V.V.S. Laxman, who contributed again under pressure to an Indian win, shared his thoughts on the second Test and his batting with the media on Thursday.
(Excerpts):
On the trigger for the turnaround: We were very, very upset about what happened in Centurion. I thought on the second day (here) we were more aggressive, and that's what we discussed coming into this Test match. . The bowlers bowled with intent and the fielders backed them up with some extraordinary catching.
On handling pressure: The tough situations get the best out of me. I don't know why. Probably the zone I get into when we are faced with a tough challenge is more consistent than the zone I go into in the first innings. You realise that there are no thoughts in your mind.
You're not distracted by what the opposition fielders are talking, the way the opposition bowlers are coming at you. On batting with the tail: It boils down to experience and the rapport I share with them. But the most important thing is knowing what they are comfortable with. If a batsman is not comfortable with a bowler, I don't give him the strike. But if they are comfortable, I definitely give them the strike, and the scoreboard keeps moving. On his game: I keep working on my technique but I don't see any drastic change in my game. But saying that, with experience, you judge situations much better, you judge wickets much better, and you counter the opposition much better.
The paddle sweep is something I have added. Against Sri Lanka, because I don't play the sweep shot a lot, they were blocking my runs. I have worked on it in the ‘nets.'
On the respect he has earned: You want to be remembered as someone who has contributed to winning matches for the country. The biggest recognition is when your teammates feel you can go and bail the team out of a tough situation. Even the opposition feels you can not take it granted that the match is over. That feels great.
On the win: When you beat South Africa on supposedly the quickest and bounciest wicket in South Africa, it gives you that much additional joy. It was one of the most difficult wickets I have played on in my career.
