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VVS Laxman

Magic in his wrists

VVS Laxman made his debut in 1996 against South Africa in Ahmedabad. He made his mark immediately as an opener with 51 in the second innings
VVS Laxman made his debut in 1996 against South Africa in Ahmedabad. He made his mark immediately as an opener with 51 in the second innings•Sajal Mukerjee/ESPNcricinfo Ltd
A reasonable tour of West Indies - where he scored two half-centuries in four Tests - was followed by a home series against Australia. He fell just five short of a maiden century at Eden Gardens, a venue he would make his own two years later
A reasonable tour of West Indies - where he scored two half-centuries in four Tests - was followed by a home series against Australia. He fell just five short of a maiden century at Eden Gardens, a venue he would make his own two years later•Getty Images
After opening in 13 of his first 18 Tests, he became a mainstay of the Indian middle order, batting at No. 6, from November 2000 against Zimbabwe
After opening in 13 of his first 18 Tests, he became a mainstay of the Indian middle order, batting at No. 6, from November 2000 against Zimbabwe •ESPNcricinfo Ltd
They were following on to Australia's 445 when Laxman, pushed up the order after top scoring in the first innings, came in at 52 for 1
They were following on to Australia's 445 when Laxman, pushed up the order after top scoring in the first innings, came in at 52 for 1•AFP
By the end of day three Laxman had got his second century and given India a slender lead
By the end of day three Laxman had got his second century and given India a slender lead•Arko Datta/AFP
Two more half-centuries followed in Chennai as India regained the Border-Gavaskar trophy
Two more half-centuries followed in Chennai as India regained the Border-Gavaskar trophy•Getty Images
The series was Laxman's first overseas success
The series was Laxman's first overseas success•Paul McGregor/ESPNcricinfo Ltd
He did better against New Zealand at home, scoring two half-centuries and a hundred in a drawn series
He did better against New Zealand at home, scoring two half-centuries and a hundred in a drawn series•AFP
Another century in Sydney as India retained the Border-Gavaskar trophy by drawing the series 1-1
Another century in Sydney as India retained the Border-Gavaskar trophy by drawing the series 1-1•Nick Laham/Getty Images
A half-century and a hundred against Pakistan in the next series ...
A half-century and a hundred against Pakistan in the next series ...•AFP
Back to making Australian bowlers feel wretched and helpless: Laxman scored his second double-hundred and added 278 with Gautam Gambhir in the Delhi Test in 2008
Back to making Australian bowlers feel wretched and helpless: Laxman scored his second double-hundred and added 278 with Gautam Gambhir in the Delhi Test in 2008 •AFP
His performance got him picked for the tour of South Africa early next year. But his top score in the two Tests was just 35
His performance got him picked for the tour of South Africa early next year. But his top score in the two Tests was just 35•Getty Images
Another half-century at the venue against Pakistan in the Asian Test Championship
Another half-century at the venue against Pakistan in the Asian Test Championship •Sajal Mukerjee/ESPNcricinfo Ltd
Australia had had just about enough of Laxman when they toured India in March 2001
Australia had had just about enough of Laxman when they toured India in March 2001•Raveendran/Getty Images
The agony was writ large on the faces of the Australian bowlers as Laxman continued to frustrate them
The agony was writ large on the faces of the Australian bowlers as Laxman continued to frustrate them •AFP
On day four he went past Sunil Gavaskar's 236 to become the highest individual run-scorer for India
On day four he went past Sunil Gavaskar's 236 to become the highest individual run-scorer for India•AFP
He was India's top run-getter with 474 runs at 79 in the tour of West Indies in 2002
He was India's top run-getter with 474 runs at 79 in the tour of West Indies in 2002•Paul McGregor/ESPNcricinfo Ltd
Another big one in Kolkata - this time an unbeaten 154 against West Indies in a drawn affair
Another big one in Kolkata - this time an unbeaten 154 against West Indies in a drawn affair•ESPNcricinfo Ltd
He took his form to Australia in what was an Indian summer of 2003 in the country
He took his form to Australia in what was an Indian summer of 2003 in the country•Hamish Blair/Getty Images
Thereafter a lean patch followed and his next century against major opposition came 18 Tests later
Thereafter a lean patch followed and his next century against major opposition came 18 Tests later•AFP
... had him warmed up for another assault on Australia. But this time it was less brutal with only a hundred and a fifty in four Tests
... had him warmed up for another assault on Australia. But this time it was less brutal with only a hundred and a fifty in four Tests•Getty Images
With that he became the second Indian batsmen after Sachin Tendulkar to score more than 2000 runs against the Australians
With that he became the second Indian batsmen after Sachin Tendulkar to score more than 2000 runs against the Australians•AFP
Laxman looked at ease against Australia even in their own backyard as he scored his maiden century - his first of six against the opposition - in a lost cause in Sydney in January 2000
Laxman looked at ease against Australia even in their own backyard as he scored his maiden century - his first of six against the opposition - in a lost cause in Sydney in January 2000•Getty Images
India had conceded a series lead going in to the second Test in Kolkata
India had conceded a series lead going in to the second Test in Kolkata•AFP
VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid walk back after their unbeaten 357-run stand
VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid walk back after their unbeaten 357-run stand•AFP
He eventually scored 281 in the historic win and became Australia's nemesis thereafter
He eventually scored 281 in the historic win and became Australia's nemesis thereafter•AFP
In his first appearance at Lord's, Laxman scored 74 in the second innings
In his first appearance at Lord's, Laxman scored 74 in the second innings •Paul McGregor/ESPNcricinfo Ltd
But that was immediately followed by his first and only king pair in Tests - in the first match in Wellington
But that was immediately followed by his first and only king pair in Tests - in the first match in Wellington•Getty Images
The Dravid and Laxman enterprise pulled off another glorious win from potential defeat in Adelaide. This time Laxman's was the side act with 148
The Dravid and Laxman enterprise pulled off another glorious win from potential defeat in Adelaide. This time Laxman's was the side act with 148•William West/AFP/Getty Images
He scored 54 in India's Test win at Trent Bridge in 2007
He scored 54 in India's Test win at Trent Bridge in 2007•Getty Images
In the 2008 tour to Sri Lanka, he was troubled by Ajantha Mendis, the mystery spinner, more than any other Indian batsman, being dismissed by the bowler five out of six times
In the 2008 tour to Sri Lanka, he was troubled by Ajantha Mendis, the mystery spinner, more than any other Indian batsman, being dismissed by the bowler five out of six times•AFP
In one of his last lone acts, Laxman made a match-winning 96 in the second innings of the Durban Test against South Africa in December 2010. It was the only fifty of the game; the next-highest score by an India batsman was Laxman's 38 in the first innings
In one of his last lone acts, Laxman made a match-winning 96 in the second innings of the Durban Test against South Africa in December 2010. It was the only fifty of the game; the next-highest score by an India batsman was Laxman's 38 in the first innings•Associated Press