The classical middle order batsman prescribes self-belief with relentless aggression as the formula to succeed against the world champions.
MELBOURNE: VVS Laxman has been Australia's bugbear for quite a while and the classical middle order batsman prescribes self-belief with relentless aggression as the formula to succeed against the world champions.
With firmness in his voice, Laxman said India would not allow any let-up in steam in order to curb the Aussies from getting on the top.
"Whenever we have played aggressively against Australia, we have done well. We realise that if you give the Aussies a slight inch, they tend to walk over you," Laxman said.
Laxman has been Australia's biggest worry as a batsman in the last decade or so and hardly any other batsman made such an overwhelming impression on the world champions in recent times.
The soft-spoken Hyderabad player, however, was quick to underline that by aggression he didn't mean wearing one's emotions on one's sleeve.
"It's a self-belief which matters a great deal for any batsman to do well in Australia. I do believe that the present Indian team wouldn't be found out on this issue."
Laxman attributed his success against the Aussies to his ability to raise his game against the toughest opponents.
"It usually happens with us against Australia. We tend to raise our game in order to match theirs."
Australian captain Ricky Ponting is on record having said that they still haven't figured out how to get past Laxman. Australians are known to use all sort of tactics to bully the opponents into submission, but Laxman says he hasn't noticed it happen to him.
"I don't remember them having tried something on me. I haven't really noticed (all these years)."
Laxman conceded that the present Australian attack was a formidable one and it would not be easy to come to terms with them.
"It's been a good bowling attack for Australia. Tait, Lee, Johnson and Clark, to go with Brad Hogg, are all match-winning bowlers. It's a good attack for them even if Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne are not around."
Laxman could bat at number three in the first Test, a situation he is ready for the Test series.
"I would like to bat in the middle order. But then whatever is my role, I would try to do best to my ability."
He doesn't feel a long tour as the present one would sap the energy of his senior batsmen to the extent that they are exhausted by the time the tour comes to an end in March next.
"I don't think it would happen. We have worked hard on our fitness and physio Gregory King has a lot to do with it. King has also ensured that we get sufficient recovery time."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}