V.V.S. Laxman has drawn curtains on his 16 years illustrious career with immediate effect on Saturday.  Laxman’s career which spanned over 16 years has played 134 Tests and scored 8781 runs including 17 centuries and 56 fifties. Over the years he has played many memorable knocks and helped India win or save a match. Here is a list of his five best knocks:

1. 281 vs Australia at Kolkata, March 11-15, 2001: It is the knock that carved a niche for Laxman. The innings made a revered icon that he is today and changed the face of Indian cricket. India taking on Australia in the second Test were forced to follow on after trailing by 274 runs. He stood in defiance and along with Dravid put up a mammoth 376 runs partnership. He helped India past 600. He was eventually out for 281, the highest individual score then by any Indian. The innings became a part of cricket folklore and set a benchmark that hardly anyone could ever emulate. India won the match and that was the only third time that any team won a Test match after forced to follow on. The innings has been rated by Wisden as the sixth best Test innings of all times.

2. 148 vs Australia at Adelaide, December 12 -16, 2003: It was a déjà vu for Australia. Although Dravid was harsher on the Australians this time, Laxman still played a huge hand in helping India win the match. India down 85-4 in reply to Australia’s 556 and these two joined forces. Laxman innings helped India’s cause and in the end India won the match by four wickets.

3. 103 vs Sri Lanka at Colombo, August 3-7, 2010: Laxman was visibly uncomfortable due to a back spasm but then he did not let that affect his batting. He formed a partnership with Sachin Tendulkar, but then Sachin fell soon after his fifty. Laxman hung on and despite some great bowling, he played on scoring 103 to bring India home. It was his first century in Sri Lanka and was the fourth time that an Indian scored a century in the fourth innings in winning cause.

4. 96 vs South Africa at Durban, December 26-19, 2010: It was a Test match that was clearly dominated by bowlers. India batting first scored 205 and then bowled out South Africa for 131. Coming out to bat in the second innings India were reduced to 55-4, and it was Laxman who was again in the thick of actions. Even though he missed out on a century, his knock of 96 was enough to help India win the match.

5. 73 not out vs Australia at Mohali, October 1-5, 2010: After helping India win the match in Eden Gardens, he again helped India script a famous victory. Chasing a target of 216, India were down eight wickets with a distance to travel. Laxman batting with the tail-enders led India to a victory.

By Indian Sports News Network