Laxman lambasts Oz; Gambhir going strong

 VVS Laxman has built an entire career pummeling Australia. So it's improbable that India are playing Australia in a Test series and VVS Laxman is not in the honours board.

Laxman sped to his 13th Test hundred and his sixth against Australia as India continued their domination in the game to reach 293-3 at lunch at the Ferozeshah Kotla. Gambhir, whose knock until the first day bore all signs of an epic in the making, was poised for a double hundred (191), and their 236-run partnership having reached threatening proportions already.

These aren't good signs for Ricky Ponting, who would have relied on early breakthroughs, as his bowlers leaked 97 runs in the morning session and missed a chance in an innings which can only falter because of mistakes from the batsmen. Matthew Hayden was late to react to a rare edge off Gambhir, who was on 176 at the time.

Laxman's calm can be judged by the strokes his plays. He went unnoticed to his fifty as Gambhir soaked in all the adulation with his second century on the trot on the first day, but the first session of the second day belonged to the classy of the Hyderabadi.

India had a quiet start to the second day but picked as Laxman took charge of the proceedings, despite a fortuitous escape when Brett Lee had him fending a bouncer awkwardly which went over the slip cordon.

There was no fortune thereafter, as Laxman drove, flicked and pulled with contempt en route to his century. But as the session reached its close, Laxman had some anxious moments on 99 where he spent 11 balls before caressing Cameron White through cover.

After two quiet Test matches in Bangalore (he did play a match-saving hand) and Mohali, Laxman, as has been the case so often in his illustrious career, came to Delhi with a sword hanging over his selection yet again, as India's want of a fifth bowler surfaced.

all courtesy:cricketnext