Very, very special zero in Centurion

By John Cheeran
It was a very, very special zero from Indian vice-captain VVS Laxman.
Laxman’s class, craft and experience were all brought to naught by that ball sent down by a wily Shaun Pollock in Centurion, in the immediate aftermath of the wild and wanton Virender Sehwag’s dismissal.
Laxman could not resist the temptation of poking his bat out side the off-stump and South African skipper Graeme Smith accepted the Dakshina (offering) from the Indian.
The man who was brought in to lend his backbone to Indian batting had to beat a hasty retreat.
Laxman represents the school of experience in the ongoing battle between Experience and Youth. In the whole one-day series against South Africa in 2006, no Indian batsman, not even Suresh Raina was out for the first ball.
Compared to the conditions in Durban and Cape Town, on Sunday at Centurion, the picture was perfect for batting. The fact that India, for the first time in the series, managed to last full fifty overs and touched the 200 mark in itself shows the gradual change in the conditions.
I’m immensely saddened by Laxman’s failure to last more than a ball; but that should also bring in some perspective to vendors of the theory of experience.
It is a test of class and craft out there.