the feat of ever reliable VVS Laxman

The second day’s play was spoilt by rain and WI were 98/5.  On the first day, during his good innings Laxman achieved a personal landmark – completing 8000 runs in Test Cricket – an elite club of 22 cricketers with 4 Indians in that.   He is in the exalted company of Sachin, Ponting, Dravid, Lara, Kallis, Border, Steve Waugh, Gavaskar, mahela Jayawardene, Chanderpaul, Gooch, Miandad, Inzam ul haq, Hayden,  Vivian Richards, Alec Stewart, Sangakkara, Gower, Boycott, Sobers, Mark Waugh – Virender Sehwag needs another 304 to join this list.  The fastest to get there was Sangakkara in 152 innings, Sachin took 154 – Laxman in his 201 innings.  

It must be remembered that Laxman has held the innings together on treacherous fields and was instrumental in recent wins at Mohali [where he had Ishant as partner] and at Colombo.  Laxman has thrown away his good starts many a times and consistency was never his forte in his early years – reliability has been.  Remember that he bats low down the order and has the tail for company most times.  Yet he has some record partnership including the epic one at Kolkatta against Aussies which turned the fortunes of India in Tests.  

After his debut in Ahmedabad against SA in 1996-97, Laxman’s first ton came in Australia in 2000.  A good 167 in a losing cause.  His epic 281 at Eden Garden will ever be remembered as it was instrumental in victory from a no-hope situation.  He has always reserved his best performance for Australia

He has remained an exceptionally nice person performing for the team cause all the time.   Here is the statistics of the Indians in that 8000 club

	Career Average				At 8000 landmark
Batsman	Tests/Inn	Runs	Avg	100/50	Inns	Avg	100/50
Sachin	177/290	14692	56.94	51/59	154	57.58	29/32
Dravid	152/262	12220	52.44	32/59	158	57.16	20/39
Gavaskar	125/214	10122	51.12	34/45	166	52.39	29/35
Laxman	122/201	8000	47.05	16/50	201	47.05	16/50

Even in a tribute to Laxman, one has to admire Sachin whose towering performance remains unparalleled.  In  177 Tests (290 innings) he has made 14692 runs with an average of 56.94 with 51 centuries and 59 half centuries.  In One dayers, he is perched exceptionally on top with 18111 runs from 453 matches / 442 innings – averaging 45.16 – 48 tons – 95 fifties and strike rate of 86.32.  Amazing indeed.

Regards – S. Sampathkumar.