VVS LAXMAN

Mussoorie: Vangipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman, the India vice-captain in the forthcoming Test series in the West Indies, spoke to The Telegraph from Hyderabad.

The following are excerpts

Q Your last India appearance was six months ago, in the Cape Town Test. In this age, that’s an awful lot of time to be off international cricket...

A I’ve used this period constructively... I’ve done a lot of work at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and I’m grateful to the physio there, Ashish Kaushik, and trainer Sudarshan. I followed the latter’s fitness programme even during my IPL-IV days with Kochi.

It must be tough if you’re playing just one form of cricket for the country, isn’t it?

Has been so for well over four years now, as I haven’t played an ODI after December 2006... It’s definitely a challenge.

How have you been preparing for the Test series in the West Indies?

I’ve been training with the Hyderabad Ranji squad, which is having its summer camp. On the fitness front, I’ve been religiously doing what has prescribed by the NCA trainer.

Has the long break from national duty made you more hungry?

It has, yes.

You did play a few matches in the IPL. What was the experience like with a new franchise?

I would’ve loved to have played more than three matches, but I got injured just before the toss in one game and, then, didn’t fit into the combination.

Mahela Jayawardene was the captain for the first four weeks or so. Did the two of you get to talk at length about batting?

Not really, we’d just have general chats... I did, however, get to talk a lot with Murali (Muttiah Muralidharan)... Like me, he didn’t play many matches and, so, both of us had plenty of time! For all his achievements, Murali is so humble. He’s an amazing person, a wonderful human being.

Happy that you didn’t get into the country vs franchise/club controversy...

I guess it will always be there... What happened recently was, in my view, blown out of proportion... Injuries are bound to happen and the players could get into situations where they may have to weigh options without looking too far ahead. Of course, I have no doubt that even for today’s generation, nothing matters more than playing for the country.

You’ll be coming into a ‘new’ dressing room... A new (head) coach in Duncan Fletcher, a new fielding coach (Trevor Penny)... Your thoughts?

Fletcher has come on board with a fine record as England’s coach from 1999 to 2007... I did get the chance to talk to him, off and on, on England’s 2005-06 tour of India... I’m sure that, under him, we’ll go from strength to strength.

I assume you’ll be missing Gary Kirsten...

(Interrupting, almost) Absolutely... All of us are going to miss him. Gary had a great influence on me and the team, besides, he’s such a fabulous person.

Are you surprised that Gary is quickly back to coaching a national side?

Not surprised... Look, Gary’s a professional and I’m not sure not many in India would’ve passed up the opportunity to coach the country... It’s a fair call... Coaching South Africa will allow Gary to spend a lot more time with his wife and their two young sons.

What are your thoughts on the current West Indies squad?

Inexperienced, but very talented. The wickets in the West Indies are slow, but they aren’t the same as in India. Moreover, the bounce varies from island to island.

Your first tour to the West Indies was in your debut season, 1996-97. What were your emotions on landing in the Caribbean?

There wasn’t a feeling of intimidation, rather I was excited... I’d grown up watching and reading about Clive Lloyd and (Sir) Viv Richards, Andy Roberts and Mike Holding... World-beaters... There I was shaking hands with some of them... I remember meeting Rohan Kanhai and (Rev.) Wes Hall too.

You had a fantastic 2010 in Test cricket (939 runs at an average of 67-plus). How do you yourself look back on last year?

(Emotionally) It was a great 2010 for me and the team... We remained No.1 in Test cricket... We bounced back from some really tough situations...

What made the difference for you last year?

Don’t think I did anything differently... The role I played in 2010 wasn’t different from what I’d been doing since 2001.

The Kishore Kumar hits must have helped...

Sure... Of late, by the way, I’ve been listening a lot of S.P. Balasubramaniam, whom I recently felicitated in Hyderabad.

If you had to choose one over the others, which of the three — the unbeaten 103 at the P.Sara, the unbeaten 73 in Mohali or the 96 at Kingsmead — would you pick as the more special innings?

All three knocks were important for the country and we won all the three Tests that you’ve mentioned... Perhaps because of the wicket at Kingsmead, that innings could be a wee bit more special.

This is your 15th year as an India player. What would be the most apt description of this journey?

Great... A great learning experience... I’ve become mature, the journey has made me handle success and failure with equanimity... That’s critical for a sportsman.

What’s the No.1 challenge in 2011?

To be consistent, to do my bit in the big Test series’... In the West Indies, in England and in Australia... Hopefully, I’ll be able to produce match-winning performances... I haven’t got a hundred in England, so there’s a small personal goal I’d like to achieve during the four-Test series.

Raising the bar entails...

You’ve got to have goals, you’ve got to look forward to something... I’d like to improve the conversion rate of 50s to 100s... Last year, I had seven 50s, but only two 100s.

Have you been strengthening your back?

The entire body, not the back only.

You’re the vice-captain for the first time after the 2006-07 Test series in South Africa. How have you been ‘preparing’ for this role?

The designation doesn’t change anything... As a senior, I always try and contribute, help the youngsters... My seniors helped me and, today, it’s my duty to help the present-day newcomers.

Are you disappointed that the powers-that-be have never really appreciated your leadership skills?

I’ve captained at every level, except leading India... Look, the captaincy isn’t in my control... I consider myself fortunate to have played under great captains.

Finally, some words on Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the captain...

MS is fabulous... It’s amazing how he treats everything on one level, stays calm and collected... He’s so balanced, which is an admirable quality.