Travel plans not yet confirmed

HYDERABAD: Middle-order batsman VVS Laxman said his experience of playing on wickets with bounce and carry would come handy in South Africa. “It is a great feeling to be included in the one-day series and I would try to give my best,” he said at a press conference here.

Laxman was recalled to the one-day side after more than a year when Dravid was ruled out of the remaining two matches of the ODI series due to a finger injury. “It is sad that Rahul should be injured so badly in the series and miss out the rest of the one-day matches,” he said.

Did he feel as if he was on trial? “I would only work on the opportunities that come my way. I do not want to think of things that are beyond by control.”

Laxman, who was to play for Hyderabad in a Ranji Trophy tie in Jaipur later this week, said he was willing to bat in any position the management deemed fit for him, but when pressed for his choice, said “I prefer the middle order.” Asked about the reasons for India’s dismal performance on the tour so far, Laxman hesitated before saying “we did not get good runs. We are playing on bouncy tracks and people get to learn the hard way.”

Laxman, who played in South Africa in 1996 and 2001, said his experience on playing on wickets with bounce and carry may fetch him good runs there. He also said that his “travel plans are not yet confirmed, the Board will inform whenever things fall in place”.