V. V. S. Laxman

Infobox cricketer biography
playername = V. V. S Laxman


image_size = 150px
country = India
fullname = Vangipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman
nickname = Very Very Special
living = true
dayofbirth = 1
monthofbirth = 11
yearofbirth = 1974
placeofbirth = Hyderabad
countryofbirth = India
batting = Right-handed
bowling = Right-arm off spin
international = true
testdebutdate = 20 November
testdebutyear = 1996
testdebutagainst = South Africa
testc

odidebutdate = 9 April
odidebutyear = 1998
odidebutagainst = Zimbabwe
odic

club1 = Hyderabad
year1 = 1992 – present
club2 = Lancashire
year2 = 2007
clubnumber2 = 26
deliveries = balls
columns = 4
column1 = Tests
matches1 = 96
runs1 = 6,000
bat avg1 = 43.79
100s/50s1 = 12/35
top score1 = 281
deliveries1 = 324
wickets1 = 2
bowl avg1 = 63.00
fivefor1 = 0
tenfor1 = 0
best bowling1 = 1/2
catches/stumpings1 = 102/–
column2 = ODI
matches2 = 86
runs2 = 2,338
bat avg2 = 30.76
100s/50s2 = 6/10
top score2 = 131
deliveries2 = 42
wickets2 = 0
bowl avg2 = –
fivefor2 = 0
tenfor2 = n/a
best bowling2 = 0/5
catches/stumpings2 = 39/–
column3 = FC
matches3 = 210
runs3 = 15,485
bat avg3 = 50.93
100s/50s3 = 44/71
top score3 = 353
deliveries3 = 1,751
wickets3 = 21
bowl avg3 = 34.66
fivefor3 = 0
tenfor3 = 0
best bowling3 = 3/11
catches/stumpings3 = 222/1
column4 = LA
matches4 = 167
runs4 = 4,944
bat avg4 = 34.57
100s/50s4 = 9/27
top score4 = 131
deliveries4 = 698
wickets4 = 8
bowl avg4 = 68.50
fivefor4 = 0
tenfor4 = n/a
best bowling4 = 2/42
catches/stumpings4 = 73/–
date = 04 October
year = 2008
source = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/3/3314/3314.html CricketArchive

Vangipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman audio|V._V._S._Laxman.ogg|pronunciation (born November 1, 1974, in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh), better known as VVS Laxman, is an Indian cricketer. Laxman represents Hyderabad in domestic cricket and has played for Lancashire in the English county cricket. He is the captain of the high profile [http://hyderabad-deccanchargers.com Deccan Chargers] team in the Indian Premier League.

Laxman bats right-handed and occasionally bowls off-spin. He is noted for his superb timing and the ability to hit against the spin, reminiscent of his role model Mohammed Azharuddin.

Career

Laxman made his Test debut in 1996, scoring a fifty against South Africa at Ahmedabad. However, he was unable to cement his place in a star-studded Indian middle order. Instead, he was asked to open the innings, starting in South Africa in 1997. Laxman intermittently continued in this role for nearly three years, but without any consistent success. In January 2000, he made 167 against Australia at Sydney, a rare high point for India in an otherwise disastrous tour. Despite this success against an attack containing both Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, Laxman apparently decided that he would return to domestic cricket, rather than continue playing as opener, a role which he believed did not suit him. As a result, Laxman was out of the Test team for nearly a year. He was recalled in late 2000, and also found a spot in the side for the home series against Australia in 2001.

Australia's tour of India

Laxman's career changed dramatically in the home series against Australia. In the first Test at Mumbai, Laxman made 20 and 12, as the entire Indian batting line-up, with the exception of Sachin Tendulkar, capitulated, leading to a 10-wicket defeat. In the next Test, however, Laxman shot to fame with an extraordinary Test innings of 281 in the second innings (following on) against Australia at Eden Gardens, when under tremendous pressure, he broke Sunil Gavaskar's long standing record of 236*. [ [http://ind.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2000-01/AUS_IN_IND/SCORECARDS/AUS_IND_T2_11-15MAR2001.html 2nd Test: India v Australia at Calcutta, 11-15 Mar 2001 ] ] This remained the highest ever by an Indian until it was eclipsed by Virender Sehwag's triple ton against Pakistan in Multan in March, 2004. The innings also contributed to a record partnership of 376 with Rahul Dravid who made 180 and together they survived the whole 4th day. Laxman's performance was of enormous consequence: India had been on the brink of an innings defeat but went on to win the Test and the series, denying Steve Waugh conquest of the "final frontier". It has become one of the most celebrated tales of Indian cricket, and the innings is ranked the sixth best Test innings ever by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. [ [http://in.rediff.com/cricket/2001/jul/30bat100.htm rediff.com: cricket channel: Top 100 Batsmen of all time ] ] Laxman then cemented his place both in the Test and one day teams for a few years. He has continued to perform well against Australia, especially during India's tour of Australia in 2003, in which he hit three ODI and two Test centuries. One of his centuries, his 148 in the second Test at Adelaide, came in a triple century partnership with, once again, Dravid. India won the Test, which was their first Test victory in Australia in two decades. His sublime innings of 178 at Sydney also came in a triple century partnership, on this occasion with Sachin Tendulkar. For this reason, Ian Chappell described him as "Very Very Special Laxman".

Decline of form

However, Laxman's form was on the decline since the series against Australia. Beginning with the series in Pakistan in 2004, Laxman had only Test centuries to his credit, with one coming against a weak Zimbabwe side. He struggled against his favorite opponents Australia in the home series in October-November 2004, although his 69 in the final Test at Mumbai helped India record a consolation victory. Laxman was dropped after scoring a duck in the first Test against England at Mumbai in March 2006. He regained his place for the tour of the West Indies in place of the injured Tendulkar, and made a hundred in the third Test. In ODI cricket, Laxman was left out persistently since Greg Chappell took over as coach in mid-2005, mainly on account of his poor fielding, but also a perception that his batting is too one paced for ODI cricket. This was despite his superb form in Australia and Pakistan in early 2004, when he made four centuries in 14 games, including three in a week in the VB Series in Australia.

Return to Form

In December 2005, Laxman helped India to victory against Sri Lanka with a fine century. In June 2006, Laxman again rescued India from a difficult position against the West Indies with a gritty century. In November 2006, he was selected in the test squad for India's tour of South Africa. In the first test in Johannesburg Laxman scored 73 in the second innings to help India claim a historic 123 run win. In the 2007 tour of England Laxman produced three good innings, two of which were half-centuries and a vital 39 that helped India draw the first test at Lords. He passed the 5000 run landmark in the first day of the final Test.

After the tests he joined Lancashire as their overseas player in place of Brad Hodge. He played in five games of the county championship and showed glimpses of his sublime batting. In their final County Championship game of 2007, against Surrey at the Oval, Laxman scored a century in the second innings which Lancashire were chasing 489 to win. They just missed out by 25 runs and subsequently lost the Championship to Sussex. His performance for Lancashire was good with 380 runs scored in 5 matches at an average of 54.28 with 2 centuries and 2 half-centuries [ [http://stats.cricinfo.com/lancashire/engine/records/batting/highest_career_batting_average.html?class=4;id=2007;team=1167;type=season Cricinfo - Records - Season 2007 - Lancashire - First-class matches - Highest averages ] ]

In India's home series against Pakistan in 2007, VVS Laxman once again showed his importance to the team with a disciplined batting performance in the 1st Test [ [http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/297806.html Cricinfo - 1st Test: India v Pakistan at Delhi, Nov 22-26, 2007 ] ] . He then followed that innings of 72 in the first test with 112 in the second test. [ [http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/indvpak/engine/match/297807.html Cricinfo - 2nd Test: India v Pakistan at Kolkata, Nov 30-Dec 4, 2007 ] ] . This ensured his place on the tour of Australia which would be his 3rd to that country.

Laxman's good form continued in the 2007/08 series against Australia with him scoring a languid 109 against Australia on the second day of the controversial Sydney Test. It was his 12th hundred in test matches, and his 5th against Australia. It was also his third consecutive century at SCG, giving him an average well above 90 at the venue. He followed this up with a gritty knock in Perth, assisted by Mahendra Singh Dhoni and RP Singh, which set India up to record a historic and unexpected victory at a ground on which previously no Asian team had won.

Laxman was supposed to replace Adam Voges for Nottinghamshire but this move was vetoed by the BCCI due to the fact that there are players from the rival league ICL. Laxman also reached 6000 runs in the Sri Lankan series in August 2008.

Personal life

Laxman's parents, father Shantaram and mother Satyabhama, are doctors [http://cricket.indiatimes.com/articleshow/498991.cms] ] . Laxman himself was a one-time medical student but later chose cricket over a career in medicine.He married G.R Sailaja, who is a post-graduate in computer applications, in February 2004 [http://cricket.indiatimes.com/articleshow/498991.cms] ] . The couple welcomed a son, Sarvajit, in March 2007.

Centuries at a glance

Test Centuries

#167 v Australia Sydney 2 Jan 2000
#281 v Australia Kolkata 11 Mar 2001
#130 v West Indies St John's 10 May 2002
#154* v West Indies Kolkata 30 Oct 2002
#104* v New Zealand Mohali 16 Oct 2003
#148 v Australia Adelaide 12 Dec 2003
#178 v Australia Sydney 2 Jan 2004
#140 v Zimbabwe Bulawayo 13 Sep 2005
#104 v Sri Lanka Ahmedabad 18 Dec 2005
#100 v West Indies Basseterre 22 Jun 2006
#112* v Pakistan Kolkata 30 Nov 2007
#109 v Australia Sydney 2 Jan 2008

ODI Centuries

#101 v Australia Margao 6 Apr 2001
#102 v Australia Gwalior 26 Oct 2003
#103* v Australia Brisbane 18 Jan 2004
#106* v Australia Sydney 22 Jan 2004
#131 v Zimbabwe Adelaide 24 Jan 2004
#107 v Pakistan Lahore 24 Mar 2004

References

External links

* [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/india/content/player/30750.html Cricinfo Player Profile: V V S Laxman]
* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6241928819513936062 Google Video: V V S Laxman's 281 vs Australia]