Laxman

[flibbertyjibber]

We all know he is a quality player but has he done himself justice over his career as he only has 16 centuries in 123 matches which for a player of his ability is pretty poor really. His conversion rate is basically the worst among players with more than 10 test tons currently playing.

Laxman 123 tests 16 100's 52 50's
Sehwag 87 22 + 27
Tendulkar 177 51 + 59
Dravid 153 32 + 60
Bell 65 14 + 28
Cook 68 18 + 26
Strauss 85 19 + 24
Pietersen 74 17 + 23
Ponting 152 39 + 56
Hussey 59 13 + 24
Clarke 69 14 + 20
de Villiers 66 12 + 23
Kallis 145 40 + 54
Smith 91 22 + 29

The top players are getting centuries roughly once every 4 games with Tendulkar doing it more often yet Laxman it is closer to every 8th match than 7 even. Surely a player of his ability should have got at least 25 test hundreds in the amount of games he has played.

Am i being ridiculously harsh on him here as i am sure many Indians would argue Laxman is a better player than many on that list yet the stats don't really back it up.

 

[Spark]

Apart from the obvious two (Tendulkar + Kallis), Smith's was a real shock. As was Dravid's actually, you'd think he'd do a lot better than 32 hundreds from 92 50+ scores.

Laxman, I feel, is one of those players who in a few decades time, those who weren't fortunate enough to have witness him will seriously underrate.

As it is, I think that if you picked 10 ATGs and Laxman, I reckon Laxman would definitely hold his own in such a team (note: I am not saying he is/isn't an ATG, just commenting on the nature of his performances and their utility to the team)

 

[Uppercut]

Yeah, he has problems cashing in. What a man to have in a crisis though.

 

[Howe_zat]

His conversion rate isn't really surprising given that all his best innings seem to be in low-scoring matches.

 

[Cevno]

Many of his best knocks have been between 50 and 100 tbf.

His conversion is a problem for him personally in terms of records, but don't think it has been a problem for the team.
Even his last 3 against West Indies he made 85,87 and 56 and all were really crucial in both the matches in terms of the position India were in. Will take that 85 & 87 over a hundred in many situations.

Plus added to that most of his career he has batted at 6 behind a very good batting lineup so most of the occasions he gets a chance to bat for a long time are situations where the team is in trouble or it is a low scoring match.
On the flat tracks, most of the time there is nothing much left for him to do.

 

[vcs]

It's annoying the number of 70s, 80s, and 90s he seems to get without getting to hundred. The fact that he doesn't go on to convert most of those to 3 figures means the value of some of those knocks will go unappreciated by those who haven't watched them. Agree with Spark and Uppercut.

 

[_Ed_]

Yeah, he has problems cashing in.

Yet when he does, he does it pretty spectacularly - two double tons and a handful of 150s.

 

[Furball]

Laxman > Tendulkar

 

[Xuhaib]

I back him or Bell to be the batsman of the series.

 

[Bun]

Many of his best knocks have been between 50 and 100 tbf.

His conversion is a problem for him personally in terms of records, but don't think it has been a problem for the team.
Even his last 3 against West Indies he made 85,87 and 56 and all were really crucial in both the matches in terms of the position India were in. Will take that 85 & 87 over a hundred in many situations.

Plus added to that most of his career he has batted at 6 behind a very good batting lineup so most of the occasions he gets a chance to bat for a long time are situations where the team is in trouble or it is a low scoring match.
On the flat tracks, most of the time there is nothing much left for him to do.

this..

he has a role which he has specialised himself in...

 

[Anku31]

He has batted with tail-enders most of the times.Or faced superb fast bowling attacks on hard pitches in the earlier days when he used to open.But still,we are proud we have him.A crisis man.Would still love him even if he plays his next 20 tests without a century.

 

[Dissector]

Laxman has missed out on hundreds on a few occasions but I don't think it really matters. His fifties in tough situations batting with the lower order are often more valuable than the hundreds of other players. IMO Laxman is one of the half dozen best batsmen of the 2000's.

 

[Rush]

Laxman has missed out on hundreds on a few occasions but I don't think it really matters. His fifties in tough situations batting with the lower order are often more valuable than the hundreds of other players. IMO Laxman is one of the half dozen best batsmen of the 2000's.

Tendulkar, Dravid, Ponting, Kallis, Lara?

 

[Teja.]

At the end of the day, It is those crucial 70-80/200-220 knocks that he specializes in and it's an incredibly rare skill to have. I think he's probably the most unique bat of his era due to the number of times he has played pressure knocks.

Take the case of last year. He scored 'only' 2 tons, one absolutely glorious one under pressure, but his best four knocks were all 50s to dig India out of massive holes/win matches from losing positions. His career is basically an extension of the sample.

It's been a privilege to watch him bat tbh. I think I'll see a couple more Tendulkar-like run machines in my life but I highly doubt there'll be one more Laxxers.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I CBA to do the leg work, but my instinct is that he'll have a higher number of not outs and "last man outs" amongst his 50s than is average.

Crisis does seem to bring out the best in him.

 

[fredfertang]

Wonderful batsman Laxman - so he's a bit frustrating at times, but geniuses often are

 

[Jarquis]

Strauss is pretty damn high for somebody who was one of the best converters ever a few years ago.
http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...9;spanval1=span;template=results;type=batting

But yeah, Laxman. wag.

 

[Burgey]

Such a good player, Laxman. Could watch him bat all day.

 

[marc71178]

Being Australian you usually did.

 

[Burgey]

Yeah, he first really shone against Australia in that 99-00 tour when he scored a ton in the second dig at Sydney opening in a lost cause. Was a phenomenal knock.