Happy Birthday Very Very Special Laxman.....

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Happy birthday to the Great batsman Vangipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman


The legend of aussie slayer


Very talented colonel born at a wrong time and therefore never made a general.....200% true abt Laxman........

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VVS Laxman, whose parents are doctors, had to make a choice between a medical career and playing cricket before he eventually opted for the willow and made his mark as one of India's finest cricketers. He is said to be the immense grand nephew of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, ex- President of India.

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He took more than three years to score his maiden Test century, a robust 167 against Australia at Sydney in 2000 that made the cricketing world sit up and take notice of this special talent.

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The Wall II


He was involved in three more mammoth stands against Australia - 353 with Sachin Tendulkar in 2004 in Sydney, 303 with Dravid in Adelaide in the same series and 278 with Gautam Gambhir at New Delhi in 2008.

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Style and substance



He is India's fourth-highest scorer (8,781) in Tests after Sachin Tendulkar (15,470 runs), Rahul Dravid (13,265) and Sunil Gavaskar (10,122).

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Aussie Nightmare



In 2008, he became only the second Indian batsman after Sachin Tendulkar to score more than 2000 Test runs against the Australians. Laxman hit an unbeaten 200 in the first innings to save the match.

[galiraju]

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Period and venue: March 2001, Kolkata
Result: India won by 171 runs
Laxman's effort: 59 and 281
Scores
Australia - 445
India - 171
India - 657 for 7 dec
Australia - 212
No matter how many times we speak about this match, every time it gives cricket lovers a new and special feeling. This was a true classic in many ways. If Don Bradman's 99.94 will be a feat that will be virtually unbeatable, this one should be up there in the list of unbeatables. India followed on after being bowled out for just 171 in their first innings and then came the most special innings the game has ever seen in India. 281 in 631 minutes. You got that right. Almost 11 hours at the crease. What concentration! Importantly, India went on to win the match and also the series.

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Period and venue: October 2010, Mohali
Result: India won by 1 wicket
Laxman's effort: 2 and 73 n.o.
Scores
Australia - 428
India - 405
Australia - 192
India - 218 for 9
It was easily the best of Laxman's test classics. Suffering from back spasms forced the Hyderabadi hero to come in at the fall of 8th wicket in the first innings. In the second innings, when India were reduced to 124 for 8 after the fall of Harbhajan Singh. But, Laxman didn't give up even when the target was far away. His knock, emotions and pride during the next 2 hours made the Mohali knock of 73 an awe-inspiring one. One question will give an answer why that was the most special inning. At 124 for 8, how many thought India would win?

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Period and venue: August 2010, Colombo
Result: India won by 5 wickets
Laxman's effort: 56 and 103 n.o
Scores
Sri Lanka - 425
India - 436
Sri Lanka - 267
India - 258 for 5
India had been labelled the comeback kings of the new decade after the number of comebacks they made in the period. This was another example. With their backs to the wall after the fabulous Murali show in the first test at Galle, India had to win the last test at P Sara Oval to level the series. Chasing a tough 259 on the final day was always going to be a challenge. At one stage, India were reduced to 62 for 4 and Sri Lanka looked on course. But, once again it was Sachin and VVS coming to the party. And when India lost Sachin at 171 for 5, there was still a mountain to climb. But, VVS made the mountain look a mole as he not only raced to his 100 but also guided India to a famous win.

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Period and venue: November 1996, Ahmedabad
Result: India won by 64 runs
Laxman's effort: 11 and 51
Scores
India - 223
South Africa - 244
India - 190
South Africa - 105
A lean and shy Hyderabadi made his debut in this match at Ahmedabad against the South African bowling attack led by the inspirational Allan Donald, who was on fire in both the innings. Batting in the middle order, Laxman came in with India placed precariously at 82 for 4, a lead of just 60 runs and only 6 wickets in hand. He then played one of the innings of his life (in the very first match) and got a 50 that propelled India to 190 and gave Javagal Srinath a chance to have a go at the Proteas. What a wonderful 50 that was.

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Period and venue: March 2001, Chennai
Result: India won by 2 wickets
Laxman's effort: 65 and 66
Scores
Australia - 391
India - 501
Australia - 264
India - 155 for 8
Long before the super knock at Mohali, there was something similar that happened to Indian cricket at Chennai. And the player who pulled it off in the end was again VVS Laxman. And this was the match immediately after the Kolkata miracle. The legs were drained out? Wait a moment. It was a very very special batsman at the helm of affairs and he loves playing against the Aussies. Chasing 156 for a series win, India stumbled. With wickets falling at regular intervals at the other end, VVS stemmed the rot and took India to the doorstep of victory before losing his wicket. The only difference between Mohali and Chennai was he carried India to the chequered flag at Mohali while he didn't do that at Chennai.

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Period and venue: December 2003
Result: India won by 4 wickets
Laxman's effort: 148 and 32
Scores
Australia - 556
India - 523
Australia - 196
India - 233 for 6
The 2003 tour of Australia was crucial for India as the tour before that down under in 1999 was one of India's worst overseas tours. After fighting Australia run for run in the rain-hit first test at Brisbane, Indian bowlers were in for a brutal assault by Ricky Ponting on the first day at Adelaide. The Aussies amassed 400 runs in a single day on their way to 556. But, with Dravid's double hundred and Laxman's 148, India gave a fitting reply. It was then Agarkar's turn to scare the Aussie batsmen. He took 6 wickets as India dismissed Australia for just 190. Chasing 233, Indian nerves were tested when Ganguly got out with the score reading 170. Then came VVS and played a very uncharacteristic inning by his standard. He got a quickfire 32 off just 34 balls as India romped home.

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Period and venue: November 2011
Laxman's effort: 176 Not Out
Scores
India - 631/7 Dec
West Indies - 34/2 (At the end of Day 2 of Test match)
This hundred against the West Indies may not have come over a strong bowling attack for VVS but there are other compelling reasons why it should figure prominently in this list. Laxman hadn't scored a Test century in over a year and after a tough summer in England, where he was a complete failure; this knock breathed back life into his Test career. This was Laxman's 4th Test hundred at Kolkata and no wonder then, this is becoming his favourite venue like it was for the other wrist-master from Hyderabad, Mohd Azharuddin.

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eriod and venue: November 2004, Mumbai
Result: India won by 13 runs
Laxman's effort: 1 and 69
Scores
India - 104
Australia - 203
India - 205
Australia - 93
Before the Mumbai test, Australia had claimed what they called the final frontier. Winning a series in India. The Mumbai test was to see whether they could whitewash India in India. It almost happened but for 3 men Murali Karthik, Harbhajan Singh and VVS Laxman. India were hammered out for just 105 on a turning track at Wankhede. Australia got a lead of nearly 100 runs and in the second innings had reduced India to 14 for 2 early on. Then came VVS Laxman and Sachin, who together put on 89 runs. Laxman made 69 and gave Indian bowlers something to bowl at. Chasing 107 to finish it off, Australia were bowled out for 93.