mcgillianaire (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
mcgillianaire) wrote2007-07-30 11:15 am
mcgillianaire) wrote2007-07-30 11:15 am
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The Unsung Hero Among the Galacticos
The highest individual score in India's 481 yesterday, was SRT's 91. The highest Test innings score without an individual century is India's 524/9d @ Kanpur against NZ in 1976. Interestingly, nobody scored above Mohinder Amarnath's 70 in that record-breaking innings. In yesterday's innings, Dravid was the only Top 6 batsman not to make a half-century. The Fab Four/Galacticos scored 261 runs, 60% of India's total (not including extras). (Interestingly, I've just done some quick research and it appears as though the Galacticos score 60%+ quite often, but the important thing here is that they all got their eye-in, and 3 scored big (in the context of the game). Of the four, VVS Laxman is the youngest, and arguably the least celebrated. His record however, is better than that of Ganguly's and he has won more matches with his batting performances, than the former Indian captain.
Those who have followed Indian cricket since 2001, will know of "THE" innings (and match), that changed the course of his career for ever. Prior to that match, Laxman averaged 27.06 from 20 games. After that match, he averaged 35.47. (Interestingly, many people forget/ignore(?) his 167 at Sydney a few Tests earlier. It may have been in a losing cause, but it was without doubt the first real sign of his batting ability on the international stage. Laxman averaged 23.44 when he walked out to bat, then scored 64% of India's total runs by himself (in 197 balls, incl. 27 scrumptuous boundaries), and averaged 28.57 when he got out). He hasn't looked back since and now averages 42+. His average since that Kolkata Test of 2001 has been even more impressive, 47.91. It includes two more scrumptuous centuries against the Aussies in 2003/4, a match-winning century at Ahmedabad against Sri Lanka, and other crucial knocks. Laxman may not go down as one of India's greatest batsmen, but he has without doubt scored the most important innings by an Indian batsman, and those of us who were lucky enough to watch it, will never forget it. He has also been the most stylish Indian batsman to grace the field since Mohammed Azharuddin, a fellow Hyderabadi.
Those who have followed Indian cricket since 2001, will know of "THE" innings (and match), that changed the course of his career for ever. Prior to that match, Laxman averaged 27.06 from 20 games. After that match, he averaged 35.47. (Interestingly, many people forget/ignore(?) his 167 at Sydney a few Tests earlier. It may have been in a losing cause, but it was without doubt the first real sign of his batting ability on the international stage. Laxman averaged 23.44 when he walked out to bat, then scored 64% of India's total runs by himself (in 197 balls, incl. 27 scrumptuous boundaries), and averaged 28.57 when he got out). He hasn't looked back since and now averages 42+. His average since that Kolkata Test of 2001 has been even more impressive, 47.91. It includes two more scrumptuous centuries against the Aussies in 2003/4, a match-winning century at Ahmedabad against Sri Lanka, and other crucial knocks. Laxman may not go down as one of India's greatest batsmen, but he has without doubt scored the most important innings by an Indian batsman, and those of us who were lucky enough to watch it, will never forget it. He has also been the most stylish Indian batsman to grace the field since Mohammed Azharuddin, a fellow Hyderabadi.