VVS Laxman provided memories of a lifetime with his wristy play in the recent Test series against Australia and an obliging team management has given him a free passage in the ongoing one-day contests.Laxman has played two matches, making 16 from 19 balls in Melbourne and unbeaten 13 from 24 balls in Hobart where the match was sewn up for all practical purposes when he strode in to bat.For a batsman who brooks no opposition in batting aesthetics even from the talented Indian line-up, Laxman has not quite found his feet in the hustle and bustle of one-day cricket.Laxman cut his teeth in one-day arena in 1998 but has been unconvincing to the extent he has only 60 appearances in nearly seven years of international cricket.Laxman dearly wants to prove himself in one-day arena and missing out on a berth in the 2003 World Cup remains one of the greatest disappointments of his career.He is in prime form of his career at the moment and India are looking to maximise their scoring potential through him even though his performances abroad (441 runs from 30 games) is quite ordinary.In the last couple of years, especially since his epic 281 against Australia at Eden Gardens in 2001, Laxman has made a regular place for himself in the Test arena but limited overs cricket remains an elusive art for this admirable batsman.He is not the greatest of movers in the field but if that was the criteria, quite a few Indian players would not find a place in the eleven. He usually does not scurry for quick singles between the wickets but that too is not looked at harshly, not till now, in the Indian way of things towards one-day cricket.Laxman has virtually forced the hands of tour selectors in the present one-day series with his magnificent Test form. Such was his form that his omission would have caused public outrage, if not demonstrations, in India. It is up to the Hyderabadi now to reproduce his Test form and book his one-day spot for seasons to come. (PTI)
