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WS Laxman

AFP, Sydney
WS Laxman once again lived up to his "Very, Very Special" tag with his third consecutive Test century at the Sydney Cricket Ground for India against Australia onThursday.
The 33-year-old Hyderabad batting maestro delighted his admirers with another innings of pure quality to give the tourists renewed hope of stopping the Australian juggernaut in the second Test
At stumps on Day I\vo of the second Test, India were 216 for three in reply to Australia's 463 first innings with Sachin Tendulkar not out nine and Sourav Ganguly on 21.
Laxman fully stretched Ricky Ponting's team with classic strokeplay for his 12th hundred in his 88th Test. He averages 113 at the ground in four innings. In Australia he averages 59.46 compared to his career average of44.46.
Laxman, so much an unsung hero behind Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid in India's pedigree batting
side, relished his return to the venerable ground, producing his trademark sumptuous drives, scoring 109 off 142 balls with 18 fours to breathe new hope into the tourists after Australia's formidable first innings total of463.
Before Laxman's arrival shortly after lunch on the second day of the second Test, Andrew Symonds had dominated with his unconquered 162 in Australia’s innings.
But the Indian right-hander joined Rahul Dravid at the crease to restore morale after the tourists' 337-run drubbing in the first Test in Melbourne.
Laxman and Dravid fell late in the day, six minutes apart. Dravid was out for a battling 53, caught at first slip by Matthew Hayden off Mitchell Johnson, and Laxman was taken by Mike Hussey off legspinner Brad Hogg.
"Getting a hundred on this ground previously definitely gives you a boost because you've done well and it's familiar conditions. It gives you a lot of confidence," Laxman said.
"I was disappointed that we lost
two quick wickets because I really wanted to be not out and carry on tomorrow."
Laxman and Dravid, who have proved Australia's nemeses with two huge partnerships in the past, amassed 175 runs for the second wicket.
They are renowned for their match-turning 376-run partnership in the second innings of the "Miracle of Calcutta" Test triumph, which ended Australia's march of 16 consecutive wins in 2001.
Australia paid dearly Thursday for Laxman having a life on 77 when he was put down by Adam Gilchrist, fumbling a right glove chance off Brett Lee.
Laxman careered to his half-century off 43 balls and in one Johnson over plundered 18 runs with four boundaries and a two.
In contrast, Dravid crawled along as he did in the Melbourne Test with his half-century coming off 158 balls in four hours.
Dravid was playfully barracked by the Australian crowd, cheering each time he played a non-scoring
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shot and on one occasion they gave him a huge ovation when he scored a single after being marooned on 18 for 41 balls. TXvo balls after reaching his half-century' he was out
Earlier, Symonds eclipsed his previous highest score of 156 set a year ago against England with his 344-minute epic that rescued the Australians on the opening day.
Symonds, helped by big partnerships with Hogg (173 runs) and Lee (114), added 329 runs for the last four wickets to frustrate the tourists.
The all-rounder blasted 18 fours and two sixes off 226 balls for his second century in his 17th Test match.
Lee claimed his fourth Test half-century with 59 and Johnson batted boldly for 28 to rub the salt into the Indian wounds.
The Australians' big innings came after being in strife at 134 for
six midway through the first day's play.
Indian skipper Anil Kumble finished with 4-106 off 25.3 overs, with left-arm paceman RP Singh taking 4-124 off 26 overs.
SCOREBOARD
Scoreboard at the close of second day's play of the second Test between Australia and India at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday:
AUSTRALIA: First innings (overnight 376-7)
Jaques c Dhoni b RP 0
Hayden cTendulkar bRP 13
Pontinglbwb Harbhajan 55
Hussey cTendulkar bRP 41
Clarke lbwb Harbhajan 1
Symonds not out 162
Gilchrist cTendulkar b RP 7
Hogg c Dravid b Kumble 79
Lee lbwb Kumble 59
Johnson c Ganguly b Kumble 28 Clark lbw b Kumble 0
Extras: (b-2,lb-9,w-4,nb-3) 18
Total: (All out in 112.3 overs) 463 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-27, 3-119, 4-119, 5-121, 6-134, 7-307, 8-421, 9-461
Bowler O M R W
RP 26 3 124 4
Sharma 23 3 87 0
Ganguly 6 1 13 0
Harbhajan 27 3 108 2
Kumble 25.3 0 106 4
Tendulkar 5 0 14 0
INDIA: First innings
Jaffer b Lee 3
Dravid c Hayden b Johnson 53
Laxman c Hussey b Hogg 109
Tendulkar not out 9
Ganguly not out 21
Extras: (b-4,lb-8,w-3,nb-6) 21
Total: (For 3 wkts in 62 overs) 216
Fall ofwickets: 1 -8,2-183,3-185 Bowler O M R W
Lee 15 4 34 1
Johnson 18 2 75 1
Clark 11 3 28 0
Symonds 7 1 19 0
Hogg 11 0 48 1