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Double centurion Laxman hits back at critics
Middle order batsman VVS Laxman said "all doubting Thomases" should stop advising senior players about their timing of retirement.
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: October 30, 2008 03:52 PM IST
Read Time:2 min
New Delhi:
"There are doubting Thomases outside the team and not in the team. There were all sorts of stories built up before the series in the media but we took it positively and the team got together," he said.
"It hurts (to know you are being asked to go). We are not asking people to over respect us. But give us our due and right to decide when to go.
"Players are responsible enough to take the decision when they stop contributing to the team. After playing for the country for so long you know when to stop playing," he added.
The 33-year-old Hyderabad batsman, who was sacked as the captain of his IPL team Deccan Chargers, said he wanted to just focus on his batting and contribute to the team.
"I was disappointed (in earlier matches) and keen to contribute to the team. I was very happy as this contribution was important from the team's perspective," he said as India declared on 613 for 7 on the second day of the third Test at Ferozeshah Kotla.
"It was a very satisfying knock. I converted my 150 into a bigger score. It was a crucial innings, especially as it came against Australians. It was a big hundred which I converted instead of throwing it away," he added.
Elaborating on his unbeaten 200, Laxman said he took only calculated risks.
"I did not take too many risks. I was also not over-ambitious and I maintained a healthy strike rate which was good," he said.
"They are trying to bowl differently, various lines to our batsmen but full marks to India," he said.
Laxman said there was nothing unusual about so many Indian batsmen playing well in an innings.
"We have done well as a batting unit most of the times. This time also we are good as a team," he said.
About Australia, he felt it would be interesting to watch how they come out of the situation.
"They have a huge target in front of them. It is a pressure situation for them how they come out of it, we will see. "The first session tomorrow will be important as Australia has a huge task at hand but a few early wickets will help us," he said.
Having smashed an unbeaten double ton against his old-nemesis Australia, middle order batsman VVS Laxman on Thursday hit back at his critics, saying "all doubting Thomases" should stop advising senior players about their timing of retirement."There are doubting Thomases outside the team and not in the team. There were all sorts of stories built up before the series in the media but we took it positively and the team got together," he said.
"It hurts (to know you are being asked to go). We are not asking people to over respect us. But give us our due and right to decide when to go.
"Players are responsible enough to take the decision when they stop contributing to the team. After playing for the country for so long you know when to stop playing," he added.
The 33-year-old Hyderabad batsman, who was sacked as the captain of his IPL team Deccan Chargers, said he wanted to just focus on his batting and contribute to the team.
"I was disappointed (in earlier matches) and keen to contribute to the team. I was very happy as this contribution was important from the team's perspective," he said as India declared on 613 for 7 on the second day of the third Test at Ferozeshah Kotla.
"It was a very satisfying knock. I converted my 150 into a bigger score. It was a crucial innings, especially as it came against Australians. It was a big hundred which I converted instead of throwing it away," he added.
Elaborating on his unbeaten 200, Laxman said he took only calculated risks.
"I did not take too many risks. I was also not over-ambitious and I maintained a healthy strike rate which was good," he said.
"They are trying to bowl differently, various lines to our batsmen but full marks to India," he said.
Laxman said there was nothing unusual about so many Indian batsmen playing well in an innings.
"We have done well as a batting unit most of the times. This time also we are good as a team," he said.
About Australia, he felt it would be interesting to watch how they come out of the situation.
"They have a huge target in front of them. It is a pressure situation for them how they come out of it, we will see. "The first session tomorrow will be important as Australia has a huge task at hand but a few early wickets will help us," he said.
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