Think of cricket and Australia, and the name VVS Laxman immediately comes to mind. The men in Baggy Green have suffered the most at the hands of the Hyderabadi right-hander, whose wristy strokes and calm approach made many of their bowlers toil, ponder and ultimately yield.

Laxman's magical innings of 281 against the Aussies that turned around the Kolkata Test in 2001 is definitely one of the best innings ever seen in the longer version of the game. Such was the genius of the right-hander, and the effectiveness of his wristy flicks, that an Australian side featuring the best bowlers of their era in Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath openly claimed that, at times, they were clueless as to how and where to bowl to him.

It is not as if the 37-year-old hasn't fared well against other teams, but his game assumes a completely different level when he is up against the Aussies. And, as he admits, he loves playing in Australia, where he got his first Test hundred in January 2000.

Just before he embarked on what could possibly be his last tour Down Under, Laxman spoke with Harish Kotian, at the ITC Maratha Hotel in Mumbai. He revealed why he loves playing in Australia, and why he believes this M S Dhoni-led Indian team can beat the odds and triumph in the four-Test series, starting later this month. After the debacle in England, how important is this Australian tour for the Indian team to prove its credentials as one that is capable of winning outside the subcontinent too?

The England tour was not a good experience for all of us. For various reasons we were not able to play to our potential; but, saying that, as a team we learnt from that experience and bounced back strongly, especially the ODI team which beat England 5-0 at home followed by the 2-0 Test series win against the West Indies. So we are looking forward to the Australian series; I am sure that if we play to our potential we can beat them.