India Australia Series

Laxman hopes for a great 100th Test

Indian batsman Venkatsai Laxman on Wednesday said he was hoping for a “special” performance in his 100th Test against Australia, the team he has smashed more centuries past than any other.

Laxman has scored six of his 13 hundreds against Australia, including two double-centuries, and is only the second Indian after Sachin Tendulkar to have made more than 2,000 runs against them.

“I have always enjoyed playing against them (Australia),” said Laxman, who on Thursday will become the eighth Indian to play 100 Tests. “It gives you a lot of satisfaction to do well against the top side in the world. They have always been been number one since I started playing international cricket. It’s been an amazing journey. It’s a great moment for me and for all the people associated in this journey of mine. I hope I can make it special.”

Laxman’s liking for the Australian bowling began in 2000 when he hammered a robust 167 in Sydney for his maiden Test hundred. His best came the following year at Kolkata when he hit 281 under pressure to turn the second Test against Steve Waugh’s Australia upside down, eventually setting up India’s win after the follow-on.

He looks at his fluent best against Australia, having been involved in four massive partnerships against them. The middle-order batsman put on 376 with Rahul Dravid in 2001 (Kolkata), 353 with Tendulkar in 2004 (Sydney), 303 with Dravid in 2003 (Adelaide) and 278 with Gautam Gambhir last month in Delhi.

Tags: Australia, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2008, India, VVS Laxman