A tale of two centuries

I’ll deal with the fallout of the dramatic Sydney Test in a later article; I’d firstly like to draw your attention to India’s first innings.

In that first innings two batsmen made centuries, both of contrasting style and appeal. Both these players have superb records both against Australia and the SCG. From there, though, the similarities end.

Both V.V.S Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar thrilled an adoring SCG crowd with dashing and charismatic stroke play, and they will leave Australian shores, probably for the last time, firmly in the hearts of Australian cricket followers.

Australians love a player who can stick it to them, give a good fight, and succeed against the team viewed as the best in the world. Brian Lara regularly thrilled Australian audiences and left the country with a firm reminder of his genius after scoring 226 in Adelaide, his final test in this country.

In terms of cricketing journeys, they don’t come much different than these too. Sachin Tendulkar is ‘the little master’, the finest of all Indian batsmen. He made the test team at 16 and has played for two decades at the top level, acknowledged as the best batsman of his generation. There is Bradman, and then there is Sachin.

V.V.S Laxman has had a different career. Although only a year younger than Sachin, he debuted in test cricket at 1996 and made an impression against a strong South African side with 51. Since then he has played 88 tests, but has constantly been chopped and changed from the Indian side.

Rarely has such a gifted batsman been under such pressure to hold his place, considering that he averages as much as Sourav Ganguly does, who has played 100 tests. He averages over 50 against Australia and was mainly responsible for stopping Australia’s previous record winning run with his brilliant 281 at Eden Gardens.

Had Laxman failed with the bat at Sydney, he may have faced trouble again, after having a flat season during India’s victory in England. Instead he did what he does best; he counterattacked.

In reply to Australia’s 463, India lost Wasim Jaffer early and Rahul Dravid was struggling for form and confidence. Laxman started well, and aggressively launched his side, at one point reaching 57 off 47 balls.

His 109 off 142 balls was filled with sublime stroke play: Wonderful wristy flicks and gloriously timed drives through cover and straight. He was applauded with relish by the SCG crowd who adore he man dubbed “Very Very Special”.

Sachin was a little more selective than the aggressive Laxman, but his century could arguably be the greater for the fact that at no stage did it ever look like he would be dismissed. His 154 not out from 243 was precise and immaculate, with the attractive and pleasing shot selection that makes Sachin a master.

Although he could be criticised for protecting his average during the latter stages, something Symonds was guilty of doing during his century, he made sure India’s tail contributed to a first innings lead that set up a cracker of a test by giving them plenty of strike and encouraging them.

Two centuries of vital importance, in contrasting style and modus operandi, showed the Australian public and the Australian cricket team that this Indian team still has a lot of fight and class, and can never be underestimated.

We probably will never see these players again, and it is special to see them for the last time in this country. There are still two tests to go, so what more could we expect from them?

And finally, which player did I enjoy more?

V.V.S Laxman. For two reasons; firstly, I was there to see it live, which made it all the more enthralling. Secondly, whilst Tendulkar has benefited from never being under the selector’s eye much in his career, Laxman always has.

The fact that his name will be recalled fondly by Australian cricket fans despite having a lesser reputation makes his century all the more wondrous.