VVS Laxman over the years was the man to look forward to when the team was down and out. He was the one who thrived under pressure. When the going was tough, he would pull out something magical. Laxman became synonyms to grit, determination and fight. He had used his bat like a magic wand and left the bowlers, fielders and the spectators gasping at his pure magic. He was the one who played when everyone faltered. When the entire team was back in the hut, worried there was Laxman with nerves of steel rallying with tail-enders and elegantly bailing the team out of any situation.
But this time in Australia, his magic wand seems to have lost the charm. It has not cast any magic spell. It has remained really quiet even when the situation cried for something special. Whether it was Melbourne, Sydney or Perth the Laxman we knew would have played one of his typical magician-like innings. In all the three test matches, Laxman arrived at a platform which used to get the best out of him. But, in all three matches, he left the stage without performing any famous rescue act. Calm, composed, gritty, determined and yet so stylish is Laxman we all know. He was the one had blended the qualities stylish and grit which were otherwise thought separate. In this series, though he has shown none of those qualities.
The lack of runs doesn't worry me as much as the fact that the Laxman-like qualities are not being seen on this tour. The question that arises is does Laxman now not have the same hunger to perform and get his team out of the most precarious situation. Is he eating away the time of some youngster like Rohit Sharma to play in foreign conditions? Is it time for him to make way for the young blood?
If we keep all our emotions attached to Laxman aside, sadly the answer we arrive at to all the above is affirmative. As Siddharth Monga in his piece at Cricinfo(http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia-v-india-2011/content/current/story/549433.html) says, we saw a very un-Laxman innings today. He has neither been at his attractive best nor has he been in his gritty and resolute avatar. The Laxman-ness in him seems to have vanished in this tour. Even in the worst of forms, grit and the hunger to stay at the crease was always a feature of Laxman.
The problem for Laxman is the fact that despite his amazing ability, age is not in his favour and he has youngsters breathing under his nose to get a spot in the team. It may seem unfair to him that just after one bad series we have all these comments about Laxman, but that is how the sport is. After sportsman arrives at an age which is okay for retirement and there are a talented bunch of youngsters waiting for a turn, then one bad series is enough for the youngsters to get a chance. If Laxman, was three years younger, it would have been worth investing some more time on him to allow him to get back into form. The fact that he 37 and is at the fag end of his test career, it is not worth waiting for him to get back the Laxman-ness.
As harsh it seems, it is about time Rohit Sharma steps into the boots of VVS. It is time for the baton to be passed. It is time for the old to make way for the new.
you are right adithya, totally agree with you.. Laxman , who used be the nightmare in australian bowlers' dreams, is looking distant from his form.
ReplyDeleteBtw, good post adi, keep blogging.. :)
Probably, in the hindsight, England was great time for the famed Indian line up to give way to frsh legs.
ReplyDeleteAnd as some might probably say, the old head is no longer on the feisty shoulders.
ReplyDeleteI dare say, if summum bonum is to be achieved, it would be only prudent on his part, and obviously the selectors' part, to pave way for youngsters.
Here, I solemnly bid adieu to Laxman, a fine cricketer of his time and a most agreeable Old School Boy.