Such a brilliant tribute to the ultimate mystery of Indian Cricket. Gower is a fair comparison. So is DeSilva. The logic-defying skill that they all possessed, rarely lasts as long as it did with Laxman. He was platinum-class while he had that 'touch'. For me, his signature innings has to be 178 @Sydney, where he so effortlessly bettered Sachin, who was fighting a historical battle of his own. He flew like a river, over stones of all sizes, untroubled, unconcerned even. 281 was nearly as silken, but we had our moods tense, we had a battle on our hands. Not Laxman, he batted like he did during 178, 167, and all those.
I'd say he belonged to that league which contains till date the most stylish and the most beautiful batsman India has produced apart from Sachin: Azhar. We try not to take his name for many other reasons, but when Azhar flowed, nothing else mattered. He was a bit of VVS and a bit of Sachin, the most sublime blend of the two tendencies, but then everyone has his own Sachin. That partnership with Sachin against a raging Donald at Durban. Such memories! I hope Laxman goes away, soon as possible. This is a cruel world. It ends every beautiful journey in such agony. In Azhar's case, such an odd mix of horror, anger, disappointment, and embarrassment. But I often think of him with extreme fondness. It is a fan's fondness. I've seen him bat like no-one did, no-one could. I can't forget him. Wonder if Azhar and VVS ever had a significant partnership. That would be something. A lovely assignment, to weave those two memories together, to have them bat alongside each other. Like, Warne to Bradman. This could be more joy. Fragile and beautiful. Every moment's worth!
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