Bring back poor VVS Laxman

[Rohan495]

Bring Back Laxman....and even for that matter Ganguly......Laxman is a matchwinner 46.81 average against Australia, the dumbass players like Raina, Kaif, and Mongia are good for nothing. Sree Santh is a school boy cricketer. If fieldin is such a concern, how come feeding some meat to players like sreesanth is not a concern

[Predator_05]

Re: Bring back poor VVS Laxman You don't have to worry. Indian cricket is just 2 matches away from being in full-scale turmoil. Given the way things are going, both Laxman and Ganguly are certain to return for the Tests and will retain their places in the ODI XI as well. I for one, don't agree with their inclusion - never have and never will, but seeing as how the rest of the Indian batting lineup can't even score in double figures, the two of them couldn't possibly do any worse.

[Rohan495]

Re: Bring back poor VVS Laxman ok man, usin Laxman as an example, 46.81 average against a world class team like Australia, you dont agree for his inclusion...Did you forget his matchwinning performance in Pakistan in Lahore where he won the final match? How many players can actually do that...Do you see Raina or Mongia doing that? explanation why not please.

[Predator_05]

Re: Bring back poor VVS Laxman

ok man' date=' usin Laxman as an example, 46.81 average against a world class team like Australia, you dont agree for his inclusion...Did you forget his matchwinning performance in Pakistan in Lahore where he won the final match? How many players can actually do that...Do you see Raina or Mongia doing that? explanation why not please.[/quote'] Averaging 47 against Australia is all well and good, but an overall career average of 31 indicates that he never quite adapted to the ODI game. He has represented India in ODI's in almost a 100 matches so you can't say that he hasn't received enough chances. He scored his runs against Australia when he was in his prime, back in '04. He was batting like a dream then, but what happened afterwards ? He had secured his place in the ODI side, and then when the new season began that summer he just went back to being a waste of space. In 13 matches since the summer of '04, he has averaged just 26.27 and with only one 50 to his name - a 79 vs Kenya in the ICCT. This is exactly the problem with Laxman. IF you include a specialist batsman with no added value, there is more pressure on him to make a contribution with the bat. An average of 26.27 isn't good enough if you don't add any value to the side apart from your batting ability. Laxman doesn't bowl and he is a mediocre fielder by any standards...unsuited for any position outside the slip cordon. You can say that fielding isn't that important, but you will end up agreeing with me once you see him dropping catches in every match - like when he spilled FOUR catches in the TVS Cup final vs Australia in '03, or when he dropped Sangakkara in the '04 Asia Cup final, or when he dropped Kallis in the '02 Champions Trophy semi. You cannot afford to have such a liability in the team. If Mongia and Raina were scoring runs, i'd happily pick them ahead of Laxman...but like i said before, the current circumstances and the players' poor form dictate the inclusion of players like Laxman and Ganguly by default.

[The Master]

Re: Bring back poor VVS Laxman man even i think he should be back....better than the haram ki paidaish raina

[Anakin]

Re: Bring back poor VVS Laxman I say bring back Ganguly first, then if necessary laxman or Gambhir and other new players

[gator]

Re: Bring back poor VVS Laxman laxman and ganguly could not even score 50 in this ongoing ranji match..... what will they score in SA against pace under lights...

[Anakin]

Re: Bring back poor VVS Laxman

laxman and ganguly could not even score 50 in this ongoing ranji match..... what will they score in SA against pace under lights...

They have proven record of doing well overseas. And going by the trend, if you bring new players in places like RSA, mostly likely they won't do well and some may be overlooked unfairly in the future for that. Ganguly himself had to suffer like that.

[Rohan495]

Re: Bring back poor VVS Laxman Predator 05....Your argument is totally anti laxman. Everyone drops catches. Why does Laxman have to be under spotlight all the time though. Sure he has played 85 matches, but you got remember his efforts and the circumstances hes been in. Did you watch his matchwinning performance in Pakistan. Its players like Laxman who can win matches for you. If mongia raina were scorin runs you still couldnt compare them to Laxman, Laxman lacks support and is always downplayed like he means nothing, how the hell do you expect someone like that too perform on a regular basis. How do you expect a player to perform if he ALWAYS under pressure. Even if Tendulkar/Sehwag/Raina/Kaif make a mistake, and dont ever compare a batsmen of calibre to lads like Raina and Mongia. Its times when he is dropped like the world cup that affects mentally, what can he do about it. Sure his averages isnt that great. but the bottom is he scored runs against the best team in the world, do you think that would keep him going? explain

[Predator_05]

Re: Bring back poor VVS Laxman

Predator 05....Your argument is totally anti laxman. Everyone drops catches. Why does Laxman have to be under spotlight all the time though. Sure he has played 85 matches' date=' but you got remember his efforts and the circumstances hes been in. [/quote'] I am not "anti" anyone. I just call it like i see it. Everyone drops catches, but all the current members of the Indian cricket team can pull their weight in the field. The point is that Laxman tends to drop more catches than most others. Those instances i mentioned still rankle me to this day because India had a golden opportunity to win both those tournaments. If a batsman wants to retain his place in the ODI XI, he needs to maintain a certain level of performance over an extended period of time. Laxman got 85 matches - numerous opportunities to bat in the top 3, and that's more than enough to gauge a batsman's true potential. An average of 31 isn't good enough for a top 3 batsman, unless he has got a damn good strike rate to compensate for it. Laxman fails on both counts.

Did you watch his matchwinning performance in Pakistan. Its players like Laxman who can win matches for you. If mongia raina were scorin runs you still couldnt compare them to Laxman, Laxman lacks support and is always downplayed like he means nothing, how the hell do you expect someone like that too perform on a regular basis.

Yes, i watched every ball of that 100 he scored at Lahore. It's a pity that such knocks of his are so far and few in between. If they weren't, he would be an established member of the ODI XI and we wouldn't be having this discussion right now. Contrary to your perception, nobody is "downplaying" Laxman. He just failed to make the most of his opportunities. He was averaging well under 30 prior to the World Cup and therefore was justifiably dropped for Dinesh Mongia. One good season in '03/04 and he took his place in the side for granted...and averaged a substandard 26.27 in the following season. He was then rightfully dropped for the Bangladesh tour. Playing one or two blinders once in a blue moon don't count for anything if there is no consistency in performance.

How do you expect a player to perform if he ALWAYS under pressure.

LOL - arrey yaar, ALL Indian cricketers are BORN under pressure, right from the moment they make their debuts. Some can handle it, others can't. Ever heard of the proverb "the bigger they are, the harder they fall" ? Laxman was the most talented batsman to emerge out of India back in the 90's and once he took the world by storm after the '01 series vs Australia, people expected great things from him. He failed to live up to his billing. People like me are taken aback by how such an immensely talented batsman struggles to put together a string of decent scores. How do i expect a player to perform under pressure ? By working hard at his game, constantly striving for improvement, and most importantly, by staying hungry and playing every match as if it was his first - consigning his best performances to the history books. This is the reason why Azharuddin, Tendulkar, Ganguly, Dravid, Sehwag managed to succeed. Laxman was always on the same level as all those batsmen, but if he had half the work-ethic of say, a Rahul Dravid - he could have become an all-time great.

[Rohan495]

Re: Bring back poor VVS Laxman he is an all time great. those statistics are bullshit. but all batsmen go through lean patches. Who will ever forget his 281.All players are under pressure agreed. Laxman has always faced immense pressure even more than Sachin Tendulkar and Sehwag even if he they have not been scoring at all. He was wrongfully dropped for the world cup. Ask any legend of the game of the cricket. Maybe not India because usually anyone other than South India dont have support for Laxman. It just sucks when they dropped him for the Bangladesh one days they told him he needed to be "rested", they didnt tell him the truth, basically decieving him.He lacks MAJOR support compared to players like Dravid and Tendulkar and Yuvraj and Kaif. How can you say it is Justified to drop him for Dinesh Mongia. How the hell can you say that? If you say that your definitely a Laxman hater. Dinesh Mongia didnt do shit. Hes played 85 one days, like John Wright said in his book,Laxmans place in the team has always been under scrutiny, if the team doesnt back him up, how can a batsmen peform in such a manner. Your statistics can go take a height, honestly it doesnt matter about statistics, I can pull out lean patches for Tendulkar, Sehwag, Kaif, and even Dravid for that matter. Respect who Laxman is, whether your from North or South India, respect the fact that hes a matchwinner, and hes a must for the World Cup. The bottom line is hes a much more talented batsmen than Dinesh Mongia, Mohammad Kaif, and Suresh Raina

[Rohan495]

Re: Bring back poor VVS Laxman India will miss Laxman and Ganguly - Donald November 24, 2006 Irfan Pathan would have added an extra dimestion to the batting, says Allan Donald ? AFP The way South Africa went off the blocks was tremendous. If that's the standard they are going to set, it's going to be the trend in the Tests as well. India's batting collapse makes me believe they are a batter or two short on this trip. I can't believe that VVS Laxman has been left out, for he is a magnificent player. Sourav Ganguly is another batsman who must be sitting at home wondering what he has done wrong. We haven't seen much of Sourav in the last one year but he is a class player, and has been one for some time. Thats for you Predator

[Anakin]

Re: Bring back poor VVS Laxman When did Laxman face more pressure than SRT? SRT was the main batsman for a decade and still now it seems he's the main batsman in ODIs. Yes everyone has lean patches, but having 40+ avg against OZs and still just over 30 avg overall shows the problem very clearly. SRT and RD don't need "support" for their spots in the team, they deserve them by their performance. You might say that for Yuvi and Kaif, but please don't throw around names just for the sake of it.

[Rohan495]

Re: Bring back poor VVS Laxman I just used it as examples. You Dumbass. I didnt say anything about how great they are. I just said every player has lean patches.

[Rohan495]

Re: Bring back poor VVS Laxman It shows that he can step up against quality teams. Unlike some others on the team.

[Predator_05]

Re: Bring back poor VVS Laxman

he is an all time great. those statistics are bullshit.

Just the facts m8, nothing else. Feel free to dismiss my arguments as bullsh*t, but you can't refute the facts.

He was wrongfully dropped for the world cup. How can you say it is Justified to drop him for Dinesh Mongia. How the hell can you say that? If you say that your definitely a Laxman hater. Dinesh Mongia didnt do ****.

Dinesh Mongia had made matchwinning contributions in India's series victories in WI and against Zimbabwe at home. What did Laxman do in matches leading up to the World Cup ? I don't remember any meaningful contributions from him in those matches played prior to the World Cup. Just a few fifties against WI at home. Nothing else. Teams are picked primarily on performance and not on reputations.

Maybe not India because usually anyone other than South India dont have support for Laxman.

?? Don't give me this parochial BS. It was non-existent throughout the time Ganguly and Wright were in charge. I for one, don't give a rat's @ss whether a cricketer is from Punjab, Chattisgarh, Kerala or Jupiter as long as he can play. Cricketers earn respect based on performance and nothing else. South Indian cricketers, Laxman included - have always been revered all across India.

He lacks MAJOR support compared to players like Dravid and Tendulkar and Yuvraj and Kaif.

Possibly because Dravid and Tendulkar have been scoring prolifically ever since they made their debuts ? Yuvraj and Kaif are youngsters who deserve the longer rope, and seeing as how both of them have won India plenty of ODI's there can't be any doubt as to how valuable they are to the side. Can't say the same for Laxman.

I can pull out lean patches for Tendulkar, Sehwag, Kaif, and even Dravid for that matter.

Sure, but i don't see how you can compare these batsmen's lean patches to someone like Laxman who has had a lean ODI CAREER.

Respect who Laxman is, whether your from North or South India, respect the fact that hes a matchwinner, and hes a must for the World Cup. The bottom line is hes a much more talented batsmen than Dinesh Mongia, Mohammad Kaif, and Suresh Raina

I have already said that he is the most talented batsman to have emerged from India in the last decade. Is that enough respect for you ? I've also said that i expect to see Laxman back in the ODI side sometime in the near-future. I don't see why you bother bringing that up time and again, since we were discussing Laxman's credentials as an ODI batsman and not debating whether he deserves a place in the current ODI XI ?

[Predator_05]

Re: Bring back poor VVS Laxman

You Dumbass.

Come on m8, there is no need for that kind of name-calling. You can defend your stance just as passionately and provocatively without resorting to personal slurs.

[yoda]

Re: Bring back poor VVS Laxman Laxy's problem is that he is from a region of India where you got to be a top performer non-stop to get to stay in the team. Only the Dravids and Kumbles can survive from there. If a facking Mohammad Kaif can outlast Laxman, obviously something's gotta be wrong.

[Predator_05]

Re: Bring back poor VVS Laxman

Laxy's problem is that he is from a region of India where you got to be a top performer non-stop to get to stay in the team. Only the Dravids and Kumbles can survive from there. If a facking Mohammad Kaif can outlast Laxman, obviously something's gotta be wrong.

Oh please. Do you seriously believe that he gets a hard deal SOLELY because of the fact that he happens to be a Hyderabadi ? That is just laughable !

[yoda]

Re: Bring back poor VVS Laxman I am comfortable in stating that if he were from UP he prolly would have lasted longer.