My response -
Laxman is no doubt the most elegant Indian batsman since Azharuddin, and has often rescued India in tests. However it is his strange inconsistency, specially against sides other than Australia, that leaves him open to charges like this. Consider that even a complete idiot like Thilan Samaraweera has 12 Test hundreds to Laxman's 16, and a Test average of 53 to Laxman's 47.22. In terms of class Laxman is so far ahead of Samaraweera that it should not even be a comparision - like comparing Rolls Royce to Ford Fiesta, but 10 years from now stats will show that the Sri Lankan was almost as successful a Test bat for his country as Laxman was for his. The reality of the situation can be assessed only when you filter his record - against the very best team of his time, Laxman's performance is better than any other Indian batsman - Against Australia, Laxman's Test average is 55 at a strike rate of 55 runs per 100 balls faced, AND 6 of his 16 hundreds have been against Australia. Not only that, his Test average IN Australia is 54, at a strike rate of almost 55 runs per hundred balls faced, and 4 of his 6 hundreds against Australia have been scored in Australia. By contrast, against Bangladesh, arguably the most shit Test team, his average is 39. The only good team against which his record is patchy is South Africa, but even there his away average is better than his home average. Also, out of his 113 total Tests, in his last 33 tests since 2007, his average has been 50 - better than his career average. By contrast SRT for example has an average of 56 against Australia, but only 10 of his 48 centuries have been against Australia, and only 6 out of 48 IN Australia. Not only that SRT's average vs Bangladesh is a staggering 137!
I think Laxman is a cerebral player and needs a real challenge to motivate himself, unlike SRT who is a ruthless run machine. Laxman saves his best for when it is most needed and otherwise tends to be disinterested - if he is not facing and defeating the best, he is almost bored. By the way, Tendulakar's average aganst SA is also 38, one higher than Laxman's. The biggest contrast between Laxman and SRT is in the batting averages of 1st innings and 2nd innings - SRT's 1st innings average is 63, but 2nd innings is only 43. Laxman's 1st innings average is 48, but his 2nd innings average is 50+. That is the true greatness of Laxman, and why he is very very special - when SRT is out, and the team is battling in the second innings to save the match or complete a win, when the chips are down and we are up against a real challenge, Laxman is the one who has responded best.
Oh, by the way Samaraweera's record againts Australia - Average 31, and IN Australia - 22 !!!
