Laxman confident of turnaround

VVS Laxman, who will lead the Indian side in the tour game against Rest of South Africa at Potchefstroom, was confident that India had the match-winners within the ranks to engineer a reversal of fortune when the Test series starts in Johannesburg on December 15. And he reckoned that India could take inspiration from the tour of Australia in 2003-04 and the one to West Indies earlier this year as they seek to set right an appalling record of no Test wins on South African soil.

"The potential we have is pretty amazing," he said, speaking to the media after a three-hour-long practice session. "We have done well overseas in Test cricket in the last two to three years. If we continue to concentrate on the positives and play to our potential, I believe we can do well here."

The batting was desperately disappointing in the one-day series, with Laxman's lone outing at Centurion lasting one delivery, and he stressed on the need to see off the new ball. "It's very important to get good starts," he said. "Every time we have, we have made scores in the region of 350-400. It's important to have a good opening partnership because it can then lay the foundation for the other batsmen to build on. That's the key."

According to him, the nature of the international schedule meant that lack of preparation was no longer a valid excuse, and he was keen to see what sort of plans South Africa's five-pronged pace attack would implement at the start of the series. "It will be interesting to see how they go about their job," he said. "Some of our players are good against the short ball and have done well on bouncy tracks in the past. I'm sure they will have different plans for different batsmen."

He was more than happy to bat anywhere in the middle order, and emphasised that Rahul Dravid would bat at No.3, if fit, even though it was also his favourite position. As for his preparation for such an arduous tour, he said: "I have lots of experience of playing here. I've been here in 1996 and 2001. Before coming here, I practiced a lot on cement wickets and against the bowling machine to simulate pace and bounce."

In the unlikely event of Dravid failing to recover in time for the Johannesburg Test, Laxman, just appointed vice-captain in place of Virender Sehwag, would lead the side. But when asked about the prospect, the expression on his face was one of bemusement more than anything else. "I'm hoping that Rahul does play, and I'm sure he will," he said. "He has been the captain for the last one-and-a-half years or so, and he's a very, very important batsman for the team. I'm hoping and praying that he plays the first Test."

According to him, nothing had changed with his ascension to the vice-captain's job. "Even when I was not the vice-captain, I tried and helped the team management," he said. "As a senior player, you're always looking to give your inputs. It won't be any different this time."

Sourav Ganguly joined his team-mates on Tuesday morning, and Laxman was sure that his arrival would further bolster the team's confidence. "Sourav's return will definitely be good for the team," he said. "He has been a tremendous player. We all have tremendous respect for him. This is not an individual game. We are looking for contributions from everyone, and Sourav is no exception. He has been a tremendous contributor for India in the past."

In his view, another old stager, Anil Kumble, would also have a pivotal role to play, even on pitches that would suit the seam bowlers more than the slower ones. "In the last two to three years, he has been the man," said Laxman. "He has been a match-winner abroad as well. He was the highest wicket-taker in the West Indies, and in Australia as well before that. He's a tremendous performer and the most experienced bowler in our line-up as well. Everyone looks up to him."

Though he wished to focus solely on the upcoming Test matches for the moment, Laxman said that being recalled to the one-day side had delighted him. When he was initially not included in the squad, the chairman of selectors had picked on his fitness, but Laxman was in no mood to take potshots at anyone. "I admit I'm not the quickest in the country; there's no doubt about that. But I have worked a lot on my fitness, and I'm improving day by day."

He brushed off suggestions of unfair treatment, giving the impression of a man who believes that the past is best left behind. "I never think about that," he said. "I go out and do my best. Representing the country is a great opportunity, and not many get the chance to play for India. I have played some 77 Tests and 80 ODIs, and being an optimist, I always look at the positives."

He also denied suggestions that his relationship with Greg Chappell, the coach, was an uneasy one. "He's always been a great advisor as far as batting is concerned," said Laxman. "He has helped me a lot, especially in Tests because I haven't played much one-day cricket of late. The experience he has is amazing. He has given great inputs and pointed out some fine adjustments in technique that only he could do."

The 4-0 thrashing in the one-day series have caused considerable angst amongst the team's passionate supporters, and few expect a miraculous turnaround in the Test arena. Laxman, however, reckoned that reduced expectations, or heightened ones, wouldn't play any part in the team's performance. "There will be expectations from the public, but there are expectations within the team too, and it will be great if we can fulfill that," he said. "We have our own expectations, to win the Test series here, and we will try to achieve them."

On a beautiful sunlit day when several of the old guard were united, everything appeared possible. Reality will kick in on Thursday, when Morne Morkel and company get the ball to rear up at the throat. Given his peerless record on bouncy pitches in Australia, India's hopes could well depend on how well Laxman walks the measured talk.