Laxman stresses on boosting Hyderabad’s batting

Former cricketer VVS Laxman, while opining that Pragyan Ojha moving over to West Bengal for the coming domestic season would dent Hyderabad’s Ranji prospects substantially, called upon the State players to develop consistency at the highest level for the team’s better showing.

Stating that he has spoken to the spinner in his personal capacity, Laxman indicated that the biggest positive for Ojha was the fact that he would be playing Elite matches while Hyderabad continued to languish in the Plate group. “There is good batting talent in the squad although it lacks consistency, which is one of the reasons for the team’s continued poor showing.

At the end of the day, what matters is the batsmen’s quest for scoring big. Scoring runs is a technique that has to be evolved and harnessed along with skill, adaptability and temperament. I'm looking forward to ringing in a positive mindset among every player,” he said on the first day of the special three-day camp at the invitation of Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), which sought his expertise as a batting consultant.

The camp, which will be held at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium (RGICS) till Sunday, is being attended by 32 players of which 15 are specialist batsmen, who will come under the tutelage of Laxman. Laxman, who has been hired by Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) as a consultant, said that he would conduct at least six classes for the probables so that they could tune up when the season gets underway.

He said that as the players were playing league matches on first three days of the week, they will have HCA sessions in the last three days. “I felt that this was the appropriate time to be with the boys so that they work on their individual strengths and weaknesses, subsequently,” said Laxman, who is in the three-member advisory panel for BCCI.

For one who took to real time coaching with his VVS Sports Academy at Sreenidhi International School in the city outskirts, Laxman is getting a feel of the job, despite the hurdles. By his admission, ‘coaching is not an easy job. However, I am enjoying the work”.

The excitement at the camp was palpable. His passionate zeal and a testimony to his seriousness was that he stood at the ground for over three hours watching and testing the boys. He was given company by Arshad Ayub, President of HCA, who was seen giving tips to the bowlers. P Akshat Reddy said, “It is a great opportunity for the young players to interact with Laxman. This gives us encouragement” he said.

If there was any remorse it was in the absence of any regular coach, making one wonder if they will take over only after Laxman’s pep talks. By being there they could have perhaps taken cue from the business-like approach of VVS Laxman.

By:Subhash Chandra