12 Apr 2008 13:06:07

StraightDrive

VVS Laxman is Arguably the best bad pitch batsman from India - Cricinfo

A 50+ in Ahmedabad vs SA in the 90s that India won, another 69 in Mumbai vs Australia that India won comes to mind. Hopefully Laxman scores another 50+ in the second innings at Kanpur for an Indian win. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/indvrsa/content/current/story/346120.html India v South Africa, 3rd Test, Kanpur, 2nd day Laxman and Ganguly master a meanie Sidharth Monga in Kanpur April 12, 2008 Bob Dylan could well have written this for the famed Indian batting after the first session in Ahmedabad: "And nobody has ever taught you how to live out on the street/ And now you find out you're gonna have to get used to it." If ever there was a mean street, the track at the Green Park was. Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn, bowling at high speed and getting variable bounce, were one Mean Street Posse, but two Indian batsmen did get used to living there all right. The beauty with bad pitches is that they usually bring out the best in Laxman. The little adjustments he makes, the way it seems he is batting on one pitch and his partner on another, is an education on how to bat on difficult surfaces. His shots remain beautiful to watch, and the changes he makes are so subtle that you don't even notice he has altered his approach. In his stance today, he crouched fractionally more than usual, negating the low bounce. His stance was a bit more open, making sure he didn't fall over when he came onto the front foot. That conscious effort to not fall over resulted in his only boundary that was not pretty - an outside edge off Morne Morkel early in his innings. To Paul Harris his approach was quite unusual. Instead of playing the ball as late as possible, Laxman consistently kept coming forward, looking to play inside-out from the rough, something he has successfully done in the past against Shane Warne. That Steyn didn't show variations in pace meant Laxman could be sure of himself. The wrists ensured he kept the ball down even if it misbehaved. But when Laxman did eventually get one that was too good, India were very much in trouble.