Published: Sep 11, 2015, 12:09 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 11, 2015, 01:18 PM (IST)
Former India cricketer VVS Laxman feels that Team India should not get carried away with too much of aggression, highlighting Ishant Sharma’s on field spat with Dhammika Prasad. “The Indian team has always played aggressive cricket against the top teams like Australia, it’s important to display aggression and emotion. If you take the case of Ishant Sharma, it’s good for a fast bowler to have the killer instinct, as long as you keep the emotions in check. But one should not get carried away with emotions and aggression, so that you don’t sit out of Test matches,” Laxman was quoted as saying by Times of India. VVS Laxman: A morale-boosting Test series win
Ishant was involved in an altercation with some Sri Lankan players during the third Test. The incident happened in the 76th and final over of the Indian second innings, which was being bowled by Prasad. Prasad bowled a couple of bouncers which Ishant left alone and had a smile for the Lankan pacer. A bit agitated, Prasad bowled a third bouncer which was illegal and promptly signalled no-ball by the umpire. Having exhausted his quota of two bouncers for the over, Prasad pitched one up and Ishant cut it towards point region for a single. But as he ran past Prasad, he started tapping his helmet with an obvious gesture to the fast bowler to try and hit him on the head. Once the run was complete, Prasad had a few words for Ishant, who was in no mood to back out and walked upto him. Just when they were exchanging words angrily, Dinesh Chandimal while passing grazed Ishant’s shirt while with some words of his own which suddenly got Ravichandran Ashwin agitated. Ashwin drew the attention of umpires Rod Tucker and Nigel Llong who then called up Angelo Mathews to tell him to calm his players down. Still pretty angry at what happened, Prasad deliberately overstepped and bowled a fourth bouncer to Ishant after which he took a single. The final delivery of the over saw Prasad dismissing Ashwin. But then as Ishant was trudging towards the pavilion, Prasad ran towards him and said a few words. VVS Laxman: Learning experience for both India and Sri Lanka
Laxman believes that the interest of Test cricket is yet to fade away. “I still feel there is a lot of interest in Test cricket. Whenever there is a good series, as when India plays Australia or South Africa, people come to (the stadium) watch,” he said. VVS Laxman: Kumar Sangakkara and Michael Clarke were excellent role models
“Even when India tours Australia, England or South Africa, crowds come to the stadium. Test cricket is a different ball game, it’s a test of all aspects. There will always be interest.” VVS Laxman’s tips for budding slip fielders
Speaking about pink ball cricket, Laxman said, “We have to look at various ways to make Test cricket more interesting and day-night cricket has helped draw more crowds to the stadiums. But I am a bit sceptical of the pink ball.”
Earlier, after India registered a historic win in Sri Lanka, Laxman congratulated Ishant for his match changing spell against Sri Lanka in the third Test at SSC ground in Colombo.
