While nowhere near as spectacular as his epic against Australia last year, VVS Laxman's second hundred in successive Tests at Eden Gardens was crucial in India staving off defeat. At Trent Bridge earlier this year, Laxman played a shocking hoick to leg and was dismissed with the team battling to avoid defeat. This time, with his team in even greater strife, he was a picture of restraint, playing the perfect second fiddle to Sachin Tendulkar.

In the 214-run partnership, Laxman's contribution was a mere 68 off 208 balls – a scoring rate of 1.96 – while Tendulkar motored along at 3.65 runs per over at the other end. Among the bowlers who got exaggerated respect from Laxman were Chris Gayle (2 off 20 balls) and Marlon Samuels (2 off 15). A batsman who prefers to score his runs in boundaries, Laxman hit just six fours in the stand, to Tendulkar's 18.

Laxman has often been accused of poor shot selection and throwing away starts, but here he eschewed all risks during the crucial partnership - of the 122 good-length balls that he received, Laxman scored a mere 24 runs. Only when the bowlers sent down half-volleys did Laxman venture to play strokes, scoring 16 from 15 such balls. It was an uncharacteristic knock, but his fifth fifty-plus score in nine innings at Eden Gardens saved India the Test, and boosted his average at the venue to 90.50, second only to Mohammad Azharuddin's 107.50 (among batsmen who have played at least three Tests here).

S Rajesh is sub editor of Wisden.com in India.

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