the intention of hanging around,” he said.