VVS Laxman's five best Test knocks vs Australia in India

#4 73, 4th Test: Mohali, 2nd innings, 2010

Laxman celebrates India’s close victory with Ojha

This match will be remembered as one of the greatest wins from a backs-against-the-wall situation. Literally and figuratively, a man with a bad back stood tall and faced adversity.

Australia won the toss and batted first; a century from Watson and fifties from Ponting and Paine took Australia to a good score of 428. India replied with a solid batting display to reach 405 thanks to Sachin Tendulkar’s 98. Laxman came into bat at No. 10 after suffering from a bad back injury whilst on the field. The Hyderabadi didn’t look comfortable at all as he made just two runs in the first innings.

The Indian bowlers bowled with discipline and control in the 2^nd innings to restrict Australia to a score of 192. India, chasing a target of 216, began poorly losing Gambhir in the first over. Wickets fell regularly and it was 76/5 when VVS walked in, still struggling with a bad back.

Three more wickets fell around him, those of Sachin, Dhoni and Harbhajan and the scoreboard read 124/8, when a tall and lanky Ishant Sharma walked to the crease. India still needed 92 runs with a severely injured batsman and two tailenders who didn’t inspire confidence on a 5th-day pitch.

What followed was an extremely gritty knock from a player known for his artistry as Laxman counterattacked Ponting’s every aggressive move and held the door tight, preventing the Aussies from getting a sniff of victory while Ishant played a grand supporting role.

However, just as the finishing line got closer, Australia struck, sending Ishant packing with 11 runs to be scored. The final passage of play was one of the most heart-in-mouth, tense moments ever seen on a cricket pitch.

After a heated exchange of words between Laxman and Ojha regarding the latter’s running between the wickets, the duo held their nerve to take India to a memorable victory. The headline that appeared in most newspapers the next day was, ‘Long live Test cricket’.