BBC SPORT | Cricket | England | Calcutta all over again



By Martin Gough BBC Sport Online

VVS Laxman is confident he can reproduce the form that brought his magnificent 281 against Australia to lead India to their first Test series win outside the subcontient since 1986.

Just one of a plethora of talented middle-order men since his debut in 1996/97, Laxman struggled to find a spot alongside perennials Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid.

He suffered droppings, recalls and moves around the order, playing just 21 Tests in five years.

If I can do it once against the best in the world then I can do it again

VVS Laxman

But he finally cemented a spot in Calcutta a year ago with what has now been acknowledged as the finest ever Indian batting performance.

Too often, batting records are broken in matches of no consequence, conditions leading to high scores and bore draws, as with Sunil Gavaskar's Indian record 236 against West Indies in 1983/84.

But Laxman's 281 could not have come in more fitting circumstances, as he saved the follow-on and helped add 384 runs besides

That set up spinner Harbhajan Singh to end Australia's record winning streak, bowling Steve Waugh's all-conquering side out 171 runs short, and turning the series on its head.

VVS Laxman celebrates his century
Laxman insists there is no extra pressure after the innings
In the process, Laxman moved past Gavaskar's mark and notched up the highest Test score on Indian soil, surpassing West Indian Rohan Kanhai's 256 way back in 1958.

"It was a great feeling beating a legend's record," said Laxman, "but winning the Test was more important."

"It was one of the most memorable Tests ever as far as Indian cricket is concerned."

On Tuesday, Laxman's innings was judged better than Kapil Dev's World Cup 175 against Zimbabwe in 1983 and Gundappa Vishwanath's 97 in a low-scoring victory over the West Indies in 1975.

Kapil Dev named India's best

"Let's hope he doesn't do it again on Thursday," said England captain Nasser Hussain as he announced the decision at the Wisden Cricket Century awards.

Pressure

Until recently, though, Laxman has struggled even to come close, and he is still only on the fringes of the one-day side.

With a wristy style often compared to Mohammad Azharuddin, he too often fell to concentration lapses having played himself in.

His first century since Calcutta came just two months ago, but he backed it up with four half-centuries in an impressive tour of the Caribbean.

Laxman factfile

Born: 1 Nov 1974, Hyderabad

Tests: 35
Runs: 2190
High: 281
Ave: 41.32

ODIs: 39
Runs: 873
High: 101
Ave: 24.94

Has he felt any extra pressure since the innings?

"Definitely not. It's good that people expect me to contribute consistently."

"Such a performance is a once in a lifetime thing. There's no pressure but additional motivation.

"If I can do it once against the best in the world then I can do it again."

After India's NatWest Series win, Laxman believes the omens are good for India to repeat their series victory in England in 1986 and he singles this Thursday out as being key.

"We've got a good opportunity after winning the Lord's final two win a Test series abroad.

"The first day of a four-Test series is really important so I'll go out and give it my best."

England know exactly what Laxman's best is; and Australia will tell them that stopping him may not be easy.