Focus is on the process rather than end result: Laxman

Senior batsman VVS Laxman said that although they are keen on winning the series 3-0, the primary focus will be on playing to the best of their potential rather than thinking about the end result.

Mumbai: Senior batsman VVS Laxman on Monday said that although they are keen on winning the series 3-0, the primary focus will be on playing to the best of their potential rather than thinking about the end result.

"We would like to definitely win the series 3-0, that`s our target. (But) it`s very important to play to our potential and do a lot of hard work especially after the way the West Indians played in the 2nd innings at Kolkata," Laxman told the reporters ahead of his team`s third Test match against West Indies starting from Tuesday. "We would like to concentrate on the process and, if we end up winning the match, it will be great for us", he said. The West Indies lost the first Test in New Delhi by five wickets and the second Test match at Kolkata by an innings and 15 runs in which Laxman scored a majestic 176. The Wankhede strip has been termed as a "sporting track" by curator Sudhir Naik but the veteran of 129 Tests is not bothered about the kind of combination that the opponents will field. "The wicket looks good but I am a sort of guy who really doesn`t assess or analyse the opposition too much. If we can play to our potential and do our process rightly, I`m sure the end result would take care of itself. We would like to concentrate on how we will play to our strength and, if we can do that, end result will take care of itself," he explained. Not someone to take the opponents lightly, Laxman said that the results in the two Test matches don't reflect the true quality of the West Indies side. "The results show that West Indies have not done well. But in each and every session they were quite good. End result showed, we are leading 2-0 but I think they are a very good side." The man with 8563 Test runs to his name also praised the Windies attack terming it "one of the best in world." "Their bowling attack is one of the best in world cricket, if you see the bowlers they have got. (Fidel) Edwards, (Kemar) Roach bowled really well in the last match. (Ravi) Rampaul has been a very good bowler for them in the past 2 years. Bishoo is a very good spinner. Sammy...All of them are very good. It's a good bowling unit." Laxman was all praise for young southpaw Darren Bravo who scored an impressive century in the second innings at Kolkata to delay the inevitable. "You saw the way Bravo played in the last match. Kirk Edwards played against us in Dominica (got a century on debut), Chanderpaul obviously has been a match-winner for the West Indies for long. It is unfortunate people are not rating this West Indian side," he said. Laxman said that he would certainly like to score a Test century at the Wankhede stadium considering he hasn't scored one in his 15-year international career. "Wankhede is a special place to play cricket and so is Mumbai. If I can get a hundred on this ground, it will be great." The man-of-the-match in the last game, Laxman stated that it was the flatness of the Eden strip that made them set a target of 600 plus runs. "It was very important for us to get a big score in the first innings, especially because the wicket was flat. Our goal was to get more than 600 runs. It was important for the batsmen to continue once they settled down and get a big score." The leader of India's pace battery Zaheer Khan was seen training with the team yesterday and Laxman feels that the bowling attack will have more balance once the seniormost pacer makes a comeback. "Obviously when Zaheer comes back, I think it will be a very formidable pace attack. I am very impressed with the way Umesh (Yadav) bowled in the last match. Also Ishant seems to be getting back to his rhythm especially in Kolkata. Varun is also shaping up well. It's exciting to find bowlers clocking 140 kmph." As the discussion veered towards Sachin Tendulkar's coveted 100th international century, Laxman stressed that the iconic batsman's intensity is same irrespective of whether he is at the threshold of a milestone or not. "Right from the first time I saw Sachin, he prepares well for each and every Test match. That's been his hallmark." Laxman feels that it is his seriousness that makes Sachin the legend that he is. "Why he has done so well for so many years is because he takes each and every practise session so seriously irrespective of whether he's reaching any milestone or not." "The manner in which he prepares and makes sure he's ready mentally and physically for each and every Test match. That's why he has survived and has been a true match-winner for the country for so long," he added. Although wickets will be completely different in Australia but Laxman is of the opinion that the ability to bounce back that has been displayed by the team will have them in good stead. "Definitely Australia is going to be an important series. We are happy with the way we won in both the Test matches. If you see the Delhi Test match, we were in a tough situation especially at end of 2nd day. We bounced back and won that Test match. It showed the potential in the team," he said. He feels that having a positive mindset is very important. "It's good that if we go to Australia with a positive mindset and if we play the way we have played in this series, it will really help," he remarked further. A specialist slip fielder himself, Laxman praised Rahul Dravidwho has now taken over 200 catches in Tests. "If you see any practice session, the number of catches Rahul takes before each and every match probably helps him to keep the reflexes up to the standard. He's taken some brilliant catches over the years and taking over 200 Test catches is not a joke.” "That speaks a lot about his (Dravid) concentration too. Because when you are standing in slips especially when the wicket is flat or when there's a partnership, it's very easy to lose one's concentration.” "Rahul took some blinders especially when Bravo and (Marlon) Samuels were having a good partnership. Taking the important catch off Bravo and taking a good catch off Carlton (Baugh) were examples of someone who is preparing well for each and every match and each and every skill; that shows in the results," he said. PTI