Kolkata, Nov 15: Continuing his love affair with Eden Gardens, VVS Laxman struck his fifth hundred at the venue helping India set a mammoth first innings total on Day 2 of the second Test against the West Indies. Laxman’s 176* was his first century of the year and 17th in Test cricket.

Excerpts from the end of day press conference:

On whether there was something about the historic ground that inspires him

Not sure about that but I’ve always enjoyed batting at Eden Gardens […] It is a great ground with a lot of history and the spectators make it special, the people of Kolkata make it special, and it’s a special ground for all of us.

On being asked to pick his favourite century

Well, I am not one who rates my innings but any knock which contributes to the team is always good and I hope that this knock will help the team win the game. I rate any knock which helps the team win as more valuable than the one made in a losing cause so hopefully [we will win]. The wicket is already turning and there is good bounce for the spinners so hopefully our bowlers can bowl in the right areas and we can win the game.

On getting to a century

It was a relief to get a hundred because the last hundred I got was against Sri Lanka in the third Test match at P Sara [Oval in Colombo] where the team was under tremendous pressure. After that I played knocks in pressure situations but luckily in this Test match [Virender] Sehwag and Gautam [Gambhir] gave us a good start and Rahul [Dravid] and Sachin [Tendulkar] had a good partnership. So when I went in to bat, [the] position was not very challenging but it was important for us to build a partnership at that stage and that’s what Rahul and I tried to do. And it was also important to get a big score in the first innings, especially seeing the nature of the wicket – [it is likely to] deteriorate on the third and the fourth day. It was quite satisfying to get a hundred after [a] long gap even though I had some valuable fifties under my belt. But it always feels satisfying to get a hundred.

On playing in crisis situations

That’s one of the challenges which I had, especially with Paddy Upton as a mental conditioner. We tried various strategies to get the best out of me especially when I am not in a position where the team is under a lot of [pressure]. It feels good. This is probably the first time after a long time when the team is not in a challenging or a difficult position and I have gone and got a hundred.

On whether there was any particular reason for not going for a double hundred

As you saw the light was deteriorating; that was the reason why, especially after MS [Dhoni] got out. The light was deteriorating and that was the reason why we wanted to bowl at least 20 to 22 overs at the West Indies this evening. That was the reason why we declared.

On whether it was his call to declare the innings

When we came in to tea the strategy was to bat around five to six overs, but saying that, suddenly the third over after tea the light suddenly dropped so I passed on the message to the dressing room saying it was important to declare and bowl at the West Indies.

On his fifth century at Eden Gardens

It feels great; getting a hundred for India is always a great feeling, so it’s not anything different today.

On batting with MS Dhoni and watching his shots after having batted with more elegant players likes Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid

And whenever he hits a six he says he didn’t connect the ball! I start laughing saying that it easily clears the boundary. Even in the last Test match here against South Africa we had a similar partnership where both of us probably remained unbeaten and it was the same today. When we needed quick runs it was quite easy for me because Dhoni was at the other end and common sense says to take a single and give him as much strike as possible because he’s definitely a cleaner hitter then me. It’s always great to see Dhoni; I think he is a brilliant batsman and he puts the bowlers under a lot of pressure right from the word go. It’s great to watch him from the other end.

On Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni

Both of them are exceptionally talented and gifted. We are really lucky to have such stroke-players in our team.

On whether it’s difficult for a batsman to spot the ball when lights are used in a Test match although they weren’t used here

Yes, I have always felt that. It is challenging and it’s never the same as natural light. It’s always challenging when you are playing under lights and especially when there are shadows around [when] using red ball.

On the low spectator turnout

I am surprised at the [low] number of spectators at this venue […] It’s quite surprising because we always felt that Kolkata is one place where you have a lot of support for Test match cricket. It’s strange; I am not sure what the reason is. As I mentioned earlier, it is always a great feeling playing at Eden Gardens. Whenever I come here all of you always ask and remind me about the Kolkata 2001 Test match. That Test match gives a lot of inspiration to me and to all the guys who were involved in that game.

On not coming out to field

Everything is fine, I was just [having] cramps after playing that shot. Otherwise I am quite happy the way my back [held] up especially after a long innings like this. I should be really thankful to the physiotherapist and the trainer, especially after the South Africa series. I have really worked hard on my fitness and it is great that my back has really held up well.

On Sachin Tendulkar completing 22 years in cricket

Great! And I’m sure he will [play many more years] and everyone knows what a legend and match-winner he has been for the country for so many years. Words cannot describe what he has contributed to Indian cricket and to world cricket. For me personally it is a great honour and a privilege to play alongside Sachin and I and a lot of my team-mates feel that it is a great honour to be playing with him.

On whether just two practice games were enough preparation for the Australia series

Yes, I’m sure. Especially with the way international cricket is scheduled in the present day, I think two practice games is good and I think the BCCI should be complimented; initially it was only one practice game and they added one more. I’m sure we can acclimatise to the conditions as early as possible and do well. The Australia tour is going to be very important and all of us dream of winning the series. Hopefully we can realise that dream this time around.