Laxman is Sultan of Sydney again

The new Don of Sydney, and why not?

With his magical 109 today, VVS Laxman has scored a century in each of his three appearances at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Walking in with India at 8/1, staring at a follow-on after Australia wound up at 463 earlier and his former skipper Rahul Dravid struggling at the other end, Laxman launched a breathtaking counter-attack, facing the fiery new ball with the full face of the bat pointing towards the off-side before completing an innings studded with strokes on both back and on the front foot all round the wicket.

Finally, he was the last man out today, walking back to a standing ovation here with India finally looking in some comfort, if not at total ease, at 216/3, still trailing by 247 runs with seven wickets in hand.

“All my three hundreds here are very close to me. Every hundred is always very special to a batsman,” he said later. “It’s obviously a very nice feeling when you walk into a ground where you have performed well. You tend to know the environment, the wicket you are going to play on and it gives you great confidence.”

As a little boy, Laxman used to be fascinated with the Australians, and the way their played their cricket. “I respect them a lot. In the early days of my career, I learnt a lot from them and admired the way they played their cricket. The aggression with which they play their game, the commitment they show on the field and the fact that they have a plan for each player,” he said.

This time, VVS had a plan which had the Aussies fascinated by his amazing consistency against them and his ability to turn the wrists down and keep it straight, even having two different shots to the same delivery. Sorting out his 18 boundaries, Laxman turned a full-length ball from all-rounder Andrew Symonds past wide mid-on for a boundary after another similar delivery from the same bowler had earlier been shunted down the ground straight past off-stump at the opposite end.

In the end, even Aussie pacer Brett Lee who had a long go at Laxman, hurling in bouncers time and again, paid his tribute. “He played a fantastic innings. He has somehow developed a habit of scoring a hundred every time at the SCG. I hold him in great respect as a batsman and have the highest regard for him as a person. He enjoys his game and is jolly good person on and off the field,” said Lee.

Laxman has hit five of his 12 hundreds against Australia, considered the best side in the world. And even if this record doesn’t quite allow one of India’s unsung heroes to match the 37 hundreds of Sachin Tendulkar, it’s worth noting that none of those 12 have come against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. “It feels satisfying when you have a good record against the best in the world and a great moment when those are scored in tough situations,” said Laxman.

However, Laxman would be a touch disappointed not to have really latched on to this opportunity and bagged another big score — especially after he quickly followed Dravid back to the pavilion, spooning a mis-timed cover drive off left-arm spinner Brad Hogg to Michael Hussey. But by then, he had already put together 175 precious runs with Dravid (53) to signal a possible renaissance. India are still precariously placed, Laxman admits, adding that the one man in the middle who obviously has the greatest average at this ground, will be the key for India. Tendulkar has only been dismissed twice in five innings here, piling up 498 runs in three matches.