VVS may’ve played his last Test: BCCI sources

NEW DELHI: VVS Laxman’s nine-ball duck in Perth on Saturday may well have been his last Test innings. It’s ironical that Laxman, who built his formidable batting reputation against the Australian bowling attack over the past decade or so, now finds his playing career running out of time Down Under .

Laxman’s struggles in Australia this time around have reflected on the performance of the Indian cricket team , which marked Day Two of the Perth Test on Saturday with another batting collapse and the prospect of losing the third Test inside three days .

With MS Dhoni and Co’s reputation in tatters and a whitewash looming in Australia to follow the one in England earlier this year , the elegant Hyderabadi , who is 37 years old, may become the first of the veteran batting machines to be eased out, sources told TOI.

The wristy strokeplayer who first terrified the Aussies with the epic 281 at the Eden Gardens in 2001 — a precursor to many memorable knocks against the dominating cricketers from Down Under , both at home and away — may not even get the luxury of a farewell Test which his reputation warrants , TOI has learned.

Laxman has been ordinary this time in Australia , averaging only 17 from 6 innings . His overall record in Australia , in comparison , is an extremely impressive 50.65 with 6 hundreds from 28 Tests. Laxman also had a poor run in England last year , averaging only 22.75 from 4 matches . Despite the disappointing show in England , he was picked for Australia purely on reputation .

THE VVS SLIDE SHOW

Laxman’s form has declined sharply in the past one year which stats bear out...

In 2009, he scored 471 runs in six Tests at an average of 67.28. In 2010 too, he scored 939 runs at average of 67.07 However, last year, Laxman started slipping and scored just 773 runs in 12 Tests at 40.68 The slide has continued in the ongoing series with the classy batsman scoring just 102 runs in 3 Tests at a poor 17.00

OVERALL RECORD

Tests: 133; Runs: 8728; Highest: 281; Avg: 46.17; Centuries: 17; Half centuries: 56

‘VVS SHOULD RETIRE ON HIS OWN’

New Delhi: With the Indian team failing to put up a fight Down Under, the senior batsmen have been under extreme pressure to perform, and the axe, it seems, will fall on VVS Laxman first. "If he doesn't retire on his own, he will be dropped to make way for a youngster," said a BCCI insider. Laxman himself had targeted one more home series before deciding on his future. "He is a great player and his contribution is immense, but you have to walk away some time. The consensus in the BCCI is that the seniors need to be eased out gradually and VVS will be the first to go," said the source.

For 'Very Very Special' Laxman, 2009 and 2010 were phenomenal years in which he averaged above 67, but the tap of elegant strokes seems to have gradually run dry. Despite the poor run in England, he averaged a respectable 40.68 in 2011 with one century. But clearly, the signs were clear.