VVS Laxman's 281 vs Australia in Kolkata voted best in last 50 years

Mumbai: Eclipsing several other great individual knocks, VVS Laxman’s masterly innings of 281 against Australia at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata has been rated as the greatest Test performance of the last 50 years. The honour was accorded to the Hyderabad stylist’s fabulous series-turning knock after India trailed by 274 runs on the first innings, by his fellow-players, commentators and journalists in a poll published in the January issue of ESPN’s digital magazine the Cricket Monthly, a media release said. ALSO READ: Ajinkya Rahane is India’s team man, suggest VVS Laxman, Kapil Dev

Laxman, promoted to no. 3 after his first innings’ 59 out of a team score of 171, came up with his magical innings and also added 376 runs for the fifth wicket with Rahul Dravid (180). In his tribute, one of seven by participants in the Test, leg spin legend Shane Warne recalls: “I was bowling in the footmarks and Laxman was hitting the same ball through cover or whipping it through midwicket. It was so hard to bowl then.” Ricky Ponting remembers that “his work through the leg side in particular was a source of wonderment to many of us. Ultimately we bowled for near enough to two days at him without even looking like getting him out.” ALSO READ: VVS Laxman lauds inclusion of Yuvraj Singh, Ashish Nehra, Hardik Pandya in T20Is for Australia tour of 2015-16

Laxman has lauded the selection of Yuvraj Singh, Ashish Nehra and Hardik Pandya in the upcoming Australia tour of 2015-16. Laxman told CricketCountry: “Batting positions 5, 6 and 7 have always been crucial for India in T20Is. Despite good starts India have often lost steam while batting in the death overs, which is where the power hitting ability of Yuvraj will be very important”. Laxman also had good words for uncapped Pandya.