Border Gavaskar Trophy: When VVS Laxman gave a glimpse of his epic 281 in Sydney

NEW DELHI: India's tour of Australia in 1999-2000 was a forgettable one. India lost all three Tests and there were only two Indian batsmen to hit centuries across the three Tests. One was captain Sachin Tendulkar, who hit 116 in the second Test at the MCG and the second was a batsman who could probably outshine even the great Tendulkar in dazzling strokeplay on his day - Vangipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman.
VVS Laxman is renowned for his exceptional performances against Australia, particularly in Test cricket. His batting against the formidable Australian side, which dominated world cricket in the late 1990s and early 2000s, is remembered for its elegance, resilience, and class.
Laxman made no bones about the fact that he didn't like to open the innings, but when India toured Australia in 1999-2000, he was still in early days of his career and this knock at Sydney came in the second innings and provided just a sign of things to come.
Laxman was hit on the grill of his helmet while ducking a bouncer from Glenn McGrath but that didn't deter him from caressing the full length deliveries through the covers across the SCG turf. Laxman stood tall to short-pitched deliveries and pulled majestically from outside off-stump through to the mid-wicket fence. The timing and placement off Laxman's bat was perfect, whether it was a flick off his pads or when he hit through the line.
Laxman raced to his half-century off just 55 balls, reaching the mark with a magnificent pull shot to the mid-wicket fence. Laxman's footwork was not always a purist's delight in that innings, but when McGrath's outswingers were caressed through the off-side, Shane Warne's leg spinners were hit through mid-wicket against the turn and Brett Lee's yorkers were flicked to the mid-wicket fence, one and all were made to realize that they were watching something special.
Wickets falling at the other end couldn't curb Laxman from playing his shots and he reached his maiden century off 114 deliveries with the help of 16 fours. Laxman reached his 150 off 172 balls and when he finally fell for 167, caught behind by Adam Gilchrist off Lee, he was given a standing ovation by the SCG crowd.
So magnificent was the batting exhibition by Laxman that day that Justin Langer ran over and congratulated him at the end of his knock. Lee and other Aussie players also applauded him off the field.
The "very very special" tag that the Aussie tormentor carried with him for almost his entire career was perhaps given to him on that day at the Sydney Cricket Ground and this knock was just a prequel to a historic innings that was played at the Eden Gardens in March 2001.
Laxman scored six Test centuries against Australia during his career, consistently showing his prowess against them. His ability to play against quality fast bowlers like Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, and Jason Gillespie, as well as the legendary spinner Shane Warne, was a testament to his technical brilliance.
Laxman's performances against Australia are etched in cricketing history, especially for the way he played crucial innings in pressure situations, making him one of the finest batsmen in India-Australia contests.