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Joining the greats Laxman makes history with record-breaking test score
He doesn't have a name that crowds can easily chant, but Vangipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman -- VVS for short -- now has a special place in cricket history.
By hitting the highest test score ever by an Indian batsman in the second test in Calcutta, Laxman not only saved the match, but he also revitalized his team and uplifted a nation.
Laxman came to the rescue in the most dire of circumstances as the Indians were forced to follow-on against the ruthless Australia, which was looking for its 17th straight test victory.
In one sense, Laxman took a leaf out of the Australians' own book by refusing to be tied down and batting in an aggressive and uncompromising manner.
His first innings half century hinted at things to come and Indian captain Sourav Ganguly had the good sense to promote Laxman up the order from number six to number three.
I watched most of Laxman's innings on a "live" television broadcast on pay-per-view in the United States. Clearly, the well-traveled commentators on the coverage including former Australian captain Ian Chappell and ex-Indian allrounder Ravi Shastri were stunned by the brazen display of batting against the world's best bowling attack.
Laxman's dominance clearly lifted the downtrodden spirits of Rahul Dravid. Down at Laxman's old position of number six, Dravid overcame a slow and shaky start to score a commendable century in support.
The record-breaking innings is even more remarkable when considering Laxman's patchy test career to date. He has been in-and-out of the team, used as an opening batsman as well as in the middle-order.
Before the Calcutta test (his 21st), his average was a modest 27.06, with only one century. In one-day internationals, he manages an abysmal 7.81 per innings. Now he has broken Sunil Gavaskar's Indian test record.
Batting at number three is clearly the key for this handsome 26-year-old from Hyderabad, who has been a prolific run-scorer in first-class cricket. He has always considered that spot to be his lucky position .
Laxman is from the same Indian city as former captain Mohammad Azaharuddin, now suspended because of his alleged involvement in illegal match-fixing.
"Azha" was the batsman that Laxman idolized and clearly there are similarities in the way the two right-handed batsmen sweetly "time" the ball.
I traveled to Hyderabad in January for a wedding. Members of the wedding party actually used to practice with Laxman and attended the same school.
The institution's name, "Little Flower High School" gives no more than a hint of things to come from one its most famous former students.
Clearly, Laxman is a big flower who has bloomed at the right time for his country.
Australian-born Jason Dasey is an anchor for "World Sport," a 30-minute sports news and highlights program shown on CNN International and CNNSI.
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