Former Indian Test specialist batsman VVS Laxman opens up his thought after the controversial Sydney Test during the 2007/08 Australian summer. He suggested the team that they should go back home immediately after what happened during the 2008 Sydney Test.
During the 2008 Sydney Test, started on 2 January 2008, the visitors India hugely suffered for some poor levels of umpiring that hugely forced them to face a 122-run defeat against the hosts. India started that game in the dominate way but the continuous poor decisions by the umpires made their hard efforts in vain.
During his autobiography ‘281 and Beyond’ launch in Delhi, Laxman recalled his memory, “I was the one who suggested that we should go back home immediately because it was clear it was one-sided and it was not fair but Anil (Kumble) showed great leadership qualities and managed everything.”
Also read: VVS Laxman reveals Australians never sledged him
That Sydney Test hit with numerous controversies, including the famous “Monkeygate” incident. After that game, the Indian cricket team threatened to abandon that tour but ultimately that tour continued after most of the important things were sorted out with the time progresses.
Also read: Five Unforgettable Australia-India Test Matches On The Australian Soil
In the next Test of that series at Perth, India clinched a brilliant victory by 72 runs. Laxman said that the Perth victory was very important for them in that period.
Laxman claimed, “Perth win mattered for what happened at Sydney. We as a team felt that we were let down by umpires, there were a lot of atrocious decision given against us, and we lost that match, so it was important for us to win at Perth.”
Despite mostly played as a middle-order batsman, Laxman claimed that his batting suited at no.3 position. Talking about his long career as a middle-order batsman, Laxman feels thankful to the lower-order batsmen to support him always.
Laxman said, “I was very selfish because no. 6 was not a position suited to my batting. My batting suited number 3 as I could use the pace of the ball. Batting at No. 6 meant that invariably the opposition captains would set the field and ball at the tail-enders.
“So I had to come up with a strategy to score runs, to build a partnership. I used to play big shots and get out initially. So I had a discussion with John Wright and we thought it was important to enhance the batting skills of the bowlers.
“All these bowlers had a big heart. There were challenging bowlers at that time which required technique. So it was decided that each batsman was responsible for a bowler, so I realised that the only way I can score runs was by rotating the strikes. So thanks to them for playing with such mental toughness.”
Also read: VVS Laxman Was Unfit When He Scored 281?
The 2011/12 Australia tour was Laxman’s last assignment in his international cricket career. While India was whitewashed in that tour (lost by 4-0), Laxman felt shattered, who started that tour with a dream to retire on a high.
Laxman commented on that, “There was a lot of frustration and negative emotions in me specially after losing 0-4 in Australia because it was my dream to retire on a high and I was not able to achieve that and I was shattered.”
