It’s not quite a magical incantation, but the kind of effect V.V.S Laxman’s becalming chats have on edgy tail-enders at the other end, it would be hard to argue otherwise. Early into the morning session it seemed South Africa would mop up the tail after batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara made way for a visibly uncomfortable Zaheer Khan. The No. 8 played and missed his first four balls off Lonwabo Tsotsobe, the last of which almost yorked him out of the picture.
Just before the fifth ball though, Laxman walked across the pitch to speak with Zaheer.
It wasn’t clear what he said but it seemed do the trick as the lower-order batsman made some room and swung the last two balls to the cover boundary. He eventually added 70 runs with Laxman in a potentially match-turning partnership.