Laxman, who has been enjoying a rich vein of form in recent times, clearly relished playing on a hard and true batting wicket. After a cautious start, the Hyderabadi stylist blossomed; his wrists of steel helping him to pierce the gaps in the field and keep the scoreboard ticking. Even the loss of Ganguly, after a record 128-run third wicket stand, failed to deter Laxman, as he continued to pile on the runs in the company of a refreshingly attacking Rahul Dravid.