In a departure from his earlier stand, middle-order batsman V V S Laxman, seeking to make a comeback to the national cricket team after being dropped for the World Cup, on Thursday said he was prepared to open the innings in Test matches if required.

Laxman, who made an epic 281 against Australia batting at number three, has always said he is more comfortable coming down the order but apparently the stlyish right-hander is now  willing to be more flexible in order to make his way into the national side.

"I would not mind opening the innings," the Hyderabad batsman, one of the 36 probables, told reporters at Bangalore at the conditioning camp for the upcoming home Test series against New Zealand.

Laxman's willingness to open the innings comes at a time when India is struggling to find the right opening pair. And his more flexible approach also highlights the fact that there is more competition for places in the squad in the post-World Cup scenario.

Laxman also seems to have realised that it is no use fretting and sulking over his omission from cricket's quarterly showpiece event.

"It was very disappointing and depressing and it came as a shock to me. However, it is past and now I am looking ahead at the coming season which would be a tough one," he said.

Laxman, who has been training and exercising all along to keep himself match-fit, said he was pleased with the camp which was being conducted in a modern and scientific manner.