No Runner for you in Bangalore test, says Australian Skipper. VVS can only laugh!
No Runner for you in Bangalore test, says Australian Skipper. VVS can only laugh!
On the eve of today's Test, all eyes were once again on VVS Laxman. A lot of attention was paid on whether the injured batting stylist would bat in the nets.
There was even an enquiry conducted on whether Australia's biggest nemesis arrived at the ground. Such was the anxiety created at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Would Laxman, who suffered a bank injury in Mohali, play or not, was the million dollar question. He did arrive at the ground, but did not practice with his teammates. Suddenly, there were question marks over his fitness and doubts emerged if he had recovered fully.
VVS Laxman and his runner Suresh Raina celebrate India's
one-wicket victory over Australia at the Punjab Cricket
Association Stadium in Mohali, Chandigarh on Tuesday.
Asked if Laxman not practicing was a sign of things to come, Ricky Ponting said: "I am bit surprised that he had not batted at the net session.
He obviously had much recovery time as possible." Ponting added that Australia would deny Laxman a runner: "I expect that in the game in this stadium he would not be having a runner. No, that can't happen," he said. Laxman batted with a runner (Suresh Raina) to help India clinch a one-wicket win in Mohali.
Ricky Ponting tries his hand with ball at the Chinnaswmay
Stadium nets yesterday. pic/afp
However, Laxman trained later in the afternoon under the watchful eyes of coach Gary Kirsten and bowling coach Eric Simmons. He was also seen running between the wickets, and taking slip catches.
Kirsten reiterated that the team management would take a final call on Laxman on the day of the Test. While leaving, MiD DAY sought a reaction from Laxman on Ponting's comments. "Did he actually say that?" he asked, before leaving the ground with a big laugh.
There's another school of thought that suggests Laxman didn't practice in order to give some rest to his troublesome back.
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