Indian news round-up

Former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar, whose record of the highest individual Test score by an Indian was bettered by VVS Laxman on Wednesday congratulated the latter's effort and hoped "his will just be the first of many such knocks from Laxman."

In a press release from Mumbai, Gavaskar said "My congratulations to Laxman for scoring an unbeaten 275 on the fourth day of the Kolkata Test and I am very happy for him because of the circumstances under which the record came about."

Speaking about the record, Gavaskar felt "For a country that has been playing Test cricket for close to seven decades, 236 was a pretty poor highest individual score especially with players from other countries scoring highest individual scores nearer the triple century mark despite their countries getting Test status decades later." Gavaskar addded "It is for this reason I had been virtually pleading for someone to go past it and carry on to many more individual milestones."

Australian coach John Buchanan said in Kolkata soon after the fourth day's play that it was the toughest day's play he had in his coaching career. India, down by an innings, were led by VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid to frustrate the Australians by forging a record partnership.

Buchanan said "The Indians had three or four good partnerships including the massive one for the fifth wicket which has put them in the driver's seat." He added "they were fragile in the first Test. They were also fragile at the Eden. It was mainly the effort of one player (Laxman) who played a long innings and saved the game."

Speaking of the feared Australian bowling attack who failed to take a single wicket during the day, he said "they stuck to their task. That they did not succeed is a different matter."

The president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), AC Muthiah announced cash awards for VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid and Harbhajan Singh for their individual feats during the second Test against Australia in Kolkata.

Speaking to Press Trust of India in Chennai on Thursday, Muthiah said that Laxman who notched up the highest individual score by an Indian would be awarded Rs three lakhs while Harbhajan would be awarded Rs. two lakhs for his hat-trick. He said that Dravid, who in the company of Laxman set a record partnership of 376 for the fifth wicket would be richer by Rs.1.50 lakh.

Meanwhile the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu in a press release hailed the exploits of VSS Laxman. While congratulating the effort, Naidu said "Andhra Pradesh is particularly proud of Laxman."