Cricket: Laxman and Dravid destroy Australian bowlers in test

CALCUTTA - Vangipurappu Laxman made the highest score by an Indian in tests as he helped turn the second cricket test against Australia on its head at Eden Gardens last night.

Laxman and Rahul Dravid shared a record fifth-wicket partnership to turn probable defeat at the start of the fourth day into a position where India had a slim chance of squaring the three-test series.

Laxman and Dravid had compiled an unbroken stand of 320 late in the day, after India had set off in the morning at 254 for four, still trailing Australia by 21 runs. Shortly before stumps, India were 552 for four with Laxman on 255, and Dravid on 138, for an overall lead of 278. The 26-year-old Laxman had gone past great opener Sunil Gavaskar's previous Indian record 236 not out, against the West Indies in Madras 17 seasons ago.

The partnership had eclipsed the old fifth-wicket record for India in tests, surpassing the 214 by Mohammad Azharuddin and Ravi Shastri against England on the same ground in 1984.

Until yesterday, Laxman was not ranked among the very top echelon of India's batsmen, where Sachin Tendulkar, Dravid and captain Sourav Ganguly sit at the head of the table.

He invairably goes by his initials - V V S - as his full name is a mouthful - Vangipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman. His name is taken from the village he was born in, Vangipurappu, his father's name, Venkata, and the god the family worships, Sai.

Laxman grew up playing on matting wickets in Hyderabad where he came under the tutelage of now disgraced former Indian captain Azharuddin. There was a lot of Azharuddin's distinctive wristy, elegant style in his innings yesterday.

Classy batsmanship in the morning session produced 122 runs off 29 overs as Laxman and Dravid took the Australian attack apart. In the middle session they added a further 115 as Australia's bowlers took their first sustained hammering in the series.

The pair took India's overall lead past 200 shortly before tea and when they reached 533 off 150 overs midway through the final session, they had shared a 300-run partnership. Laxman made his previous test highest, 167, against Australia at Sydney last year.

Australia's bowlers had been plundered, with legspinner Shane Warne and fast men Jason Gillespie and Glenn McGrath sharing four expensive wickets. Laxman and Dravid had come together on Tuesday with India struggling at 232 for four, still 42 runs away from making Australia bat again.

Laxman had been promoted to the No 3 position after topscoring with 59 in the first innings.

- AGENCIES