Laxman, Kanwaljit serve notice to selectors

Kanwaljit, though fell short of Bishen Singh Bedi’s record 64 wickets in a season, he ended with a remarkable haul of 62 wickets to emerge as the most successful bowler.

Strong comeback: Laxman, axed after the Mumbai Test against South Africa, came back strongly in the Ranji Trophy with a series of centuries, including one triple hundred against Karnataka in the semifinals. His appetite of runs and temperament were in evidence. But significantly, he made his runs as a middle-order batsman rather than at the top.

“I thought I’m not fit for that role. I’m more relaxed when I play as a middle-order batsman,” said Laxman after his return from Mumbai where Hyderabad lost in the final.

Laxman went on to say that he was not in a mental of frame of mind as an opener. “When they (national selectors) gave me the job, I took it as a challenge. I tried my best. I did succeed in some matches, but overall, it was not satisfactory. May be, I was not fit enough for that job. I would be more useful coming down the order for the Indian team,” said the free stroking Laxman, and added: “I would have a talk with the National selectors and tell them I would be happy as a middle-order batsman.”

Focussed approach: On his record-breaking run-spree, the 25-year-old Laxman said it was never in the mind when he started the season. But he was focussed. “I knew that Hyderabad depended on me a lot and I was very happy to lead the challenge. The runs too came and we were all delighted to reach the final. If we had won the Ranji Trophy it would have been all the more sweet. It would have been sweeter than the record runs in a season.”

Did this run-spree label him as a domestic king? Laxman’s retort was: “I don’t look to those comments. My mission was to help Hyderabad win the Ranji Trophy and nearly succeeded in my efforts. Anyway, if you want to make a comeback into the Indian team, you have to perform in domestic cricket.”

The indomitable Sardar: Kanwaljit’s story is interesting. At 42 and at a time when most of the cricketers relax at home, this indomitable Sardar, has made everyone sit up and watch one of the most extraordinary fairytale runs in the last three seasons. He took 47 wickets in 1997-’98, 51 in 1998-99 and now 62 wickets. It was one of the most outstanding performances coming from a cricketer who has tried all tricks with the ball to don the National colours.

A classical spinner who purchases a wicket, a rare quality in Indian cricket now, Kanwaljit has put the ball in the selector’s court. “Will you look at my age or my achievement?” is the question he seems to be asking.

Suffering long under the shadows of Shivlal Yadav, Arshad Ayub and the Hyderabad Cricket Association’s reluctance to promote his cause, Kanwaljit has never shirked challenge. “I have never walked off the field or never shied away from hard work. If you look at my performances, most of the wickets have come in the knock-out stage and in the searing heat conditions. What more I can do to impress the selectors?” asked Kanwaljit.

Will Kanwaljit go the Rajender Goel or Padmakar Shivalkar way and never play a Test match, or like Zimbabwe’s John Traicos (at the age of 42) or Eddie Hemmings (at 39) play in a Test match. Only time will tell.

But these two cricketers have served notice in a telling way.