Remembering VVS. Laxman...

[ludhianvi]

While I recall his great slip catching, I just cant stop and think how poorly he plays with the tail.

[Ram]

An absolute all-time test great, his game was never cut out for the shorter forms of the game. I think for a while, he was living in denial and his ego wouldnt let him reconcile with that fact, but by now he must have put that regret to rest. If there was an award for THE most under-rated/under- celebrated batsman of this decade so far, VVS would have been its winner many times over. The sheer number of times he has bailed out our team from tough positions would put most other leading test batsmen of the world to shame.

[Temujin Khaghan]

^what you dont know about Arjun Yadav?

woh ek goonda.

[Rohan495]

yea i understand he is 34 but he should be given a farewell ODI series, its unfair to see Dravid coming back time and time again who is 36. People wrote Laxman off that he cant play in the t20 format, but t20 is all about stroke play. Look at what Laxman did in England country smashed over 150 runs in the 2020 format because he was an opener. Why cant Gilly understand that the chargers were Laxmans team and let him open, Laxman would be a great opener in the t20 format. So regardless of what people say like Laxman is not fit to play t20 cricket like Afridi need to keep their mouth shut as far as average and class is concerned Afridi has no right to talk sh*t.

[mhr123]

The best thing which i adore in VVS is , the better the opponent the better his performance... Aussies were pussies in front of him and there was a stage were VVS was feared by the opponents more than SRT. Some of his straight drives would even make SRT proud. And i agree that he was not dealt properly by the selectors, wereas he was a good performer even in ODI's . Even once a stage had come were he had to fight for a spot in Indian Test team. I saw an interview of Ganguly were he was praising VVS... "he said whenever i used to pick up the newspaper i used to see VVS has scored a double centry , a big century at the domestic curcuit. So i had no other option but to stick my nose and pick him up and he never let me down after that". Some of his shots had more classy looks than SRT (:--D) .. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nb7OTTqomnM&NR=1&feature=fvwp]YouTube - VVS Laxman vs Australia[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I90AsBGRn7c]YouTube - V.V.S Laxman - 167 vs Australia ' 99 - Sydney[/ame]

[nikred]

^^^what the eff is that video? Was the match played in 1899? :haha:

[Sooda]

That 167 was a knock of genius, opening the batting and we got d!icked on he was the only one that stood up to them

[nikred]

That 167 was a knock of genius' date=' opening the batting and we got d!icked on he was the only one that stood up to them[/quote'] I remember watching that match live. If I am not wrong we still managed to lose that match pretty badly, something like an innings defeat and lots of runs.

[graphic23]

I think we drew that test match at Sydney.

[Mr. Wicket]

If you're talking about the game in '00, no we didn't graphic, we got killed. Mauled.

[Gambit]

If Laxman was a biscuit, he would be pure magic. The most underrated and under appreciated Indian batsman of all time. Love him to death.

[graphic23]

If you're talking about the game in '00' date=' no we didn't graphic, we got killed. Mauled.[/quote'] Yeah, you're right. http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63867.html - For some reason, I thought we drew it. :(( We got pwned.

[Mr. Wicket]

:(( We got pwned.

Not unlike you a couple of posts ago. :aetsch: Gambit, have you expressed that opinion in front of Gambler/Jasoos? :D I remember some of the classic back-and-forth posts between Rahul Nair and Gambler on the old boards over VVS...

[Sooda]

Gambler hated VVSL with a passion; he was hilarious though when he went on his rants

[sandeep]

where's Rahul these days? still around?

[nikred]

I remember watching that match live. If I am not wrong we still managed to lose that match pretty badly' date=' something like an innings defeat and lots of runs.[/quote']

Yeah' date=' you're right. [url']http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63867.html - For some reason, I thought we drew it. :(( We got pwned.

Not bad, I do remember this right. Unbelievable its 10 years ago feels like couple of years ago. :blink:

[Mamu]

There has been better top orders, our own top 7 with Ganguly in there and not Yuv, even if we had no one half decent to open with Sehwag. And WIndian, Aussie teams of the past have had great top orders The point re: Laxman is a good one though. The guy is class. A good case can be made to say hes the 5th best Indian test bat ever (SRT, SG, RD, VS being top 4) An underrated ODI batter as well, his centuries in the VB series of 04 were real class, and then when we toured Pak he scored another gem in one of the matches, remembering watchingthat.

5th best? I am not sure old timers will agree with you. They will want GRV in there, yes despite his poor average. Laxman is a good batsman, but to me he is a guy who never played to his potential and never justified his talent level. He could have achieved much much more than what his number indicate, but he did not.

[Sooda]

Laxman is a good batsman, but to me he is a guy who never played to his potential and never justified his talent level. He could have achieved much much more than what his number indicate, but he did not.

That holds true FAR more in Vishys case than VVSLs. Gavaskar himself said Vish was more talented than him, and he probably was which is saying something. Theyre actually quite similar in that theyre both at their best when the team is in trouble VVS was probably more consistent- and the big innings he has under his belt make him a front runner for the 5th best bat spot. I know Vish has some great innings- chasing 400+ against the WI for instance, so its a close one that debate. The other one is Hazare of course, you dont score two centuries in a match agasint Lindwall Miller without being pretty good. And Amarnath potentially for his runs against great fast bowlers

[OriginalCopy]

That holds true FAR more in Vishys case than VVSLs. Gavaskar himself said Vish was more talented than him' date= and he probably was which is saying something. Theyre actually quite similar in that theyre both at their best when the team is in trouble VVS was probably more consistent- and the big innings he has under his belt make him a front runner for the 5th best bat spot. I know Vish has some great innings- chasing 400+ against the WI for instance, so its a close one that debate. The other one is Hazare of course, you dont score two centuries in a match agasint Lindwall Miller without being pretty good. And Amarnath potentially for his runs against great fast bowlers

Gavaskar was more than flattering in his praise for his brother-in-law. I have had the privilege to watch both play in their prime, and Gavaskar was waaaaaayyy more classy overall than Vishy could ever be. Granted that Vishy played the off side shots with more style, more so the square cut, however as an overall package I would choose Gavaskar to bat for my life anyday AND as a classier batsman.

[Lord]

I dont think VVS is 5th best indian batsmen ever.even Vengarkar would have stronger case