VVS Laxman to Australia is what kryptonite is to Superman.  Needless to say, it did not come off as a surprise to anyone when the classy batsman made his mark in history by becoming the first ever Indian batsman to score two Test double centuries against the Aussies.

India is a country of countless talented batsmen: Tendulkar, Ganguly, Dravid, Sehwag, Gambhir - I could go on forever. So what makes Laxman stand out amongst all the great Indian batting heroes? The answer is simple: VVS Laxman is the only Indian cricketer of our era who consistently sends a shiver through the spines of Australian bowlers.

Let us start with Laxman’s first double century against Australia: an innings worth mentioning in any sports conversation, it was undoubtedly one of the most extraordinary moments of Indian cricket. In 2001, the Indian team faced a serious crisis in a test match against the Aussies in the famous Eden Gardens cricket ground, Kolkata. Wickets were tumbling and Australia was concentrating more on the champagne selection than the already won game. That was until VVS Laxman stepped on the pitch; suddenly, Australia’s concentration reverted back to the game. No matter what the Aussies did, this relatively young batsman held his wicket like an immovable concrete brick. After a long composed innings of 281, not only did Laxman salvage the Indians from a shameful defeat, but eventually led the team to a triumphant come-from-behind match and series victory.

That was a valiant display of batting as it shouted two egotistical messages of Indian cricket. Firstly, India finally found a test batsman who does not crumble in dire situations against a great team like Australia. The second, a more emphatic message: Indians at no cost lose test series on home soil.

Since 2001, Indian cricket team has gone through a series of metamorphoses. The cricket board had been in charge of a chaotic and rapid shuffling of captaincy. New players arrived and thrived keeping old legends on their toes.  The team faced a painful defeat in the 2003 World Cup final against the indestructible Australia.  As a petty consolation, they have managed to recoup some pride by winning the 20 twenty (a baseball version of cricket) World Cup in 2007. And like the Roman Empire, somewhere down the line they lost and failed to defend their pride of home soil victory. In this roller coaster ride, one thing remained intact - Laxman’s consistency against the Aussies.  He has been an unrelenting thorn in the Australian toe.

Then, in 2003-04 it was India’s turn to tour Australia. Laxman, this time away from home, kept his ruthless form cornering Aussie bowlers with humiliating consistency. He highlighted his valour with two centuries, one involving a nail biting match-turning innings in Adelaide. The mortified Aussies this time had to pay him the due compliment by admitting they did not know where to bowl to him.

In the latest 2008 test series against his favourite victims, Laxman yet again showed the world how to conduct Australian bowling with grace. This time, not only did he secure his name in the  record books by scoring an unbeaten 200, but also became the second Indian batsman to score more than 2000 runs against Australia. The remarkable innings boosted up his test average to 46. This, mind you, is his average against all the test playing nations. Against the Aussies, he swanks an average of 56.1 from 23 matches.

There are cricketers like Lara and Tendulkar who achieved the label of all-time legend.  But VVS Laxman is an unsung brilliance who will be remembered for his occasional demonstration of elegance.  And I’m not even going to mention his ‘how to deal with Australian bowling’ lessons.

Laxman dominates the game with brilliant wrist control. His casual stance, cool temperament, and of course, elegant leg-side flicks might remind a cricket fanatic of the Great Mohammed Azharuddin, whom he considers as his idol. His style of play might not be ideal for a coach to recommend young and upcoming cricketers, but he is in a class of his own.

Laxman turned 34 on the 1^st of November. If you listen carefully, you may hear a faint but distinct sigh of relief from down under, hoping his career is coming to an end. But he has managed to put enough scars in Australian cricket history, some of them with mammoth three figure bashings (167, 281, 148, 178, 109 and 200 not out). He is one of the rare batsmen who managed to challenge great Aussie legends in the likes of McGrath and Warne.

Have you ever tried milking kangaroos? Ask VVS Laxman, he knows how to do it in style.

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