Last of his kind rues the flick’s demise

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At 35, there’s not much time left for V.V.S. Laxman in world cricket. The magician insists he’ll call it day when he feels he can no longer contribute to the team’s cause. But with the unhurried pace at which India are playing Tests, his trademark flick of the wrists are in danger of slipping from memory faster than sand through the fingers.

Gundappa Vishwanath made the shot his own in the 1970s, before Mohammad Azharuddin carried it into the 90s. Laxman is, however, the last proponent of the flick today, and knows it better than anyone else that once he retires, the shot will go extinct.
“I always hoped that one of the youngsters will one day find value in that shot and use it on a regular basis. I’ve been keeping an eye out for it the last 4-5 years, but I haven’t found any... now I have kind of lost hope,” the veteran told this newspaper on Wednesday.
“It’s understandable since the game has become suited to power hitters, especially after the Twenty20 format began.”
Cricket has changed dramatically since his career-defining 281 against Australia at the Eden Gardens nine years ago, but Laxman despite being a part of Indian Premier League setup playing for the Deccan Chargers, hasn’t changed his style.
“I’ve never felt compelled to practice the ‘new’ shots. I’ve never played a reverse sweep or paddle sweep in my entire life. Honestly speaking, I’ve not come across a player that takes Twenty20 more seriously than a Test match, but when I see a youngster doing a Dilscoop at nets of his fourth or fifth ball, I immediately stop him,” he said.
“I’m not a reluctant T20 player, but the basics should be strong first. Save for Dilshan, that shot cannot come naturally to someone.”
The Test specialist has always relied on his instincts, and it is something that he used to get over his initial struggles. He unwillingly shifted to the opener’s slot in 2000 just to turn out for India and even hit 167 against the Aussies at Sydney, but was dropped after he got a duck in the ensuing Test in Mumbai.
“I thought I’ll never play for India again. Opening never came naturally to me and when I failed in that position, people said I wasn’t good enough.
“That was when I along with my coaches and uncle decided that I will only play in the middle order,” he said. “I felt that batting in middle order was the only way I could play for India consistently. Once I took that decision I actually scored around 11 to 12 consecutive centuries in Ranji and Hyderabad league games and got back in the Indian team.”
Laxman only has a few Tests before he bids adieu to the gentleman’s game, and he wants to make the most of them.
“I don’t want a 200 or a 300. I want go out with a win and I hope my last game is one where I save India from a precarious position.”