“281 was definitely a very memorable knock and a match for me, that Kolkata Test match and the series itself. But scoring 281 was not a surprise for me. It was 167 that changed my career. That century was a turning point of my life. It removed all doubts and apprehensions from my mind.”
VVS Laxman, at the ceremony of his Autobiography release, handpicked his maiden century against Australia at Sydney in 2000 as the best of the lot out of his 17 Test tons.
India tour of Australia, 1999–2000.
Indian Cricket was in total disarray those days. With no fixed openers, no permanent captain and not many effective bowlers in the squad, it was a testing time for players as well as fans. Also this series was probably the final chapter of Sachin's horrible career as a captain of the side.
First and second tests were totally one sided affairs with winning numbers like 285 and 180 runs for Australia.
Third test's defeat figure was even worse for India, but this match witnessed the rise of a Batsman who went on to not only challenge that invincibility of Australian team but, a year later, also break their longest winning streak, and eventually mark himself as the nightmare for Australian Cricket in the next decade.
3rd Test, Sydney, 2–4 January, 2000.
India was behind by 0–2 and there was no way that a clean sweep could have been avoided. Against Australia back then, a clean sweep used to be an usual story.
Sachin won the toss, elected to bat, and Indian batting line up was folded on 150 before tea as McGrath took 5 and Brett Lee scalped 4. They simply toyed with Indian Batsmen.
A bowling line up of McGrath, Fleming, Brett Lee and Shane Warne. All on their peak. Gosh!
In a reply, Langer thrashed a double century and Ponting scored 141. It was difficult to figure out that which part of Indian's display was worse, Batting or bowling. Aussies declared on 552/5.
On day 3, an experimental opening pair of MSK Prasad and VVS stepped out in the middle with a gigantic task of climbing to 402 to save an inning defeat.
And If I say that VVS test career looked like this, you might have a hard time to believe it.
It was itself a miracle that he made into 17th test despite a disappointing career like this. Seclectors had trusted him for one more time. Probably a last chance. And how had he delivered so far in the series? — 41, 0, 5, 1, 7. Such Sadness!
He was out there for the final time in the series. One more failure meant a definite drop from the team and The end of VVS Laxman.
VVS took the guard while Glen McGrath stretched his arm.
And on air was the man himself, Tony Greig.
Try to read it in his voice.
Have a look at those slips. They are absolutely everywhere. Huge slip cordern. Two—four—six men behind the wicket there. Seven if you include the wicket-keeper.
Glen McGrath about to get this inning underway.
And what does he do?
Smacks one into the turf straight away that goes whistling over the head of the batsman.
So, a bouncer says Good Afternoon to India!
Tony Greig: Such a pleasure to ears!
In his very next over, McGrath fired another bouncer which thwacked right into the flush of jaw-bone of VVS. He fell on the ground. Scary stuff!
McGrath started from where he had left it in the first inning. Firstly he sent MSK Prasad back to the pavilion and then produced a beauty to dismiss Dravid on duck. Worse came in the very next over when Sachin edged off Fleming.
Within no matter of time, India was reeling on 33–3. Two stars of Indian batting line up were already gone. Australia's pacers were looking frightening.
But let me tell you the missing point here. Out of those 33 runs, VVS contribution was 22 runs. That was a sign of beginning of a remarkable inning.
Dada joined him and a little resilience began.
VVS started flourishing his wristy stroke play that forced the world to sit back, forget the inevitable outcome and enjoy a remarkable piece of batsmanship.
Score was 76 and he had already completed his half century. He was dealing into boundaries and, believe me, it wasn't slogging. If you know even a bit about him then you must know that a slog from him is unimaginable.
It was a blend of elegance and ruthlessness. He hit Brett Lee for 4 fours in a single over. Lee was treated like never before.
Whether it was his kneeling-down-head-still cover drives, or square drives, or a flick against a lightning yorker from Brett Lee, or an inside out off Warne's snake-like delivery, or a fierce pull off McGrath's attempted bouncer, VVS was simply making the immensely difficult look ludicrously simple. Every shot of him looked as lazy as it was full of poise and audacity.
Dada got dismissed on 25 after a partnership of 68. Minutes later Kanitkar fell.
Thanks to Anil Kumble, who showed some resistance out there. By scoring 15, Kumble had bought enough time for VVS. They added 89 together with VVS scoring more than 70 out of it.
It was 161–5. He leg-glanced a Brett Lee delivery and brought his first international century.
100 out of 161. Wow!
100 runs, 114 balls, 16 Fours — By a 25 years old struggler with an average of 23 and no taste of an international century before — in the Aussies own yard — against a demon attack— in such authoritarian manner — on a day when other Giants had already surrendered,
It was the dawn of Very Very Special Laxman.
It didn't matter whether it was an Indian or an Aussie or any other countryman, every single person in the stadium rose on their feet, lifted their hands and clapped for a courageous, gorgeous and remarkable piece of batsmanship.
So did the Master himself.
Even after his century, wicket kept tumbling at the other end, but his classy show remained on course. Shane Warne was being mercilessly thrashed. When he completed his 150, he had hit 25 fours.
It was 258–8 as Brett Lee delivered an out-swinger which Laxman snicked to Gilchrist and ended a magnificent inning. Out of a total of 258, he scored 167 off 194 balls with 27 boundaries of absolute masterclass in an extreme adversity. An over later, India was all out for 261.
One can fancy the magnificence of VVS knock by the fact that Ganguly's 25 was the second highest individual score of Indian inning. Laxman single-handedly sent the Mighty Australians on a leather hunt.
The moment he began walking away from the crease, Brett Lee called him from behind to give him a warm applause and regards.
On the eve of 4th January 2000, under the setting Sun, amidst standing ovations and a huge cheer, The Newly born VVS Laxman walked back to the pavilion,
And Sir Richie Benaud stated on the air,
He has done a terrific job for Indian Cricket.
Richie had absolutely no hell of an idea that how rightly he had said it. This inning of VVS not only saved a place for him in Indian team, it also injected a belief in him that he could perform at the highest level of Cricket. He couldn't save the clean sweep that day but, just a year later, he played The Most Famous Knock of Indian Cricket history at the Eden Garden. Without Kolkata test, 2001, God knows where Indian Cricket would have been.
Without 167, VVS Laxman would not have existed, 281 would not have happened and there was no revolution in Indian Cricket.
There is a reason he rates 167 higher than 281 and he is utterly right about it.
