Sir Sachin Tendulkar 4 [Archive] - Page 13

ajithfederer

22nd August 2012, 08:50 AM

I am not sure how many of us have noticed but Ian Chappell has been picking the best centuries he has watched. I never thought he would pick any one of Sachin's 100's. But he has picked Tendulkar's 114.

Sachin Tendulkar, 114 v Australia, WACA, 1992
'Incredible for an 18-year-old'
August 21, 2012
Sachin Tendulkar
114 v Australia, WACA, 1992

Sachin Tendulkar: no trouble making the adjustment from low to high bounce © Getty Images
The first chance I actually got to see Sachin Tendulkar bat live was in the 1991-92 series, when India came to Australia. India finished up losing the series 4-0, but Tendulkar left a large impression on me.

Firstly, he got the 148 in Sydney. That was a magnificent innings. The guy was only 18 years of age, and when you think of the contrasting pitches, coming from India, where the bounce is much lower, to Australia, where the bounce is much higher - that, to me, is one of the toughest adjustments you've got to make as a batsman. To me it's always much easier to adjust from the higher bounce to the lower bounce. Going the other way must be an enormous adjustment, and fortunately I never had to do it. And to do it as an 18-year-old kid, I thought was incredible. So I was highly impressed with Tendulkar when he got 148 in Sydney.

He went to Perth, and I thought this would be really interesting, being a short player. There is no other like that - it's unique, the WACA pitch, with its bounce, particularly at that stage. It has come down a little bit since then but in those days it used to bounce a lot.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/db/PICTURES/CMS/148500/148566.2.jpg

I have seen Australian players who played Sheffield Shield cricket play a few innings at the WACA. It usually takes them a few innings to adjust to the WACA if they are not from Western Australia. Here is this 18-year-old kid, he comes to Perth and he makes 114. Okay, he got more runs in Sydney, but to me the innings in Perth was more impressive because here is a kid, coming from low-bouncing pitches to the highest bouncing and the fastest pitch in the world - totally unique conditions. He makes all the adjustments and scores 114.

He was such a good player off the back foot. The shot that always stands out for me with Tendulkar is when he goes on the back foot and just punches down the ground. There is no follow-through with it. Boom! Just a punch. His timing was so good, and he used that shot a lot in Perth. It's not the easiest shot in the world to play on the normal-bouncing pitches, but on the extra bounce of Perth, for a short guy… it's a very, very tough shot to play.

As I say, I was impressed with Tendulkar after I saw the 148 in Sydney, but boy, I was even more impressed when he got that 114 in Perth. That was a remarkable knock for a player of great experience, but for an 18-year-old, it was incredible.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/video_audio/577206.html

ajithfederer

22nd August 2012, 11:16 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRVYqEnZ1NE

LM, Do we have this docu???

littlemaster1982

26th August 2012, 04:39 PM

^^ I don't think so. Will DL.

Arvind Srinivasan

27th August 2012, 05:02 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjXnIfhfsX4

Arvind Srinivasan

27th August 2012, 05:03 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4KEBylm4hE&feature=related

ajithfederer

28th August 2012, 10:13 AM

A very rare video. Sir Viv :clap:. The man must like Tendulkar absolutely/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lhU_Z6j_Wg

Sir Viv Richards speaks of Sachin Tendulkar

ajithfederer

29th August 2012, 11:04 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvcy1yNehz4&feature=g-all-c

Sachin Tendulkar 76 vs West Indies 1st Test 2011 HD

ajithfederer

30th August 2012, 10:31 AM

BANGALORE, August 30, 2012
‘As long as I am enjoying it, I will play’

K. C. VIJAYA KUMAR

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/01193/TH30_SACHIN_1193397e.jpg

Way back in 1989, when Twitter was just a sound associated with birds, a 16-year-old tackled Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis in Pakistan and emerged with his nascent reputation further enhanced.

Cut to the present, nothing has changed for Indian cricket’s seemingly eternal man. The hunger to succeed remains undiminished and this trait was reiterated by Sachin Tendulkar in a chat here with The Hindu ahead of Wednesday’s Castrol Cricketing Excellence awards function.

The maestro looked back at last season’s mixed results, stressed that he is one with the young lads, had words of wisdom for Unmukt Chand and also hoped that the young crop would step into the huge shoes of Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman.

Excerpts:

Part I: The Tendulkar files

That significant hundred: After I scored my 99th hundred against South Africa at Nagpur, nobody spoke about my 100th hundred because the focus was on the World Cup. After the World Cup, everyone thought ‘what next’ and that’s how the focus shifted to my 100. I came close to scoring it in England, scored a 94 against the West Indies and I was moving well in Australia. If I have to look at the 2011 season, it started well with a hundred at Cape Town and ended well (at Dhaka), though there were unlucky patches.

Staying fit all these years: Without the help of doctors, physios, trainers, friends, teammates and family members, things would not have been the same because when you get injured you feel deflated.

My tennis elbow kept me out for four months and I could not even hit a plastic ball with a plastic bat. I was really worried. For any sportsman, the toughest task is being patient and waiting for your injury to heal. Luckily, my wife is a doctor and that helped.

Serious senior? Not always…: I am an easy-going person. I am not serious all the time. I play pranks and it is not one-way traffic, they (the youngsters in the team) can do the same to me.

A team is a family and only if you are like that can it help make them feel at ease when they are playing.”

The journey will continue: As long as I am enjoying myself, as long as I can contribute, I will play.

I have always cared about my cricket, have always valued whatever has come my way and I have not taken anything for granted.

It’s about how you prepare yourself before a series, a tournament or any match.

Part II: The team

Transition blues: No one can become a Dravid or a Laxman overnight. It is going to require a number of hours of training.

Forget the hours they spent playing Tests or ODI cricket, also factor in the number of hours they spent training. Whatever the records or statistics you get to see did not happen just like that.

They worked hard for that. If the younger generation gets to play for India and if it is your passion, then you got to push your body and mind to any extent.

Last season’s vagaries: It started off well and in the Cape Town Test (against South Africa), we were on top throughout the match except in the last few overs and then we knew that we had to play for a draw. After that, the World Cup was a fabulous journey. England though was a tough series and we were badly hit by injuries. Then, we had a good home series against the West Indies.

And in Australia, I thought we were in the driver’s seat (in the first Test at Melbourne) and it slipped away for us.

On the second day, I had a wonderful partnership with Rahul and we were 200 plus for two and then, I got out in the last over and Rahul got out in the first over on the third morning. That was the turning point.

Dravid’s high in England: He was in the zone. His concentration was spot on. There were some tough times and he overcame those obstacles brilliantly.

Ashwin’s growth: He has consistently done well, not just in bowling but also in batting. He has scored a Test hundred and has had some key partnerships and it is wonderful.

Yuvraj and swirling emotions: I met Yuvraj in England in June. It was tough for me to not get emotional. I had sort of decided that I would not get that emotional in front of him because he was the one who had gone through terrible times. We went out for dinner and it was fun.

He had done everything possible that his doctors advised him to do and there is a clear cut message to all cancer patients that they can be cured.

Unmukt and the road ahead: Unmukt has proved himself right now, but this is the beginning of a journey. Before the under-19 team left to Australia, I spent an hour with them in Mumbai.

Without collective effort, success can’t be gained and there were many moments when others contributed and at the big moment, Unmukt batted brilliantly.

I told them that they should spend as much time as they can with each other because it is going to be a tough journey.

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/article3836864.ece?homepage=true

selvakumar

30th August 2012, 11:40 AM

Feddy, Thanks for sharing that Sir Viv Richard's speech. You can see what he feels from his eyes. I never knew he admired Sachin this much. While people from other countries put down Sachin to project their own stars at every given opportunity, here is a man who admires Sachin even though he has another icon (Lara) from his own country. Actually, I was quite moved after seeing that video.

wizzy

30th August 2012, 12:12 PM

here is a man who admires Sachin even though he has another icon (Lara) from his own country. Actually, I was quite moved after seeing that video.

Island rivalry goes a long way..Viv actually delayed Lara's debut whilst he was the skipper and when he was a chief selector he publicly criticized Lara for lack of passion/motivation and asked him to watch videos of his era for inspiration :lol:

selvakumar

31st August 2012, 09:21 AM

Island rivalry goes a long way..Viv actually delayed Lara's debut whilst he was the skipper and when he was a chief selector he publicly criticized Lara for lack of passion/motivation and asked him to watch videos of his era for inspiration :lol:
Don't see that as a rivalry. Even Kabil criticizes Sachin at times. But there is a difference when it comes to defending the champions. Ian C always uses every opportunity to focus AUS Players even if Sachin is doing well. Same goes to english players. I don't see that kind of attitude from Viv. We should also see his comments on Lara from a different perspective. He came from an era when WI was dominating. So, it is natural.

wizzy

31st August 2012, 11:09 AM

I don't see that kind of attitude from Viv. We should also see his comments on Lara from a different perspective. He came from an era when WI was dominating. So, it is natural.

ellingov Viv: Lara is what Ian Chappell:Stephen Waugh...If you had notice Ian Chappell goes out of his way to praise Warnie for his captaincy skills to shortchange his old nemesis.

selvakumar

1st September 2012, 09:46 AM

ya.. Ian C doesn't like S.Waugh. He said he ran out of ideas even before the Kolkata match and praised Ponting. That's OK nga if we follow Ian C's posts. My point is that Viv goes "out of the way" to praise Sachin and you can "see what he feels" from his eyes :) Praising some outsider is not for everyone

ajithfederer

3rd September 2012, 02:38 PM

It's freaking embarrassing . Again playing across the wicket to an incoming ball.

Arvind Srinivasan

3rd September 2012, 02:47 PM

He's just playing the shot too early in the innings. Just too early. You would need some time in the middle to actually go for that. And for the others saying the man's slowed up. I would just say he's not sticking to the basics of settling in and then going for an across the line shot. The rain break really spoiled the momentum. Looked much better this time. The big problem is that there will be another 2 month break before the resumption of test cricket and he's gonna come out all rusty again. Chuck the IPL and the CL T20s I say and play some ODIs in between just to get some form....

P_R

3rd September 2012, 02:47 PM

Tendulkar was quite frustrated with himself, he raised his bat at the stumps and then suppressed his anger

:-(

ajithfederer

3rd September 2012, 02:50 PM

Madhu has this stat: "The last time Tendulkar was out bowled in three consecutive innings was in England in 2002 when he was dismissed by Matthew Hoggard, Dominic Cork and Michael Vaughan."

wizzy

3rd September 2012, 02:53 PM

too cold coming into this series..need some Ranji time to get back his batting rhythm.

Arvind Srinivasan

3rd September 2012, 02:53 PM

Just hope he comes out of this. Seriously this is embarrassing and with the new age youngsters vying for a spot in test cricket, his place might be questioned even more.

Arvind Srinivasan

3rd September 2012, 02:54 PM

too cold coming into this series..need some Ranji time to get back his batting rhythm.

+1....has been included in the Mumbai Ranji squad, hasn't he

ajithfederer

5th September 2012, 12:33 PM

http://l.yimg.com/t/sachinspecial/masthead-01.jpg

http://l.yimg.com/t/cricket/16032012012_ec_sachin_tendulkar630.gif

ajithfederer

5th September 2012, 02:07 PM

I can't believe my eyes. "Elephant in the room" Sanju manju is actually defending Tendulkar. :shock: :omg:. Somebody post this.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/current/story/580998.html

GSV

5th September 2012, 03:15 PM

^ Link'la, sila comments padikaraapo ketta ketta vaarthaya varudhu f%$%^&g B%$^%*@s....Neengellam Nalla varuveenga.. ellam vidhi..

Arvind Srinivasan

5th September 2012, 05:38 PM

I can't believe my eyes. "Elephant in the room" Sanju manju is actually defending Tendulkar. :shock: :omg:. Somebody post this.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/current/story/580998.html

Avarum Ganguly mattum thaan supportu...Mathavan yelaam kai kazhuvi vittutaan.....Just see this....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKDbA48oViM&feature=player_embedded

Plum

5th September 2012, 09:24 PM

AF - enakkennamO Sanju manju chatterjee pOdaRAnOnu thONudhu :evil: . (Straight attack pala varushama payan tharalaiyE!)

: paambinkaalpaambaRiyum:

Bala (Karthik)

6th September 2012, 10:46 AM

: paambinkaalpaambaRiyum:
:lol:

Dinesh84

6th September 2012, 11:35 AM

:x
http://drop.ndtv.com/albums/SPORTS/sports-amul/sachin-amul700.jpg

Ramakrishna

6th September 2012, 11:48 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKDbA48oViM&feature=player_embedded

Antha anchor moonja paathaale pathikittu varuthu.

I think this is the same guy who got bashed by Srikanth left and right when he talked negative about Sachin.

Periya pudingi Sachin pathi program nadathraaru. And who the <snipped> is rahul mehra?

I don't like ganguly, but i liked the way he defended Sachin.

ajithfederer

6th September 2012, 03:13 PM

2007 ODI WC - 2011 ODI WC (http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/35320.html?class=1;spanmax1=01+may+2011;spanmin1=0 1+may+2007;spanval1=span;template=results;type=bat ting;view=match)

Since 2011 ODI WC (http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/35320.html?class=1;spanmin1=01+may+2011;spanval1=s pan;template=results;type=batting;view=match)

Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 0 4s 6s

13 24 0 841 94 35.04 1581 53.19 0 6 0 113 3

This is not a bad stat for any test player but it is a bad stat for Tendulkar. Since 2011 WC, he has scored only 6(94,91,73,76 and 56) fifties in 24 Inns(1 in 4; while his standard is 1 in 3) he had good starts in many non 50 knocks(34, 40, 32, 41 and 38) but he failed to capitalize. The biggest irritant in all this was the bloody 100th ton which spoiled a spectacular 4 year run.

Hope he makes the most in the 8 match series against Eng and Australia.

wizzy

6th September 2012, 03:29 PM

Nirmal Shekhar sits on the fence :-)

He might be India’s sporting emblem of incomparable heroism with an iconic incandescence, but Sachin should know about the mercurial and merciless actuarial table of sport.

If a Hemingway or a Faulkner had written a book that was trashed by critics and bombed in the market, readers of that era could not have been sure that these great writers did not have another masterpiece left in them.

This is exactly what I think is the case of Sachin. In the event, I have neither the courage nor the predictive power to stick my neck out and say that he is finished.

Finally, a very pertinent question: if Sachin is hanging around beyond his time, is he selfish? The answer from me is a clear NO. But if you asked me if he was so passionate about the game that he may find himself ignoring his use-by date, then the answer is this: we will soon find out, won’t we?

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/nirmal_shekar/article3863048.ece

Plum

6th September 2012, 09:59 PM

Basically, Shekar Uncle is sayng that he would like to predict that Sachin is done and dusted but due to previous soodu in Sampras instance, he is hesitating to put that on print. adhaavadhu, indha kalavarthulayum avarukku kiLukiLuppu - adhaavadhu avaru sachin dustednu predict paNNanum, "adhu uNmaiya nadakkaNumkadavuLE murugA" - thEvai padudhu. apdi guarantee illAdhadhAla, andha predictionai stop paNNikarArAm

wizzy

6th September 2012, 10:51 PM

cricinfo is now running a 'The Tendulkar debate' feature..are these running on Tendulkar servers too :banghead:

Plum, pliss to note Sunny/Colonel/other Mumbai mafia's silence on this issue..Sanju Manju's hissyfit really does stick out.

ajithfederer

7th September 2012, 09:45 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2uZWeIQ8Xc&feature=channel&list=UL

### GOLD ### Cricket Tendulkar 62 Runs 2007 vs Australia 1stTest,Melbourne x264
15 min version

ajithfederer

7th September 2012, 09:46 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twvYZeyBYWU&feature=channel&list=UL

### GOLD ### Cricket Tendulkar 73 Runs 2007 vs Australia 3rdTest PERTH WACA

18 min version

ajithfederer

7th September 2012, 09:47 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SshMNEBJbd0&feature=relmfu

### GOLD ### Cricket.Tendulkar.100.no.Runs.2009.vs.SriLanka.1st .Test.Ahmedabad

raajarasigan

9th September 2012, 08:40 PM

Brian Charles Lara Vs Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbkegMel4qI&feature=related

hope it was not shared earlier... there is a century scored by SRT for ROW vs MCC..

Arvind Srinivasan

9th September 2012, 10:51 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2uZWeIQ8Xc&feature=channel&list=UL

### GOLD ### Cricket Tendulkar 62 Runs 2007 vs Australia 1stTest,Melbourne x264
15 min version

Superb innings this...Certain shots were just awesome....SRT completely pulverised Hogg....

littlemaster1982

10th September 2012, 10:54 AM

http://youtu.be/1pIP4c1zG6Q

Vid courtesy: AF.

Senareb

13th September 2012, 10:04 AM

I agree each words of Imran khan.. :clap:

http://sports.dinamalar.com/NewsDetail.aspx?Value1=2&Value2=14277&value3=I

சச்சின் ஓய்வு பெறலாமா * இம்ரான் கான் ஆலோசனை

"புகழின் உச்சத்தில் இருக்கும் போதே சச்சின் ஓய்வு பெற்று விடுவது நல்லது. அணியில் இடம்பெற தேர்வாளர்களின் கருணையை எதிர்பார்க்கும் நிலைக்கு தள்ளப்படக் கூடாது,'' என, இம்ரான் கான் தெரிவித்தார்.

இந்திய அணியின் சாதனை வீரர் சச்சின்,39. சர்வதேச கிரிக்கெட்டில் 23 ஆண்டுகளுக்கும் மேலாக விளையாடி வருகிறார். டெஸ்ட், ஒருநாள் போட்டிகளில் சர்வதேச அளவில் 100 சதம் அடித்து சாதித்தார். சமீபத்திய நியூசிலாந்து டெஸ்ட் தொடரின் மூன்று இன்னிங்சிலும் "போல்டாக', இவர் ஓய்வு பெற வேண்டும் என்ற கோரிக்கை மீண்டும் எழுந்தது.

இதுகுறித்து பாகிஸ்தான் அணியின் முன்னாள் கேப்டன் இம்ரான் கான் கூறியது:

சச்சின் சிறந்த வீரர் தான். அவரது இடத்தில் நான் இருந்தால், புகழின் உச்சத்தில் இருக்கும் போதே ஓய்வு பெற்று விடுவேன். தேர்வாளர்களின் கருணையில் அணியில் நீடிக்க கூடாது என்பதே எனது ஒரே கவலையாக இருக்கும்.

எப்போது திறமை வெளிப்படுத்த முடியாமல் போகிறதோ, அப்போதே, மக்கள் நமது சாதனைகளை மறக்கத் துவங்குவர். இதனால் தான், புகழின் உச்சத்தில் இருந்த போது, சர்வதேச கிரிக்கெட்டில் இருந்து நான் விடைபெற்றேன். இதனால், எனது "கேன்சர்' ஆஸ்பத்திரிக்கு தேவையான நிதியை திரட்ட முடியாது என, பாகிஸ்தான் கிரிக்கெட் போர்டு (பி.சி.பி.,) கூட கூறியது. ஆனால், தேர்வாளர்கள் கருணையை நான் எதிர்பார்க்க விரும்பவில்லை.

இந்திய கிரிக்கெட்டில் 23 ஆண்டுகளாக நிலைத்துள்ள சச்சின், மக்கள் மனதில் நீங்காத இடம் பிடித்துள்ளார். இவர் இல்லாத அணியை பார்ப்பது இந்திய ரசிகர்களுக்கு கடினமாக இருக்கத்தான் செய்யும். இது எனக்கும் புரிகிறது. கிரிக்கெட்டுக்கு எவ்வளவோ செய்துவிட்டார் சச்சின். ஓய்வு பெறுவதற்கு சரியான நேரத்தை அவர் தான் முடிவு செய்ய வேண்டும்.

Senareb

23rd September 2012, 01:30 PM

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A3chC8YCEAEvu57.jpg

Arvind Srinivasan

5th October 2012, 06:03 AM

VinodKumar's

5th October 2012, 06:39 AM

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/series-tournament/sachin-tendulkar--an-indian-icon/interviews/Will-reassess-future-plans-in-November-Sachin-Tendulkar/articleshow/16675686.cms

I feel he's a must in India's squad to South Africa next year......Hopefully he sticks around till that time....

Naansens questions :twisted:. Ivanungaluku retire aana rendu naal stats lam cover panni article pottu paper vikkanum.

Arvind Srinivasan

5th October 2012, 07:24 AM

Naansens questions :twisted:. Ivanungaluku retire aana rendu naal stats lam cover panni article pottu paper vikkanum.

Exactly....ippadi idiotic questions answer panrathukku avaru silencae maintain pannalam

Ramakrishna

5th October 2012, 04:14 PM

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/series-tournament/sachin-tendulkar--an-indian-icon/interviews/Will-reassess-future-plans-in-November-Sachin-Tendulkar/articleshow/16675686.cms

I feel he's a must in India's squad to South Africa next year......Hopefully he sticks around till that time....

One of the most useless interviews ever. Almost every question had something on retirement.

Somebody should ask Arnab Goswami to retire from journalism.

5th October 2012, 04:20 PM

aravEkkaadu aasaami interview'ku oththukittadhE thappu.
thala, bat eduththu avan nadu mandaila orE pOdu pOttu vandrikkanum. kabaala mOtchama poirkkum avanukku. :evil: :kasmaal:

littlemaster1982

13th October 2012, 10:07 AM

Sachin Tendulkar Straight Drive collection

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJC-5dUT3eM

:notworthy: :notworthy:

VinodKumar's

14th October 2012, 12:30 AM

http://i46.tinypic.com/mt5ojm.jpg

VinodKumar's

14th October 2012, 12:32 AM

Whatsoever between them / between their fans this opening pair is greatest of all time for India :notworthy:.

// Intha staright drive collections video ippo thaan paakuraen. Veetuku poi paathiraen. //

Senareb

14th October 2012, 12:36 AM

small correction : this opening pair is greatest of all time cricket history...simply 'vaaippu illaamai'
wt a lovely days those are... :smokesmirk:

Arvind Srinivasan

16th October 2012, 11:47 PM

http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/current/story/586853.html

SRT to get Order of Australia honour......

Arvind Srinivasan

17th October 2012, 12:02 AM

SRT also to be a part of Mumbai's first Ranji trophy match...

VinodKumar's

17th October 2012, 12:03 AM

That's good :). Konjam match practice kedaikum.

littlemaster1982

2nd November 2012, 07:31 PM

SRT also to be a part of Mumbai's first Ranji trophy match...

And hits a run a ball 100 :yes:

Arvind Srinivasan

2nd November 2012, 09:36 PM

Yes was about to post about it. Happy for Sachin. Would be great if he carries this form to the England series. The venues also would be favourable to SRT . Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Nagpur, Kolkota....He's got a total of 9 tons across the 4 venues. So an ideal setting for him....

selvakumar

20th November 2012, 12:55 PM

Why We still love Sachin.. Nostalgic. Wonderful documentary capturing the mindset of 90s india on cricket. Control ur tears. The *MAN* is still waiting to face the rivals in the next few weeks. Nothing can replace this. Young ganguly, Afridi opening test, Saqlain etc etc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNP9ZuGuZb8&feature=related

CEDYBLUE

22nd November 2012, 07:46 PM

Arvind Srinivasan

25th November 2012, 10:13 PM

We've seen him go through this before, haven't we? Guess that is the reason I am still hoping for a revival in the next two tests. But a part of me says, the day is nearing. This has been a torturous 10 months for the champion and it is getting from bad to worse. He did it back in 2007 and arrested the slide. After that I guess i saw the best of SRT in a long long time. But I dont see it happening again. He more or less looks a walking wicket even in Indian conditions. A quote from cricinfo-

After a career in which he has defeated all opponents, he may have finally met a foe he cannot beat: time.
I cant seem to disagree.

Ramakrishna

26th November 2012, 10:35 AM

:cry:

P_R

26th November 2012, 11:54 AM

Many things I am not saying because of edhirkatchikaaran paarthaa enna ninaippAn
Anyway, didn't watch a ball this match :-(

SoftSword

26th November 2012, 04:48 PM

:cry_in_the_toilet:

Ramakrishna

26th November 2012, 05:10 PM

Athaavathu, if there are lots of players who have proved their worth in domestic cricket and have shown enough promise to make it big in intl cricket, then the massive outcry in the media and among public asking Sachin to retire is understandable. But, whom do we really have? Rohith Sharma? Namma ooru kaaranga will say S. Badrinath. We all know how useless they both are.

In fact, mediocre Ganguly-ke innum suitable replacement kandu pidikala. oru reliable third opener illa. M. Vijay ku chance kudukkarthukku bathila win declare kuduthuttu pogalaam. Athellaam vidunga, spin-friendly tracks la podrathukku urupadiyaana spinners illa. I guess Ashwin's days as a spinner in test cricket are numbered. Ivlo problems irukumbothu, Sachin-a replace panratha pathi pesa poitaanga. Kodumai :banghead:

GSV

26th November 2012, 05:41 PM

Critics evanukaavadhu velai illa'na odane sachin retirement pathi pesaranunga.. Nimmadhiyave iruka vita maatanunga..

SoftSword

26th November 2012, 06:06 PM

what is this kavaskar fellow saying?

Ramakrishna

26th November 2012, 06:10 PM

what is this kavaskar fellow saying?

He is the Man of the Masses. What else will he say?

SoftSword

26th November 2012, 06:20 PM

not interested to read the interviews/match reports...
boycottin the series until thalaivar allures me to watch...

Arvind Srinivasan

26th November 2012, 07:29 PM

For me, you replace a great batsman only when there is a replacement. I dont see one coming anytime soon.

littlemaster1982

26th November 2012, 07:34 PM

For me, you replace a great batsman only when there is a replacement. I dont see one coming anytime soon.

You are not going to find a replacement for Sachin. We just have to accept that and move on. He cannot play forever.

This is blasphemy I know, but I want Sachin to retire after this series. He had done enough for this team and he doesn't have to go through this tough phase just to prove a point. He has nothing to prove. I'm tired of detractors calling for his head and can't take it anymore.

Ramakrishna

26th November 2012, 07:38 PM

You are not going to find a replacement for Sachin. We just have to accept that and move on. He cannot play forever.

This is blasphemy I know, but I want Sachin to retire after this series. He had done enough for this team and he doesn't have to go through this tough phase just to prove a point. He has nothing to prove. I'm tired of detractors calling for his head and can't take it anymore.

True. Even though he wants to play more, we fans have lost the will to fight against a bunch of dumb-headed people.

Arvind Srinivasan

26th November 2012, 07:39 PM

True LM. But all that I want is Sachin going out on a high. He has just two tests to redeem himself. If he doesn't perform well in that, I feel Sachin himself will take the plunge.

SoftSword

26th November 2012, 07:56 PM

True. Even though he wants to play more, we fans have lost the will to fight against a bunch of dumb-headed people.

why should we fight is my point...
and who are we fighting against... detractors will always stay detractors... and common man naturally will lean towards a quickfire 100 today from a kohli bigger than wat sachin has done...
adappOngadaa'nu vittutuaen... ignore mode...

indha manusanum yaen ipdi panraarnu therila...
he started well against monty with two boundaries in a over... then why pull yourself back to give a maiden over and give him chance to dominate...

littlemaster1982

26th November 2012, 08:22 PM

True LM. But all that I want is Sachin going out on a high. He has just two tests to redeem himself. If he doesn't perform well in that, I feel Sachin himself will take the plunge.

Every Sachin fan wants this, including me. However, it might not happen too, given his current form and slowing reflexes. He is not playing freely as he did two years ago. He is under lot of pressure and it's showing up in every dismissal of his.

Arvind Srinivasan

26th November 2012, 11:19 PM

Let us wait till the end of the test series. Hoping for a turnaround not just for Sachin but also for the team.

ajithfederer

27th November 2012, 09:53 AM

It will be the most horrible thing to see the English winning a Test series in India. It has only happened on two instances before Aus in 04(5th day in Chennai match made us lose that match) and SA in 2000(after the Fixing fiasco) since I started watching cricket. 2 Instances in 20 years of my cricket life. Steve waugh couldn't manage to win in 2001 when he named it the final frontier. He was right India is the final frontier and that was something I was very proud about all those years but looks like it is all in the wane. No team should win a Test series in India. There are only two guys in form in India that is Pujara and Ojha who are overused badly and the rest all are inexplicably out of form.

I think the time had already started to build the test team for the future of India. Everybody has a shelf life and its time to build a team for the future like when Ganguly/Wright started in 2000. Time to let go of everybody and start afresh. Dhoni if he loses this series should be sacked. No captain in world history has suffered 2 whitewashes and a home series loss. Ashwin bats better than him. More than that, I don't understand what he had in mind when he asked for spinning pitches when the Opposition team had two better spinners than us.

Tendulkar's average has dropped 2.30 pts from 56.94 to 54.60. I don't know what's wrong but I hope everything works for him soon or he will himself take the call. This is not what I intended but fate is cruel and we have to deal with it. I very myuch agree with LM on the posts he has made here. Hope he finds peace in life after cricket.

Arvind Srinivasan

27th November 2012, 12:21 PM

Hard to explain Dhoni's insistence in getting turning tracks. Another track like this and we could face another defeat. These pitches hardly give any breathing space for the batsmen and with good spinners ,the indian batsmen can be found wanting. Reportedly Dhoni's asked for another turning track in Kolkota. Luckily the curator out there hardly dances to the tunes of the home captain. So hopefully we get a good wicket. Still remember Dhoni asking for a turning track in 2010 for the Kolkota test against SA only to be blatantly refused by the curator. We went on to win that test match.

raajarasigan

27th November 2012, 12:36 PM

Welcome Back Feddy!! neenga illamA SA/AUS test series'kku thani thread kooda illa.. :-(

scorpio

27th November 2012, 12:47 PM

Dhoni turning tracks kEttadhu got too much importance in the media. He also made some unwanted comments like- I dont want to even look at it on the Motera pitch after winning the match. Ippo Mumbai test thOthadhukku aprum, I want a flat bed-nna ellarum sirikka maattangaLaa? Adhudhaan, vEra vazhi illaama he is singing the same tune.

Rangarajan nambi

29th November 2012, 02:49 PM

Ricky Ponting announces retirement. mAnasthar

littlemaster1982

29th November 2012, 03:20 PM

You can do a better job at trolling Waterloo, sorry, Rangarajan Nambi!

19thmay

29th November 2012, 11:55 PM

Ricky Ponting announces retirement. mAnasthar

I expected these kind of reactions from Anti-Sachin gang when Ponting announced his retirement. Neengellam ennaiku nalla vaartha pEsi irukeenga?

selvakumar

5th December 2012, 11:10 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMgcBjLatcU

:D

Arvind Srinivasan

5th December 2012, 10:53 PM

Gritty innings from SRT today. Has actually helped India to a decent position. Hopefully he carries on from this.

ajithfederer

6th December 2012, 07:57 PM

Unless a miracle happens England are winning the next 2 Tests quite comfortably. There you Go p_r you can celebrate early. Some of our friends were discussing this in an other forum. The miracles are Indians taking 20 wickets, making more than 400 runs every Innings and Indian batsmen making more than 6-7 Hundreds in the next 3 Innings. Sack everyone and start from scratch. At-least then you've got a better excuse for losing.

Tendulkar can play Aus Tour if he hits another 1 or 2 hundreds in the next 3 Inns. I believe even he will retire himself after this series. Gavaskar has slammed that he could see no commitment from the team.

littlemaster1982

7th December 2012, 04:05 PM

Tendulkar can play Aus Tour if he hits another 1 or 2 hundreds in the next 3 Inns. I believe even he will retire himself after this series. Gavaskar has slammed that he could see no commitment from the team.

This is what's going to happen :|

SoftSword

7th December 2012, 04:29 PM

This is what's going to happen :|

i believe not.

Arvind Srinivasan

7th December 2012, 07:29 PM

I feel India would need SRT in SA....He displayed his tenacity two days back and that comes only with experience. And you need that experience in SA. The fire is still burning AF....

P_R

7th December 2012, 11:04 PM

Arvind Srinivasan

8th December 2012, 07:01 AM

The daggers will be out again if he doesn't perform in the second innings.

19thmay

8th December 2012, 08:06 AM

Just one more 100 and retire peacefully. You dont need to play in front of this mindless and arrogant India, BCCI, Mumbai, MI fans! Allow us to retire from watching cricket too!

19thmay

8th December 2012, 08:13 AM

Every Sachin fan wants this, including me. However, it might not happen too, given his current form and slowing reflexes. He is not playing freely as he did two years ago. He is under lot of pressure and it's showing up in every dismissal of his.

Its not only his form decide a grand farewell. The whole team is in a high dengue fever now, even if he retires after scoring few hundreds, he will get out with the selfish tag as usual. Of course we don't bother about that, but a legend will be returning home with bad present and pleasant memories. Now I am thinking that he should have retired after lifting the world cup @ Mumbai.

Rangarajan nambi

8th December 2012, 11:27 AM

What are you guys talking about. He was the top-scorer in this test.
Everyone is looking listless. The call for his head is mind-numbing. Can't imagine how unbearable it would be for him. Hope he doesn't succumb.

Top scorer . It was more of struggle for survival with no conviction . Now with this knock, even if he fails again, he will pull on for another series . For such a genius and a rare phenomenon, I wish he retires gracefully and not getting booed by everyone. Pity that someone who has scored 100 centuries has to undergo this trauma !

He should ask himself whether the team needs his presence and not just play for his so called passion for the game. Ricky is 2 years younger and could have easily continued for another 2 years but Australian mindset is different . They dont look at it emotionally. Many greats like Steve Waugh, Hayden, Martin, Langer, Gilchrist were all made to retire . We should learn from them on how to deal with great cricketers.

Now Sachin , if he wishes to retire with glory, he will have to perform against a team like South Africa in SA . I dont think it is possible at this stage.

selvakumar

8th December 2012, 11:30 AM

Now Sachin , if he wishes to retire with glory, he will have to perform against a team like South Africa in SA . I dont think it is possible at this stage.
:lol: Same side goal from you. :)

SoftSword

8th December 2012, 04:53 PM

Top scorer . It was more of struggle for survival with no conviction . Now with this knock, even if he fails again, he will pull on for another series . For such a genius and a rare phenomenon, I wish he retires gracefully and not getting booed by everyone. Pity that someone who has scored 100 centuries has to undergo this trauma !

He should ask himself whether the team needs his presence and not just play for his so called passion for the game. Ricky is 2 years younger and could have easily continued for another 2 years but Australian mindset is different . They dont look at it emotionally. Many greats like Steve Waugh, Hayden, Martin, Langer, Gilchrist were all made to retire . We should learn from them on how to deal with great cricketers.

Now Sachin , if he wishes to retire with glory, he will have to perform against a team like South Africa in SA . I dont think it is possible at this stage.

hello? edhukku patthi patthiyaa karutthu solringa...
pls to tell in one line... u want sachin to retire...

P_R

8th December 2012, 11:23 PM

People would rather see Ravindra Jadeja than Sachin.
I find that befuddling. I just want Sachin to shut out and keep playing.
I used to be hurt when he got out this year. Now I am just plain pissed off with the calls for his head. Atleast for that reason I just want him to not retire and keep hanging on. I am beyond reason and caring what he makes.

selvakumar

9th December 2012, 10:11 AM

Sachin was impressive only in this test match. Nowadays couldn't even see him playing like what he used to do play in the test matches once. If he continues like this for another 2 months, I think he would naturally acquire the wrath of everyone. Even if he hits a century or two and looks in good touch, we won't allow him to retire. If he fails continuously like this, we would say he could have retired before. I think age is catching up with him. He managed to the best of his abilities for the last 8 years. But it is showing a lot these days.

ajithfederer

9th December 2012, 11:06 AM

Arvind Srinivasan

9th December 2012, 02:09 PM

This was the same guy who played like god in the first two matches of the AUS series. Any body can go through an extended period of poor form and Sachin is all but human. The fact of the matter is that no batsman is performing consistently. Appidi irukirachae Sachina mattum single out panni criticise panrathu is not fair. Adhuvum comparing Ravindra Jadeja to Sachin n all is absolutely blasphemous. Namba aalungalukku moola kettupidichu nnu nenaikiraen...

ajaybaskar

9th December 2012, 02:17 PM

Ravi Jadeja coming in @ No.4 is the last thing i want to see..

satissh_r

9th December 2012, 02:21 PM

I think Jadeja will take Yuvi's spot. Lets hope he carries his domestic form to the international arena

CEDYBLUE

9th December 2012, 11:27 PM

Ravi Jadeja coming in @ No.4 is the last thing i want to see..

Ravi Jadeja has scored 2 triple centuries in RT this year and also has taken a lot of wickets. He certainly deserves a chance.

CEDYBLUE

10th December 2012, 12:38 AM

Ricky is 2 years younger and could have easily continued for another 2 years but Australian mindset is different .

Ricky Ponting's performance in the last 3 years has nothing to write home about, except for once series against the perennially hapless India. There has been calls for Ricky Ponting's head/body/arms/legs for a long time now and to say that he could have 'easily' continued for 2 more years just because he is 2 years younger to Sachin is laughable and raises serious questions about your understanding of the game. There was one player from Namibia who played when he was around 47 and hence going by your criteria, Sachin can 'easily' play for another 7 years at least.

Emotions aside, even I would like to see Sachin retire soon, but not for the long list of reasons you have listed down here.

For such a genius and a rare phenomenon, I wish he retires gracefully and not getting booed by everyone. Pity that someone who has scored 100 centuries has to undergo this trauma !

The 'Genius' and the 'Rare Phenomenon' is not booed by anyone as yet, and it is only some 'knowledgeable' fans/critics like you who have been calling for this head from the time you first started watching cricket, for reasons not known. Nambi, I could see you lauding Ian Chappell's Mirror classic in 2007 and would have wanted Sachin to retire @ that stage, because you cannot see him undergo the 'trauma'.

Nambi, Trauma is not new to Sachin. Right from the 1990’s when he was the one exceptional Indian on the world stage to this date, Sachin has been carrying the trauma that has been a result of the unrealistic expectations/hope of an entire nation that was conveniently dumping all their personal aspirations/dreams/desires on Sachin’s tiny frame. Every Indian wanted to express themselves to the World and put the onus on Sachin. Sachin took the trauma all these years and delivered.

He should ask himself whether the team needs his presence and not just play for his so called passion for the game.

Ever since the day Sachin eased himself into the Indian team and started establishing his prodigious talent, he has been asking the question 'Whether my team needs my presence' and right from the days of the Serial Match Fixer Azharuddin to this day of MSD, Sachin's presence has been the only reason why Cricket is still the No 1 sport in India. The IPL riches of today and all other luxuries that Indian Cricket is getting used to today, is because of Sir Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

Now coming back to the question of Sachin's retirement, I Say Sachin should retire soon for 3 important reasons.

1. Sachin does not deserve to play in a team that plays the game without any respect/sincerity/patriotism. Sachin plays in a team where all ‘seniors’ believe they are above the game and is led by a captain who is genuine but insensitive and does not have a vision. Sachin should disassociate himself from this team.
2. Sachin should not represent BCCI anymore, an organization that employs obesity hit 50 year olds and is solely focused on raking millions with no respect to neither the game nor the players or the paying public. Sachin should disassociate himself from it.
3. Sachin does not deserve to play for the Indian general public which seems to have identified other ways and means to get counted and hence are ready to dump the very man who brought them self-respect. The generation of today believe they are an independent and a self-confident lot. They don’t need heroes anymore; they don’t need a Sachin anymore to bring them respect. Sachin should disassociate himself completely from this group of hypocrites.

Sachin is not scoring runs for some time now, yes you have a point, but that does not been he is not ‘performing’. If you would have noticed the intensity that this selfless 40 year old man displayed on the field in the last 3 test matches against England when he was chasing/throwing himself around when every other senior/young team members were either fooling around or disinterested, you would have known what performance truly means. Performance means giving your all, irrespective of your form/age/environment, etc.

If you would still stay that scoring runs is the only criteria for performance, well mark my words, Sachin can still cause a turn-around and shut all Ian Chappells one more time.

But Sachin should just disassociate himself from the game which does not deserve him anymore.

P_R

10th December 2012, 12:45 AM

Answer this question practically: How long do you think he can go?. How long can he go. The reflexes have quite come down. What I felt is that he unnecessarily gave a chance for his head calling. 7 id-la varavan ellam kelvi kekkura nelamaikku vandhachu. What is the point of playing anymore?. I hope he goes in recluse like bradman did after his retirement. Some people just don't deserve good things.

As I said, I cannot think practically.
It is just annoying to have every other guy comment on him. But that is precisely why I want him to go on. I am beyond 'it is painful to see him fail'. I felt that the whole year. But now I think I am beyond it (I didn't see a single ball in this series though).

Even when the whole bloody team is failing, people are calling for Sachin's head disproportionately loudly.

Bottomline is, there is a fundamental disconnect. I can't understand how people can be more interested in the future of Indian cricket than watching Sachin play. That means they only think he is 'one of the many good talented players who played the game'. Will have to shake hands and part ways then and there.

Some part of me is getting perverse to the extent of thinking, I don't want him to pull up and perform just so these detractors would appreciate him. I want him to troll them - Brando-like. This is what you get, deal with it.

SoftSword

10th December 2012, 06:04 PM

Ricky Ponting's performance in the last 3 years has nothing to write home about, except for once series against the perennially hapless India. There has been calls for Ricky Ponting's head/body/arms/legs for a long time now and to say that he could have 'easily' continued for 2 more years just because he is 2 years younger to Sachin is laughable and raises serious questions about your understanding of the game. There was one player from Namibia who played when he was around 47 and hence going by your criteria, Sachin can 'easily' play for another 7 years at least.

Emotions aside, even I would like to see Sachin retire soon, but not for the long list of reasons you have listed down here.

The 'Genius' and the 'Rare Phenomenon' is not booed by anyone as yet, and it is only some 'knowledgeable' fans/critics like you who have been calling for this head from the time you first started watching cricket, for reasons not known. Nambi, I could see you lauding Ian Chappell's Mirror classic in 2007 and would have wanted Sachin to retire @ that stage, because you cannot see him undergo the 'trauma'.

Nambi, Trauma is not new to Sachin. Right from the 1990’s when he was the one exceptional Indian on the world stage to this date, Sachin has been carrying the trauma that has been a result of the unrealistic expectations/hope of an entire nation that was conveniently dumping all their personal aspirations/dreams/desires on Sachin’s tiny frame. Every Indian wanted to express themselves to the World and put the onus on Sachin. Sachin took the trauma all these years and delivered.

Ever since the day Sachin eased himself into the Indian team and started establishing his prodigious talent, he has been asking the question 'Whether my team needs my presence' and right from the days of the Serial Match Fixer Azharuddin to this day of MSD, Sachin's presence has been the only reason why Cricket is still the No 1 sport in India. The IPL riches of today and all other luxuries that Indian Cricket is getting used to today, is because of Sir Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

Now coming back to the question of Sachin's retirement, I Say Sachin should retire soon for 3 important reasons.

1. Sachin does not deserve to play in a team that plays the game without any respect/sincerity/patriotism. Sachin plays in a team where all ‘seniors’ believe they are above the game and is led by a captain who is genuine but insensitive and does not have a vision. Sachin should disassociate himself from this team.
2. Sachin should not represent BCCI anymore, an organization that employs obesity hit 50 year olds and is solely focused on raking millions with no respect to neither the game nor the players or the paying public. Sachin should disassociate himself from it.
3. Sachin does not deserve to play for the Indian general public which seems to have identified other ways and means to get counted and hence are ready to dump the very man who brought them self-respect. The generation of today believe they are an independent and a self-confident lot. They don’t need heroes anymore; they don’t need a Sachin anymore to bring them respect. Sachin should disassociate himself completely from this group of hypocrites.

Sachin is not scoring runs for some time now, yes you have a point, but that does not been he is not ‘performing’. If you would have noticed the intensity that this selfless 40 year old man displayed on the field in the last 3 test matches against England when he was chasing/throwing himself around when every other senior/young team members were either fooling around or disinterested, you would have known what performance truly means. Performance means giving your all, irrespective of your form/age/environment, etc.

If you would still stay that scoring runs is the only criteria for performance, well mark my words, Sachin can still cause a turn-around and shut all Ian Chappells one more time.

But Sachin should just disassociate himself from the game which does not deserve him anymore.

brill :clap:

P.S: i don want him to retire taking all this emotional hurt...
dhanush in aadukalam: nammalavittaa vaera yaaru andha ponnukku sekurity kudukka mudiyin...

Arvind Srinivasan

11th December 2012, 10:36 AM

Sachin is not scoring runs for some time now, yes you have a point, but that does not been he is not ‘performing’. If you would have noticed the intensity that this selfless 40 year old man displayed on the field in the last 3 test matches against England when he was chasing/throwing himself around when every other senior/young team members were either fooling around or disinterested, you would have known what performance truly means. Performance means giving your all, irrespective of your form/age/environment, etc.

If you would still stay that scoring runs is the only criteria for performance, well mark my words, Sachin can still cause a turn-around and shut all Ian Chappells one more time.

But Sachin should just disassociate himself from the game which does not deserve him anymore.

True..When it comes to commitment, SRT is right at the top. It is even more remarkable considering his age. His intensity and dedication to the game is unmatched. Very good write up there, Cedyblue. Hopefully Sachin has a good game in NAgpur

GSV

11th December 2012, 10:53 AM

Cedyblue :clap: .. romba theliva oraikara maari solli irukeenga..

Rangarajan nambi

12th December 2012, 12:31 PM

Cedy blue Sir ,

I accept that I don’t have the expertise which you have.

You and PR sir both or rather the entire bunch of hubbers here appear to view Sachin's case more on emotional front than ground realities. This is natural considering you are all hardened fans ( worshippers ) .

Sachin actually has been taking undue advantage of the leniency from the selectors who out of respect for his achievements might have been waiting patiently for Sachin himself to take a decision. This was what Srikanth when he was chief of selectors echoed after the Australian debacle recently . I refer to the interview with Kanwal of Hindustan times. The selection for Nagpur test where they have dropped Yuvi , Turbanator is actually an indirect pointer to Sachin as they have taken action on some guys who are younger to Sachin by atleast 8-9 years . Hope he understands that instead of pretending to be let scot free for his continuing failures.

Sachin has been too selfish of late to chose series of his choice which is atrocious . This extraordinary facility was never given to anyone ! The same Sachin can play for IPL continuously for 2 months but will pick an international series of his wish . What a paradox ! And you are chiding BCCI !

All such leniencies, you can never get from an Australian Board and that’s what makes Ricky poorer by 2 years who is physically more agile and energetic . Ricky is still sharp in close in fielding and hitting the stumps and his reflexes are good even now . 2 years in Cricket at the age band between 35-40 is a big bonus and I am sure knowledgeable folllower like you will appreciate this. Australian selectors always do a long term planning and take bold decisions and they want someone to take over from Ricky and this transition process has been going on and you will see that happen. Same in the case of other greats like Hayden, Damien Martyn, Langer , Gilly, Steve ( and Mark also ). They will ensure that the senior player is given sufficient time to end his career on a graceful way. Whereas here we are a bunch of emotional wrecks always thinking about the past glory and shed tears for someone who actually is coming in the way of a proable deserving candidate.

You have conveniently forgotten to remember the booing he recd in Mumbai , his hometown ! I don’t want this to happen to someone who has scored 100 centuries in international cricket , a rare achievement which I don’t think someone can overtake except may be in tests. It will be really shameful to see Sachin getting treated harshly by the crowd. Purely out of respect for Sachin, fans must have been waiting patiently for him to score a decent knock, may be a match winning or saving one and retire with peace.

I had raised a point on Sachin should ask himself whether he is contributing to the team in what way . The match winner tag was gone long back I think . He has been just another dependable player. I am saying that he cannot give the knockout punch or can decide the course of the match. Just another sheer accumulator of runs without any purpose.

You have mentioned about commitment. Actually when the Azar episode broke out, it was Sachin, who midway of the SA series in India, resigned from captaincy and selectors had to hurriedly bring in Dada . It should have been the other way by Sachin holding on to the captaincy and control the affairs instead of shying away from the mainstream. Sachin did nothing to halt . He didn’t even name those cricketers who were involved. Even in the recent interview with TOI, he was shying away from the question from Arnab. He was saying he has no direct evidence to point out !

Sachin actually should thank the BCCI and selectors for having given such a long tenure despite his failures. This is out of respect for the great cricketer which he should reciprocate and retire gracefully after a decent knock.

He might score some runs in Nagpur. Don’t count that for his further continuance for another 2 years. This will be a mirage. Sad.

SoftSword

12th December 2012, 03:43 PM

how sad!!

19thmay

12th December 2012, 06:36 PM

kadasila eppdi check vaikiraaru paarunga :lol2:

He might score some runs in Nagpur. Don’t count that for his further continuance for another 2 years. This will be a mirage. Sad.

povAferdeack

12th December 2012, 08:42 PM

Mr. Nambi nobody here is saying Sachin should play forever or saying he is doing well. There are other problems in the team that are not being talked about because Sachin is not performing.
Sachin was the best test player last year but that doesn't mean or guarantee his place. Here is the average over the last three years.
Sachin - 78,47,25( for 2010,2011,2012)
Sehwag- 61,29,33
Gambir- 32,31,31

The openers have been consitently underperforming and putting pressure on the middle order, if anything its because of Sachin, Dravid and Laxman we had some sense of what test cricket is, now that Dravid and Laxman are not there and Sachin is not doing well we are losing very badly.

If there is someone whose place should be questioned its Gambir, then Sehwag and then comes Sachin. Sachin was one of the few players who was confortable playing the Aus bowlers in Aus this year.
When Australia comes here its better to have him than a rookie or these openers who even refuse to acknowledge there is problem (have you seen a statement about their forms considering they are averaging in the lower 30's for over two years?) The only statements they give are we are the best and thats how I play.

Scoring fast 60-70 as a pair in 15 overs and keeping an avergae of 30 is useless and detrimental if you keep exposing the middle order within 15 overs everytime.
FYI, Sehwag averages less than Harbhajan outside the sub-continent. (not for the past few series, but in the past 3 years) and the less we talk about Gambir better. Maybe they should only be selected for matches in India?
There is nothing to defend about Sachin, everyone knows even if he scores in the next match he is not a long term prospect, but this hatred of Sachin is blinding the glaring truth for most people that the root of the problem lies elsewhere. The truth is there are players there are players in the team who haven't performed for well over 2 years and this is being overlooked because of 1 bad year from Sachin.

littlemaster1982

12th December 2012, 08:47 PM

Lscain,

Please don't bother. Mr. Nambi is a blind hater of Sachin and had been waiting for this chance for a long time. He was nowhere to be seen when Sachin was scoring heavily during 2008-2011 and when he hits a bad patch, he conveniently appears.

SoftSword

12th December 2012, 08:54 PM

Arvind Srinivasan

12th December 2012, 09:16 PM

Yes. The statistics are all there for people to see. Just cornering Sachin just because he's 39 is not fair. Accepted that he's not getting runs and has been in wretched form of late. But the others, save for Pujara are no better.

CEDYBLUE

13th December 2012, 02:22 PM

A Very Good Representation of Current State of Affairs reg Sachin :)

Rangarajan nambi

14th December 2012, 12:09 PM

Good one Cedy sir ! Another opportunity for Sachin today or tomo to show his importance. I expect him to do well today. Interesting to see Sachin struggling on Indian pitches ! something he owns

Rangarajan nambi

14th December 2012, 12:16 PM

povAferdeack

15th December 2012, 09:40 AM

You are actually downgrading Sachin by comparing the stats with mortals like Gambhir ! Scale him with likes of Ponting, Brian, Kallis and assess. Again, these average business has no sense actually . I will give you one classic example. When India toured Aus in2003-04 under Sourav, Sachin was a flop in the entire series compared to his standards but came good in Sydney and ended unbeaten with 250 plus ?? So, by virtue of scoring a big one at the end with not out, the average for that series will show everyone that he did very well unless someone goes indepth to see what he had actually performed on crucial occasions.
Analysts are not fools to use a "useless" stat like average as a measure, average is useless if you consider 4 or 5 matches but over a period of a year or over 3 years it is a very good indicator of what is happening.

When we are talking about the failure of a team you need to compare with people who you have....are we having the same conversation?

And dont ever compare Sachin with Viru. Sehwag is in a league of his own. He had redefined or had given new dimension to the job of an opening batsman. But, for him may be another 2-3 years of cricket left out I think.
You are the one who is under estimating Viru, based on his "form" in the last 2 years he is fit to play for 10 more years but not at international level.

IMO, Sehwag should be dropped for 1 or 2 series so he can think about what is wrong, the new ball is not a problem for him he gets out even after 20 overs, its the attitude, he is a better test player than what his stats show. He can be tried in the middle order but as I said new ball is not the problem so I am not sure it will make a difference, He needs a warning.

Sachins year has been nothings hort of horrendous, I have a problem when people call for his head without thinking. It was this knee jerk reaction that pushed VVS out. We haven't got a replacement for Ganguly yet, Kohli and Pujara have been good only in small patches (not making any judgements here, there is a lack of experience and these guys should be given more time), and we have fragile top order. I would rather see Saching play against Aus to have someone more experienced. After the Aus series team needs a long term plan and Sachin is defenitely not in it.

Rangarajan nambi

17th December 2012, 12:12 PM

Analysts are not fools to use a "useless" stat like average as a measure, average is useless if you consider 4 or 5 matches but over a period of a year or over 3 years it is a very good indicator of what is happening.

When we are talking about the failure of a team you need to compare with people who you have....are we having the same conversation?

You are the one who is under estimating Viru, based on his "form" in the last 2 years he is fit to play for 10 more years but not at international level.

IMO, Sehwag should be dropped for 1 or 2 series so he can think about what is wrong, the new ball is not a problem for him he gets out even after 20 overs, its the attitude, he is a better test player than what his stats show. He can be tried in the middle order but as I said new ball is not the problem so I am not sure it will make a difference, He needs a warning.

Sachins year has been nothings hort of horrendous, I have a problem when people call for his head without thinking. It was this knee jerk reaction that pushed VVS out. We haven't got a replacement for Ganguly yet, Kohli and Pujara have been good only in small patches (not making any judgements here, there is a lack of experience and these guys should be given more time), and we have fragile top order. I would rather see Saching play against Aus to have someone more experienced. After the Aus series team needs a long term plan and Sachin is defenitely not in it.

Average doesnt make sense if you review the series and will realise that the concerned cricketer would have failed miserably at crucial moments and might have scored when everyone would have scored heavily in those tests ! Take another example of Pakistan tour when India won for the first time under Sourav( Dravid ) . Everyone scored heavily and our man also benefitted. However we lost a test there and our man didnt score much . IN one of the tests , Sachin was not out thanks to Rahul's horrible decision to recall ! again the average soured ! Thats why I gave an example of 2003 series. Again, these so called averages will look healthy when you get opportunity to amass against 2nd( 3rd grade ) grade teams like Bangladesh, WI, Newzealand . Somehow Sachin missed out against Newzealand ! . In the series in England, we expected Sachin to perform well in the initial tests as they will give the momentum/ confidence to other members. Unfortunately, he failed but was scoring when we had reached the last 2 tests and by that time, we were truly beaten.

What is the value add of our man ? He should ask his conscience .

Though I agree with you on Sehwag, this is a Sachin thread and not worth talking about Viru here. Actually Viru can score more . The way he is able to get into the 30s and 40s so seemlessly but gets out there is puzzling ! May be , Viru and Gambhir must have had a game plan to pull down MSD . These guys score some 40s and 50s which leads to a confusion that you cannot take action against them .

We dont need Sachin for the Aus series here. After all they will be without Ponting . So why not we bring someone in his place ? Virat Kohli can come at 2 down and his place can be given to raina or Rohit or Robin or some deserving guy.

Arvind Srinivasan

18th December 2012, 06:49 PM

Got this from a poster in Cricketweb....

If i were sachin, i would continue to make myself available for test and ODI selection knowing i am just one good session away from regaining my batting form. i know i have invested all my life into playing cricket for india. and whatever i do post retirement would never ever give me the same satisfaction. so, just like i never allowed all the over-the-top accolades during my peak to go to my head, i would not allow unfair criticism to pull me down too. i would continue to ignore the lesser mortals around me and continue to play to the best of my ability knowing my team will only benefit from my individual success. still, if the selectors find a better replacement for me they can drop me. i didnt beg them to select me as a kid. they needed me. similarly they will select me as long as the team needs me. once i am redundant they can drop me, them i am through. till then, i dont give a damn about others. it is me and my cricket.

Coming to think of it. It is the selectors job to decide if Sachin needs to be in the team. Not Sachin's. He's still in love with the game fgs and that is a good enough reason for him to not retire. For once let the selectors take a stand if they want to. Summa oru manushan pottu vaatti eduka vendiyathu. Unlike earlier times I feel there would not be a huge public uproar if sachin is dropped. So let them take a stand.

ajithfederer

23rd December 2012, 11:33 AM

Sir retires from ODI Cricket

Arvind Srinivasan

23rd December 2012, 12:19 PM

Well there goes the possibility of me watching another ODI..Was planning to go for the India-Pakistan match in Chepauk this month. Was hoping for SRT to play...but paatha he's announced his retirement...Ada pongada...

satissh_r

23rd December 2012, 12:24 PM

Thanks for some of the best moments in Cricket :bow: Even though T20 has helped me get used to the Indian team without him I'll still feel like watchin a different game.. No matter what anyone says, I still want him playing in the test team unless he feels it is time.

GSV

23rd December 2012, 12:37 PM

Thanks sir for everything.. Though we can see u in test cricket, Will miss an opener sachin in ODI :( .. i pray for u sir to have a peaceful life henceforth..

We love u Sir ever :notworthy:..

MADDY

23rd December 2012, 02:29 PM

oh my god, i never thought it would be so emotional.........he is still there in tests but ODIs defined him and he redefined ODIs - so it is a sinking feeling and sad moment.....the last retirement i cried was for Pete Sampras's and now for sachin........oh my god, he wont be there around whenever India needs him in ODIs - thats like staring a black hole

Arvind Srinivasan

23rd December 2012, 05:44 PM

So what if his ODI innings has come to an end. He still has some work to do in the longer format of the game. He should try getting back his form and what better than playing a ranji match and if possible a stint in a foreign domestic tournament.

ajithfederer

23rd December 2012, 07:26 PM

Sachin Tendulkar's ODI stats analysis

Way ahead of the pack
Sachin Tendulkar achieved the kind of batting numbers which are likely to remain records by some distance
S Rajesh
December 23, 2012

Sachin Tendulkar's numbers are staggering in both forms of the game, but the margin by which he is ahead of the pack in ODIs is truly mindboggling. Let alone equalling or surpassing some of his records, it's possible that no batsman will even come close to his stats. To start with, Tendulkar's overall ODI aggregate is 18,426, which is almost 35% more than the next-best, Ricky Ponting's 13,704. His 49 ODI centuries is 63% better than the second-highest, Ponting's 30. With Sourav Ganguly, he added 8227 partnership runs, 50% more than Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya's 5462. His 26 century stands with Ganguly is 62.5% better than the 16 that Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist managed. (There are several others - biggest partnership, most matches, most Man-of-the-Match awards, for example - which are available with a few clicks on ESPNcricinfo's record pages.)

Tendulkar was able to create such a distance between him and the next-best by, obviously, playing over a long period - his is the longest career in ODI history - but also by doing so at a ridiculously high standard almost throughout that period. It helped also, that he opened the innings through most of his career as an ODI batsman, which gave him the best opportunity to score runs and rack up hundreds. His outstanding batsmanship, which combined tight defence with an ability to score freely all round the wicket with minimal risk against different bowling attacks in different conditions, ensured he maximised those opportunities to score runs. Along the way he also became the first batsman to score 200 in an ODI innings.

Tendulkar's ODI career changed when he moved from the middle order to open the innings. The first time he did so was in his fifth match of 1994, against New Zealand in Auckland. He scored 82 off 49 balls - a strike rate of 167.34 - in a match in which no other batsman who faced more than 12 balls managed a rate of 75. India won the match with 160 balls to spare - their eighth-largest victory margin in terms of balls remaining - and it was clear that India had unearthed an option which could be of immense value to them in limited-overs cricket. None could have imagined at the time, though, that Tendulkar would end with such staggering numbers.

From the moment he started opening, his ODI career graph swung upwards and stayed high almost throughout his career. From March 27, 1994, which was the first time he opened, he averaged 47.08 in 394 matches, at a strike rate of 87.71. During this period he didn't open the batting in 50 matches, and in those games his average fell to 36.70.

Sachin Tendulkar's ODI career
Period ODIs Runs Average Strike rate 100s/ 50s
Before 1994 65 1679 31.09 74.32 0/ 12
1994 to Dec 2000 198 8220 45.66 88.96 27/ 38
Jan 2001 onwards 200 8527 48.17 86.41 22/ 46
Career 463 18,426 44.83 86.23 49/ 96

The opening act
Among all openers who scored 8000-plus ODI runs, Tendulkar's average is the highest; in fact, even with a 6000-run cut-off, no opener has an average of more than 42 - Gary Kirsten's 41.80 is the second-best. Apart from the high average and strike rate, the other stat that stands out for Tendulkar is his conversion rate of fifties into hundreds: he has 45 centuries and 75 half-centuries, a fifties to hundreds ratio of 1.67. Among openers with at least 6000 runs, the only ones with comparable ratios were Herschelle Gibbs (18 centuries and 24 fifties, ratio 1.33) and Saeed Anwar (20 hundreds and 37 fifties, ratio 1.85). All the others had ratios of more than two, with some of the top names (Haynes, Ganguly, Gilchrist) scoring three fifties per century. Thus, while it's true that Tendulkar was given the opportunity to make big scores thanks to his batting position, he also utilised that much better than most other openers.

ajithfederer

23rd December 2012, 07:27 PM

(Way ahead of the pack)Cont'd:

Australia's tormentor
Tendulkar was often at his best against the best team of his generation, Australia. He scored 3077 runs against them at 44.59, which is 36% more than the second-best aggregate against them. The highlights were obviously the 143 and 134 in Sharjah in 1998, a year which was his best in ODIs: he scored 1894 runs at 65.31, including nine centuries. Both, the runs scored and the hundreds remain a record for a calendar year.

Even apart from those two Sharjah classics, he had seven hundreds against Australia, the last one being 175 - his highest against Australia - three years ago in Hyderabad. Tendulkar's nine hundreds is also record for a batsman against one opposition. (Tendulkar also has eight hundreds against Sri Lanka, while no other batsman has more than seven against an opposition.)

The one glitch in Tendulkar's stats, though, are his ODI numbers in Australia: just one century in 46 innings, and a below-par average of 34.67. Unlike in Tests, where he averages more than 50 against Australia both home and away, in ODIs Tendulkar's best against them came in the subcontinent: in Asia he average 55.30 against them in 40 innings, with eight centuries, but outside Asia he averaged 29.82 against them, with one century in 30 innings.

ajithfederer

23rd December 2012, 07:28 PM

(Way ahead of the pack)Cont'd:

Highest run-scorers in ODIs against Australia

Batsman ODIs Runs Average Strike rate 100s/ 50s
Sachin Tendulkar 71 3077 44.59 84.74 9/ 15
Desmond Haynes 64 2262 40.39 65.14 6/ 13
Viv Richards 54 2187 50.86 84.63 3/ 20
Brian Lara 51 1858 39.53 76.58 3/ 15
Kumar Sangakkara 44 1706 42.65 77.02 1/ 12
Jacques Kallis 50 1660 34.58 72.87 1/ 13
Jonty Rhodes 55 1610 40.25 77.92 0/ 10
Richie Richardson 51 1498 32.56 63.26 0/ 15

ajithfederer

23rd December 2012, 07:29 PM

(Way ahead of the pack)Cont'd:

World Cup superstar

In the biggest tournament in the format, Tendulkar was usually at his best. His overall World Cup tally of 2278 is the best, and he is also the only batsman to twice aggregate more than 500 in a World Cup tournament - he scored 673 in 2003, a record for a single World Cup, and 523 in 1996. Only four other batsmen have touched 500 even once in a World Cup. Tendulkar's nine Man-of-the-Match awards is also a World Cup record, three clear of the second-placed Glenn McGrath.

Apart from his World Cup heroics, Tendulkar also finished with a great record in tournament finals, though there was a period between 1999 and 2004 when he appeared to struggle in them. Overall he averaged more than 54 in tournament finals, with six hundreds in 39 innings.

Highest averages among batsmen with 1000+ runs in World Cups
Batsman Innings Runs Average Strike rate 100s/ 50s
Viv Richards 21 1013 63.31 85.05 3/ 5
Sachin Tendulkar 44 2278 56.95 88.98 6/ 15
Herschelle Gibbs 23 1067 56.15 87.38 2/ 8
Sourav Ganguly 21 1006 55.88 77.50 4/ 3
Mark Waugh 22 1004 52.84 83.73 4/ 4
Jacques Kallis 32 1148 45.92 74.40 1/ 9
Ricky Ponting 42 1743 45.86 79.95 5/ 6
Javed Miandad 30 1083 43.32 68.02 1/ 8
Brian Lara 33 1225 42.24 86.26 2/ 7

ajithfederer

23rd December 2012, 07:30 PM

(Way ahead of the pack)Cont'd:

The matchwinner

It was often said about Tendulkar that his big scores didn't lead to team wins, but stats reveal something quite different: Tendulkar scored 33 of his 49 centuries in wins, and averaged more than 56 in team wins, at a strike rate of 90. Among those who scored at least 5000 runs in wins, only Lara and Richards have higher averages. In terms of hundreds scored in wins, Ponting is next with 25.

However, it's also true that Tendulkar's 14 centuries in defeats is a record too, five clear of Chris Gayle, who's next with nine. In defeats, though, Tendulkar's average dropped to 33.25 at a strike rate of 79.86. Clearly, in the overall context of his lengthy career, his runs led to wins more often that not. As mentioned earlier, no player has won as many Man-of-the-Match awards either - Tendulkar has 62, while the next-best is Jayasuriya with 48.

Highest averages in wins in ODIs (Qual: 5000 runs in wins)
Batsman Innings Runs Average Strike rate 100s/ 50s
Brian Lara 134 6553 61.82 86.32 16/ 42
Viv Richards 114 5129 56.98 93.01 11/ 32
Sachin Tendulkar 231 11,157 56.63 90.31 33/ 59
Mohammad Yousuf 151 6426 55.87 78.59 14/ 41
Sourav Ganguly 147 6938 55.06 77.87 18/ 41
Michael Clarke 134 5084 52.95 80.62 4/ 42

ajithfederer

23rd December 2012, 07:31 PM

Partnerships, and percentage of team runs scored
With Ganguly, Tendulkar added 8227 partnership runs at 47.55, with 26 century stands - the runs scored and the hundred stands are the highest. Tendulkar also put together 4000-plus runs with Virender Sehwag (4387 runs at 39.16) and Rahul Dravid (4117 runs at 44.26). Tendulkar's thus the only batsman to put together 4000-plus runs with three different partners; Ganguly and Dravid are the only others to do so with two different partners.

Overall, Tendulkar scored 19.24% of the total bat runs that India scored in the matches he played in his entire ODI career (18,426 runs out of 95,765). After he first opened the batting on March 27, 1994, the percentage increased to 20.08 (16,668 out of 83,008). For Ganguly, that percentage was 17.61%, for Haynes 19.58, for Anwar 18.19, for Hayden 17.49 and for Gayle 18.41%.

Apart from his obvious batting exploits, there was also Tendulkar the bowler, who chipped in quite usefully more than once. His 154 ODI wickets puts him in 11th place among Indian bowlers, just one short of Ashish Nehra and three away from Manoj Prabhakar.

S Rajesh is stats editor of ESPNcricinfo. Follow him on Twitter

Feeds: S Rajesh
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/current/story/598341.html

(Way ahead of the pack) - END.

P_R

23rd December 2012, 08:10 PM

And thus ODIs become pointless.

venkkiram

23rd December 2012, 09:15 PM

ஒரு நாள் கிரிக்கட்டின் மேன்மையான வரலாறு நின்றுபோனது இன்றொடு. நடந்த முடிந்த கைதட்டிய, நிம்மதி அடைந்த, ஆரவாரம் செய்த, ஆர்ப்பரித்த, பெருமைப்பட்ட , கொண்டாடிய, வியந்து போன தருணங்களை அசை போட்டுக்கொண்டே எஞ்சி வரும் நாட்களை கழிப்போம்.

GSV

23rd December 2012, 10:08 PM

venki,
Ur last sentence made me so emotional.. :(

selvakumar

23rd December 2012, 11:32 PM

:( Nalla irungada (whoever criticized Sachin in the last few years and came after him)!!!!!!!!

littlemaster1982

24th December 2012, 10:23 AM

I knew this was coming. Don't know what else to say :|

Dinesh84

24th December 2012, 11:00 AM

RIP ODI cricket.

littlemaster1982

25th December 2012, 03:36 PM

Growing up with Sachin (http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/598402.html)

How Tendulkar helped a generation of Indians make sense of their lives

Sachin Tendulkar has retired from one-dayers.

Does this mean anything to you?

Did you feel numb on Sunday morning? Or maybe it was Saturday night in your part of the world. Did the various stages of your life flash in your head, as they are supposed to in the instant before you die?

Do you remember one-dayers 23 years ago? Travel back in time. What do you see? Red leather balls, players in whites and some one-dayers in England with umpires stopping play for tea.

What else do you see? Doordarshan - the feed hanging this moment, back live the next, your grainy screen filled with men who sport stubbles and bushy moustaches, the camera facing the batsman one over and the bowler the next, commentators screaming "that's hit up in the air".

Gradually the texture changes. Coloured clothing and floodlit games become commonplace, fielding restrictions alter the definitions of a "safe total", Duckworth and Lewis appear, so do Powerplays, Supersubs and Super Overs. Pinch-hitters, a novelty for a few years, lose their sheen. Now everyone must pinch, everyone must hit.

Tendulkar has seen it all. Sometimes he has initiated the change, on other occasions he has adapted. A master of the game in the mid '90s, a master in 2011. The one constant in a wildly changing format. He was around when one-dayers were blooming, he was also around when they were allegedly dying.

You have been around too. Are you a kid from the '80s? Or the '90s? Or are you a straddler, part of the Tendulkar generation that has one feet in both decades?

Ah, you stand on the threshold. You have experienced Doordarshan before leaping to the riches of satellite, you have seen Shah Rukh Khan as a fauji on TV before he soared onto the silver screen, you know of life before the internet but are quick to embrace the wonders of technology, you have watched monochrome but are a child of the colour TV age.

What else do you see?

Tendulkar in a white helmet, his white shirt unbuttoned to his thorax, blitzing Abdul Qadir in an exhibition game in Peshawar. Until that point cricket is merely a fuzzy idea. Tendulkar gives it shape, adds meaning, wraps it in colourful paper and winds a ribbon around the packing. He makes you understand the game's place in your life, teaches you its significance.

You grapple, trying to swerve banana out-swingers with a tennis ball. Standing in front of a mirror, you imagine the opposition needing six off the last over. The stadium is a cauldron. A hundred thousand fill the stands. Can you restrict the batsmen?

One morning in 1994, when large parts of India slept, you awake to life and freedom. What a rebellion at Auckland. Eighty-two off 49 balls. A cameo that unshackles the mind. The greatest one-day innings you have seen. Can anyone better this?

You are carried along the Tendulkar slipstream. When he is stumped off Mark Waugh, after illuminating the Mumbai sky, you sense the game will slip away. It does. A few days later his hundred against Sri Lanka in Delhi ends in defeat - the first Tendulkar ton in vain. You hope it's an aberration. You wish.

You observe his every move. In 1996, when he fires a swinging yorker to dismiss Saqlain in Sharjah and sends him off with an emphatic "f**k off", you blush. Four years later your vocabulary has expanded. When he mouths off Glenn McGrath in the Champions Trophy in Nairobi, you puff your chest, as if vindicated.

It's 1998, a time for decisions. Academics or sports? Arts or science? Biology or computers? To meet her or to continue with phone conversations? To buy a copy of Debonair or to take a sneak-peek? These are the burning questions that occupy you.

Do they matter? Tendulkar is dismantling Fleming, Warne and Kasprowicz in Sharjah. A desert storm, a birthday hundred and a ballistic Tony Greig. A straight six off Warne when he starts around the wicket. Another straight six off Kasprowicz. "Whaddaplayaa," screeches Greig. It imprints itself in your head.

In your inconsequential gully matches you bat with an amped-up ferocity. You nod to tell the bowler you are ready, you hold your pose during the follow-through, you reverse-sweep and attempt straight-bat paddles. You pump your fist when Tendulkar manhandles Henry Olonga in Sharjah.

You start college. You are ragged, often with little imagination. Some of the courses don't interest you. Many of your classmates speak about things you have never heard of, in languages you are not fluent in.

You are sipping tea in the canteen when someone switches on a television set. India are playing Namibia in the World Cup. You find your bearings. This is a familiar world. Tendulkar is nearing a century. This is your comfort zone. The next 10 days are some of the most joyous of your life. That six off Caddick, those fours of Akram and Shoaib ... you feel you have turned a corner.

You hate your job. You begin to care for little other than your pay-cheque. This is not what you expected when you graduated. You assumed this job would be interesting. How wrong you were. Tendulkar is still at it, obsessed with his craft. Despite a lean patch, he says he must go on. He knows no other way.

You are engaged, then married. Life gets busier: an apartment, a car, daily chores. Tendulkar is brutalising Brett Lee in Sydney. An uppish cover drive, then a bullet past the bowler. Lee offers an angelic smile, Tendulkar stands still, zen-like, unconcerned about the past or the future, immersed in the present.

You switch jobs. You like your new role but your boss sucks. He is a slave-driver. You take sly peeks at a live scorecard tab that is open at your desktop as India chase Australia's 351 at Hyderabad. Tendulkar is flying but there is no TV. You wish you could get back home but what if he gets out when you are on your way? Would you be able to forgive yourself? India lose. You call out sick the next day.

You relocate abroad. Cricket matches are on a different time zone. You scavenge illegal internet streams, slap your head when the feed hangs. You are reminded of your days of watching Doordarshan. The sun is yet to rise outside your apartment, and Tendulkar is batting in the 190s against South Africa in Gwalior. Cricinfo is hanging. Cricinfo didn't even exist when Tendulkar started. Your twitter feed is on valium. He has reached 200.

You watch every ball of India's World Cup campaign. How could you not? A hundred in Bangalore, a hundred in Nagpur. You suffer palpitations in Mohali. Then the eruption in Mumbai. Kohli raises him aloft and talks of Tendulkar's burden. He speaks for you. He understands how you feel. There are tears everywhere, including on your cheeks.

Here's John Steinbeck in Cannery Row:

Someone should write an erudite essay on the moral, physical and aesthetic effect of the Model T Ford on the American Nation. Two generations of Americans knew more about the Ford coil than the clitoris, about the planetary system of gears than solar system of of stars ... Most of the babies of the period were conceived in Model T Fords and not a few of them were born in them ...

You can apply the same to your generation. To understand us is to take into account the moral, physical and aesthetic effect of Tendulkar. To feel your pain, when he retires from a format he made his own, is to know what it means to grow up with him.

You are the lucky ones. Cherish the memories. He was, and will remain, your Model T.

___________________

Out of all the articles, this one stands out as the best. Comes very close to what most of us experienced.

Arvind Srinivasan

25th December 2012, 05:31 PM

raajarasigan

26th December 2012, 10:54 AM

Know it would be blasphemous to say. But I would trade Sachin, the test batsmen to watch him play ODIs. The guy was a freak in this format and will always be the best ODI bat ever ( sorry Sir Viv). And I am not too sure as to whether people completely understood or appreciated this.+1 (except Sir Viv comment).. ithai naan munnadiye sollirukken... if sachin wants to retire from one format, it should be Tests rather than ODIs.. early 90's la cricket paaka aarambichavangalukku Sachin illatha ODI team illannu puriyum...

also, his record in tests can be broken in future but not the ODIs.. he should have continued playing ODIs (don't forget the break he took in many ODI series in the last 2-3 years) and reach 20K...

satissh_r

26th December 2012, 02:06 PM

Arise Sachin Tendulkar. The cricketer and the man

It was on the Proteas team bus that I read about Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement from ODI cricket. I found myself reflecting on my three years of working with him. To me, the opportunity was a privilege. So I thought I’d share some of my reflection here.

When I addressed the Indian cricket team for the first time (in 2008), I started by explaining that I did not see them as ‘cricketers’, but as human beings, each with many facets. Being a talented cricketer is only a part of who they are. They may also be someone’s brother, son, friend, parent or partner, and each is a unique emotional, intellectual and spiritual being. I reminded them that they were born with their talent, call it God-given, which is not an achievement but a blessing. The achievement comes when they tirelessly study, train and practice to develop that talent.

Between 2008-2011 I watched Sachin epitomize developing a talent. He paid more attention to and invested more time into practicing his batting than any other player. He never once cut a corner in his preparation for a game, making sure he attended to every detail. After nearly two decades in the international game he had earned the right stay at the hotel and rest while some of his teammates attended our trademark ‘optional’ practices. Yet he never did. Not a week went by where any player, youngsters included, hit more balls in practice. Add this attention to detail and impeccable work ethic to his extraordinary God-given talent, and it doesn’t take much to figure out why he is so successful.

As mentioned, being an outstanding cricketer is a part, but not all, of the man.
When someone becomes a top class athlete, it does not mean they automatically become a special human. Each one starts out as an ordinary person who happens to be blessed with an extraordinary talent. To become a special person requires that they intentionally develop and mature themselves as a person just as they would work on mastering their profession.

It is fairly common that a cricketer (or any sportsmen, businessmen, politician) who achieves success is lured into falsely viewing himself as a special person, believing he is more important than others by virtue of the fact he can hit a cricket ball more sweetly, and because others may treat him as more special. In India, the amount of adulation, admiration and hero-worship that is lavished on national cricketers poses a huge challenge to their humility. None have been hero-worshipped and admired as Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. He is more worshipped than some of the Hindu Gods. A priest at an ODI once brandished a banner saying, “Sorry God, but I love Sachin more than you.”
With his unassailable statistics and virtual deification, Sachin has earned the right to believe and act like he is special. But he does not. And it is this characteristic that impressed me at least as much as the Little Master’s statistics, milestones and awe-inspiring performances.

Despite his God-like status, in a country that sometimes overvalues power and status, Sachin exudes a humble, feet-on-the-ground approach. Early in my tenure with the team and during a one-on-one session with him, he spoke of a mantra that he lives by and that his father had passed to him as a young man. He granted me permission to share it.

He told me that, “who I am as a person, my nature is permanent, my results on the field are temporary – they will go up and go down. It is more important that I am consistent as a person, this I can control, my results I cannot”. He added that, “people will criticise me for my results, and will soon forget them, but they will always remember the impact I have on them as a person. This will last forever.”
And so the most mobbed, harassed, pestered and interrupted person in India, rather than expecting kingly treatment from others, is constantly mindful of treating others well and respectfully. During one tour I was entering a hotel elevator with Sachin to depart for a match. A very nervous mom asked if she could take a picture of him with her two young children. We risked being late for the bus, but Sachin obliged, letting the elevator go without him. The nervous mom was shaking so much she couldn’t get the camera to work. I was about to help Sachin out by rushing him along, when he turned to me and said, ‘Pads won’t you help her with the camera, help her to get a nice picture.’ Most who know him have an abundance of similar stories.

He shares his professionalism and teaches respect. During a net practice, a young Ishant Sharma kicked the ball in frustration after a poorly executed delivery. Sachin calmly went over, picked the ball up and returned it to Ishant, telling him in gentle manner, “it is because of this ball that you have what you have got in life, without this ball you have nothing. Treat it with the respect it is due.”

Fast forward to a meeting during India’s triumphant 2011 ICC World Cup campaign. We’re discussing cricket and life, and some of the senior players are asked to share the most significant event in their careers. Sachin’s significant event left me with a lump in my throat.
It happened soon after he was selected to play for India as a 16-year-old, and had returned to his Ranji Trophy team. A 16 year-old friend and teammate approached him and said ‘I speak on behalf of your friends. We know that you are a better cricketer than us, but since you were selected to play for India, you have been acting as if you are a better person than us. We don’t think it is a good thing for you to do.” Sachin marked this comment as one of the most significant events of his career, helping him to realize at a very young age that being a good cricketer did not mean he was a special person. He continues to live this lesson. As a veteran of over 22 years of international cricket, he treats junior teammates as fellow men, including them in conversations, showing an interest in their well-being, asking them questions and helping them with their game.
When someone with an extraordinary God-given talent adds to it an incredibly professional, detailed and tirelessly high work ethic, brilliance arises. The world has known just one Einstein, Mozart, van Gogh, Michael Jackson and Tendulkar. When someone with brilliance adds strength of character, humility, respectfulness to being an all-round good person, then the world is blessed with not just sporting greatness, but true greatness. Arise Sachin Tendulkar.

http://paddyupton.com/newsletter/arise-sachin-tendulkar-the-cricketer-and-the-man/

Arvind Srinivasan

26th December 2012, 05:32 PM

SACHINSPEAK: During a net practice, a young Ishant Sharma kicked the ball in frustration after a poorly executed delivery. Sachin calmly went over, picked the ball up and returned it to Ishant, telling him in gentle manner, “it is because of this ball that you have what you have got in life, without this ball you have nothing. Treat it with the respect it is due.” From a piece on Sachin Tendulkar by Paddy Upton, who was India's mental conditioning coach from 2008-11.

Intha aalaya ya neenga retire aaga vecheenga....Indian cricket ini mella saavattum...Reportedly the guy spent an entire day crying when the news was announced...Really feel so bad for him....

ajithfederer

26th December 2012, 11:13 PM

I envy Indian cricket – they had Tendulkar!
December 26, 2012

"He went on to score a 50 in the fourth Test in Sialkot and that is when we realised that this man was a special, special talent.” PHOTO: REUTERS
The man has retired. The 49-centuries hero has finally bid adieu to an illustrious 23-year-old career that changed the very definition of Indian batting.

Words fail when you attempt to glorify this cricketing legend. You turn to numbers instead. If 18,426 runs at an incredible average of 44:83 in 463 matches with a record 49 centuries and 96 staggering 50s don’t tell you the story, nothing ever will. Sachin Tendulkar was indeed in a league of his own.

Thank you, little master. Thank you for the memories.

http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/15343-SACHINREUTERS-1356499673-136-640x480.jpg

Spoken enough from the mind; here’s what the heart thinks:

Sachin was a great batsman. I envy him. In fact, I envy the whole of India because he represented and scored all those runs for them. I envy him, because if Pakistan had someone of his calibre and class, we would have been a different force today. As much as I hate to admit this, the reality is that Pakistan was a ‘Tendulkar’ away from glory – the glory and success that deserted us throughout the last ten years in one-day cricket.

In 2003, Saeed Anwar retired. He was Pakistan’s run machine, someone who was considered this country’s answer to Tendulkar. It’s been almost 10 years now and believe it or not, we are yet to find an able replacement, an opener extraordinaire, who could tear apart bowling attacks and pile on the runs.

That’s when you realise how Pakistan could have done with a Tendulkar up top. How Pakistani bowlers who more often than not succeeded in restricting the oppositions to mediocre first-inning totals would have loved someone like a Tendulkar to score those runs and avoid the hiccups (read: Pakistan batting’s infamous chasing blues) that earned them the ‘unpredictables’ tag.

When was the last time you saw a Pakistani opener go on a lengthy streak playing with consistency, confidence, flamboyance and flair like Tendulkar?

From the Wastis to the Nazirs, from the Afridis to the Akmals, we’ve seen a whole host of names come and go. But no one, no one was even remotely close to Tendulkar. The harsh reality is that we just couldn’t produce one.

Furthermore, I get atrociously envious thinking about what could have been if we had a Tendulkar playing for us in the 1999 World Cup final or in the disastrous 2003 and 2007 World Cups. My blood boils when I hear that tone of uncertainty in the voice of commentators when we’re chasing a low total. That’s the reputation we have built during the past ten years. A reputation that has developed because of the absence of a Tendulkar.

This also reminds me of the popular argument that most Pakistani fans, including myself, present about all those centuries that Tendulkar scored.

We say:

“Whenever Sachin gets a 100, India lose.”

Oh, who are we kidding?

How does that undermine the misery he piled up on opposition teams?

How was it his fault that the Indian bowlers were not good enough to clean up or restrict the opposition batsmen?

That’s when you think what a wonderful match Sachin Tendulkar and Pakistan would have made. A match truly made in heaven.

Sachin’s master class supported by Pakistan’s plethora of bowling talent – it’s the stuff dreams are made of. So don’t blame me for being envious that we weren’t blessed with him.

I speak here as a disgruntled Pakistani fan, who respects Tendulkar from the bottom of his heart, for what he has achieved in the sport, but also hates him with equal intensity for scoring all those runs for our arch-rivals.

I’m envious because Pakistan was indeed a Tendulkar away from glory through all these years.

Wasim Akram, arguably one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time, had this to say about Tendulkar upon his retirement:

“Sachin was really 16 at the time when he came to Pakistan in 1989 and Waqar and I thought, ‘What will this 16-year-old do against us?’ I hit him in his face but he still showed a lot of gumption and courage and went on to score a 50 in the fourth Test in Sialkot and that is when we realised that this man was a special, special talent.”

Exactly, Wasim bhai, exactly!

Read more by Emad here, or follow him on Twitter @EmadZafar

http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/15343/i-envy-indian-cricket-they-had-tendulkar/

ajithfederer

26th December 2012, 11:14 PM

What made Tendulkar first among equals

Dileep Premachandran · Bangalore · Dec 23, 2012

When discussing Sachin Tendulkar, the one-day batsman, the numbers have little meaning. They just intimidate and overwhelm.

Nearly four years into his One-Day International career, Sachin Tendulkar had played 60 innings. He averaged 30.86 and had made 12 half-centuries, with a highest of 84. There were mitigating factors, the main one being that he batted lower down the order, but any way you looked at it, those were ordinary numbers.

They paled into insignificance next to what he had already achieved in the Test arena. He wasn't yet 21, but had scored hundreds in England, Australia (twice), South Africa, India and Sri Lanka. The Bradman comparisons had already begun.

In coloured clothes though, India's Test Superman was a journeyman, someone whose breathtaking ability shone through all too rarely. To put those numbers after 60 innings into perspective, consider this. Hashim Amla, at the same stage of his career, has nearly twice as many runs at an average of 59.55. He's made ten hundreds and 19 half-centuries. That is greatness. Tendulkar wasn't even close.

Then, Eden Park happened. Opening the batting did for Tendulkar what the druid's magic potion did for Asterix. In the years that followed, he didn't just break one-day records. He obliterated them.

If he retires from Test cricket tomorrow, the body of work that he leaves behind will be hugely significant. But it's not incomparable. You can think of around 20 batsmen, modern and from the game's back pages, who could replicate the quality and consistency of his performances.

In one-day cricket, there is no such comparison. There is Tendulkar, daylight, and then some more daylight. Of those still playing the game today, Chris Gayle tops the hundreds chart with 20. Tendulkar finished with 49, despite his focus solely being on World Cup glory since January 2010. Either side of those nine World Cup matches in 2011, he played just 14 times in three years.

When discussing Tendulkar the one-day batsman, the numbers have little meaning. They just intimidate and overwhelm. What is worth talking about is the manner in which he constantly reinvented himself. There's little doubt that, as with the boxing great Muhammad Ali, watching him was a more visceral and thrilling experience in the first half of his career. The two Desert Storm innings in 1998 were the Tendulkar equivalent of Ali outclassing Cleveland Williams the athlete at the peak of his powers as the irresistible force.

But it's not the destruction of Williams that Ali is most remembered for. It's for the trilogy with Joe Frazier, and the Rumble in the Jungle against George Foreman. All those fights took place when he was either approaching 30 or past it, after he had experienced pain and disappointment and even defeat after the illusions of invincibility had been shattered.

In the same way, Tendulkar's finest one-day innings were probably played once he had had to familiarise himself with the idea of struggle. As the years passed, he understood one-day batting in a way that few others did. Few played the percentages better, or knew their strengths and weaknesses as well. There were times when he could bring to mind the teenager who had discovered the cheat codes to a video game.

Sadly, when people talk of him, the hype often overshadows the substance. Take the 98 against Pakistan at Centurion during the 2003 World Cup. Almost always, the discussions are about that six over third man. Great shot, yes, but there was enough width there for a top batsman to take advantage of. The stroke that really deflated the Pakistan fielders and the fans watching on TV came later in the over.

Back of a length from Shoaib Akhtar, and no more than an apologetic push from Tendulkar. The ball sped past the mid-on fielder and teased him all the way to the rope. If anyone ever asks you to think of a shot that exemplified Tendulkar the limited-overs batsman, it should be that.

The greatest tribute to Tendulkar hasn't come in the form of words or gestures or awards. It's come from the batting of Virat Kohli. He may still be finding his way in Test cricket, but Kohli the one-day bat is well on the way to being a master. And the similarities with Tendulkar are unmistakable.

The latter-day Tendulkar played in his own bubble, aware that he knew the permutations and combinations better than anyone else. In the World Cup game against England last year, he took 43 deliveries to ease to 24. The trigger fingers in press boxes and on social-networking sites had already been given a workout. Off the next 60 balls he faced, he scored 78 runs. There were few strokes he didn't play. Kohli, possibly having observed that, also marches to his own beat.

The 49 centuries will be mentioned countless times, especially the 200 against Dale Steyn and friends when he was nearly 37. But like the Centurion innings, some of his finest never saw him raise the bat for three figures. There was a 90 against Australia in front of his home crowd during the 1996 World Cup, and a 95 against Pakistan in Lahore in 2006, less than a fortnight after newspapers had led with Tendulkar headlines.

We spoke at length about that Lahore innings a few months later. Mohammad Asif bowled a dream spell that night under lights, getting movement in the air and off the pitch. Rahul Dravid, whose mastery of the defensive arts is beyond dispute, was moved this way and that like a marionette on a string.

Tendulkar's judgment was incredible. It wasn't the shots he played, so much as the one he didn't. He'd watched the ball like a hawk out of Asif's hand, he told me. But on occasion, he'd also needed to cover the movement off the seam. Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni saw India home that night, but it was Tendulkar's 95 that was instrumental in setting up the game.

You could sense his excitement when he spoke of that Asif spell, just as you could see the animation on his face when he spoke of Warne and McGrath and Steyn. It's perhaps fitting that his last great one-day innings came in Nagpur, against South Africa on a day when a fired-up Steyn turned out to be the match-winner. As long as Tendulkar was out there, batting appeared all too easy. Once he was dismissed, Steyn ran amok.

Most of all though, we should recall Tendulkar's urge to push on, the endeavour to improve no matter what the circumstances.

He'Íl obviously be remembered for the records, many of which will never be surpassed. Most of all though, we should recall that urge to push on, the endeavour to improve no matter what the circumstances. R Kaushik, my colleague, and I often talk of a net session at Centurion at the end of a one-day series (2006) in which India had been comprehensively outclassed. It took us a while to figure out what was happening.

Ian Frazer, Greg Chappell's assistant, was giving throwdowns from 10 yards. Before each ball, he would yell out a name 'Pollock' 'Ntini' 'Nel' and the angle and trajectory of the throw would change accordingly. India lost miserably the following day, but Tendulkar made 55 not pretty, but workmanlike and bereft of exceptional highlights.

That innings, towards the end of one of the worst years of his career, was also a wonderful illustration of his greatness. He chased excellence, and fleetingly managed to grasp perfection.

http://www.wisdenindia.com/cricket-article/tendulkar-equals/41598

ajithfederer

26th December 2012, 11:17 PM

Sachin retires

LINK

Wasim and Waqar recall Sachin's best ODI inning against them

'Shoaib came up to me and said he would not bowl the next over'

Pakistan's greatest pace duo, Waqar and Wasim rate Tendulkar's 98 at the Centurion in 2003 as the best they have seen

Shahid Hashmi

Posted On Monday, December 24, 2012

I and Sachin Tendulkar made our Test debuts in the same game. I have very vivid memories of that match. That first Test started a memorable rivalry between me and him. We shared some great moments off the field.

Although Sachin has played some memorable innings against us but the knock which stands out in my memory is the one he played at Centurion during the 2003 World Cup. It was an exhilarating and dominating knock that threw us out of the World Cup. I was not only the bowling spearhead of the team but also its captain. Before the match our focus was around Tendulkar.

We were all talking about the ways to get the master batsman out. If I remember correctly, Tendulkar was in good form at that time, having scored a 100 and a 50 in the previous two matches. Batting first we managed 270-odd runs with Saeed Anwar hitting a fighting hundred. We thought it was a defendable total.

But the way Tendulkar started the innings, we were just blown away. He hit a boundary off Wasim Akram in the first over and then went berserk against Shoaib Akhtar. He hit a six and two boundaries off Shoaib Akhtar. The maverick batsman left Akhtar shattered. Those were such ruthless shots that Shoaib came up to me after that over and said that he would not bowl the next over.

I was surprised to hear that and didn't believe my ears. After just one over I had to change and came onto bowl at Tendulkar. But I too was meted out the same treatment. He hit me for two fours and a six and India were cruising along nicely. We came close to getting him out off Wasim Akram but Abdul Razzaq failed to judge a head-high catch at mid-on and we spurned that chance. I still remember Wasim was very furious at Razzaq.

He was ultimately dismissed by Shoaib for 98 and those runs came off just 70-odd balls. He in fact took the game away from us and although we managed a few wickets in between, the great man had set the platform for awin. I just can't forget that knock. Sachin was at his ruthless best. It's sad that Sachin has called quits on his oneday career. He had to take a decision and I feel happy that he has taken it at an appropriate time.

Wasim Akram : Singling out any one knock by Sachin is very difficult but one of the best was his 90-plus at Centurion during the 2003 World Cup. He punished all the bowlers especially Shoaib Akhtar.

Shoaib and I opened the bowling and I think India raced to 50 in just four-five overs. He hit a brilliant six off Shoaib which went over point and we were amazed at his hitting. Shoaib was so shocked that he asked the captain to change him. I still remember that all of us were sneering at him.

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/59/201212242012122411513220623f4b3f0/%E2%80%98Shoaib-came-up-to-me-and-said--he-would-not-bowl-the-next-over%E2%80%99.html?pageno=1

ajithfederer

26th December 2012, 11:18 PM

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A-x8PFsCYAAVN4S.jpg

ajithfederer

27th December 2012, 01:03 PM

The man who stands alone

Sachin waves goodbye to ODIs

Sachin Tendulkar ranks among four or five of the greatest batsmen to have played Test cricket. But in the one-day game, from which he retired on Sunday, he stands alone. Tendulkar might dispute the point himself, arguing that his idol, Sir Vivian Richards, was at least as great. Indeed the combination of Richard's average (47) and strike-rate (90.20) is marginally superior, Tendulkar's corresponding figures being 44.83 and 86.23. But the Indian did it for significantly longer, over a span of 463 matches, to the West Indian's 187.

Longevity is the most demanding test of greatness, for nothing escapes inquiry. And no one has succeeded at this test quite like Tendulkar. Curiously, the great man didn't take to the one-day format as readily as he did to Test cricket: between 1989 and early 1994, when he batted in the middle-order, he averaged just over 31, his runs coming at the rate of 74 every 100 balls. It needed an accident incumbent opener Navjot Singh Sidhu suffered a stiff neck in Auckland in March 1994 to set a phenomenon in motion. Having convinced the team management that he should open, Tendulkar blitzed a match-winning 82 off just 49 balls. Neither he nor the one-day game was the same in India from that moment; the star and his stage were etched even deeper than before in the nation's collective consciousness.

Tendulkar's finest achievement was his finessing of one-day batting into a self-contained art form. Before him, there were, broadly, those who batted much like they did in Test cricket and those who had a 'slog'. Richards, Javed Miandad, and Dean Jones were exceptions; they introduced to their run-making, shades of pace a quality that was seen in their Test play as well, but was employed more proactively in ODIs.

Tendulkar expanded this quality and reinvented it constantly. In this way, he defied definition: during the course of an innings, he was several Tendulkars in one. He didn't begin the trend of hitting the new ball over the top of the infield, but he adapted it in a manner that hadn't been seen till then. He became a master at ticking it over in the middle overs, conserving energy for an onslaught in the final stages. But his genius lay in the nuance within this apparent template of Á¢ttack, Consolidate, Attack? he had great feel for an innings rhythm and the priceless ability to change it almost at will. Thus did he make 49 one-day centuries, one of them the game's first double when he was very nearly 37. But runs to Tendulkar were only ever a means to winning. Little wonder that the World Cup triumph in 2011 is his most cherished one-day memory. Perhaps he should have retired from the format then; but the period since won't tarnish a one-day career that appears impossible to surpass.

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/the-man-who-stands-alone/article4235870.ece

ajithfederer

27th December 2012, 01:06 PM

December 24, 2012
Tendulkar: a consummate professional

VIJAY LOKAPALLY

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/01308/TH24_SACHIN_1308173f.jpg

That flick would be missed; the delicately placed shot off the pads, the trademark straight-drive with the manufacturer’s logo so visible; the punch to cover; it will all be missed.

His innings in a one-day international was a highlights package. If the partner happened to be Virender Sehwag, it was double delight because they would compete with each other in decimating the opposition. More than anyone, Sehwag will miss his partner.

True, Sachin is so meticulous when it comes to preparing for a Test match. His routine has remained the same, right from sleeping early, or at least trying to sleep early, and having breakfast in his room during match days.

Sachin Tendulkar: Numbers to remember (pdf)

Fastidious

But he has also been equally fastidious ahead of an ODI. His unmistakable shadow practice on the pitch was a moment the ground staff dreaded. Sachin’s eyes would wander off the pitch and into the galleries behind the stumps.

Why would anyone look beyond the pitch and into the stands? The ground staff would hold its breath. The focus would be on the sightscreens. The size mattered and it mattered most to Sachin. Many a time he would suggest, sometimes in an irritated tone, that the sightscreen be moved or the size improved. He did it for years and did it without fail. Once the sightscreen was adjusted to his demand, the ground staff would return to other work. It was a routine we also observed for years.

Sachin made every effort to earn his place on merit. Forget if he prolonged his exit from the one-day stage. For a man who told himself not to play the square cut without getting his eye in, he would slam the first ball of the ODI with a horizontal bat. He believed in innovation and adapting to the task. It came naturally to him, not for others.

T20 not his cup of tea

He never relished T20. It was crude cricket. The IPL was an aberration and a distraction too. In heart of heart, he would wish not to be part of the IPL. But one-day cricket presented him an opportunity to stay in touch with the latest trend. He would spend hours, having animated discussions with even the newest face in the team.

He always wanted to learn the new tricks. Such was his enthusiasm that he would emerge from the ‘nets’ and check if he had got that ‘slog’ right. He remained an eternal student of the game.

Not a sudden decision

The decision to say good bye to one-day cricket was not sudden. For some time he had come to realise that the body was not listening to his brain. Fatigued legs and arms at the end of the day were clear indication to Sachin that he had to take the call. Test or one-day cricket, the choice was easy. He had valued Test cricket higher even though his recent form has meant a dent in his reputation.

The timing was as judicious as his shot selection. Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman left the newcomers with enough time to prepare for the battles overseas, just as Sachin. He would not visualise Indian cricket in a struggling mode. Nothing, as he confessed recently, would make him happier than India excelling.

ajithfederer

27th December 2012, 01:08 PM

Ever green maestro

http://www.holdingwilley.com/images/stories/sachin_retired_odi.jpg

http://www.holdingwilley.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3714

ajithfederer

27th December 2012, 01:10 PM

When Sachin crushed my prediction, writes Ian Chappell

The Australian, who has been Tendulkar's sharpest critic of late, admits how the ODI-retired Tendulkar proved him wrong in 1998

December 24, 2012
MUMBAI

When Sachin crushed my prediction, writes Ian Chappell
The Australian, who has been Tendulkar's sharpest critic of late, admits how the ODI-retired Tendulkar proved him wrong in 1998

It's going to be a gradual goodbye from Sachin Tendulkar, as he's retired from the one-day game, presumably in the hope of prolonging his Test career.

When I reflect on Tendulkar's ODI career it's hard to go past his back-to-back hundreds against Australia in Sharjah in April 1998. With the final of the triangular tournament to be played on the 24th (the day before Anzac Day) and India facing a huge target in the penultimate match just to oust New Zealand from that upcoming encounter, television entrepreneur Mark Mascarenhas asked me who I thought would make the final?

http://images.mid-day.com/2012/dec/sharjah.jpg

Deset storm: Sachin Tendulkar in a celebratory mood after beating the Australians at Sharjah in 1998. Pic/MiD DAY Archives

"It'Íl be the Anzacs (Australia and New Zealand) playing on Anzac Day eve, I replied. Tendulkar made a nonsense of that prediction by playing one of his best knocks. He blasted the Australians, scoring at better than a run a ball by attacking at every opportunity. One of his five sixes, a flat pull shot off Michael Kasprowicz disappeared into the stands like a launched missile and his savage assault ensured India reached the target of qualifying for the final.

Spirited
However, true to his competitive spirit Tendulkar continued to play with only one objective in mind; to win the match. In the end he was denied but he took his revenge in the final, again scoring a better than a run-a-ball hundred off the same attack and this time guiding his team to the trophy. It was Tendulkar at his best; in prime form and not about to be denied by any bowler, Shane Warne included.

Undoubtedly his crowning personal moment was becoming the first man to score a double century in an ODI. He'd given warning with a brilliant 175 against Australia in late 2009 only to improve on that by going one better in thrashing a strong South African attack three months later.

While these innings would've given him great personal satisfaction he, not surprisingly, ranked India's World Cup victory in 2011 as his proudest moment. That couldn't have been far ahead of winning the 2008 ODI trophy in Australia where he played two monumental back-to-back innings in the finals series to help crush the home side. Tendulkar didn't choose the World Cup victory in his hometown of Mumbai as the right time to retire. He's now decided to prolong his Test career by reducing his short form cricket to just IPL duties.

This may be a misguided strategy as he's been virtually out of ODI cricket, having not played any for nine months. Tendulkar's gradual withdrawal from cricket is an indication of how difficult it is for him to stop playing a game he loves. It'll have to end sometime, hopefully before he's left it too late.

http://www.mid-day.com/sports/2012/dec/241212-When-Sachin-crushed-my-prediction-writes-Ian-Chappell.htm

ajithfederer

27th December 2012, 01:14 PM

I believed

AASHISH CHANDORKAR

Note: I wrote this post on Dec 16th based on Twitter rumours about an impending SRT retirement announcement on Dec 17th. A part announcement was made today. We don't know the circumstances and what role selectors message played before the team was announced for the Pak tour. We don't know if selectors will pick him against Australia next year. We may or may not see him play again for India, but this is as good a time as any to say thank you.

It was the summer of 1991. The Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association had organized a charity match between Sunil Gavaskar XI and Kapil Dev XI, the proceeds of which were to benefit the local cricketers. I had spent a then princely sum of Rs. 25 to secure a ticket to watch the two stalwarts and a host of India stars play the friendly game. One of the several big names to descend on Nehru Stadium, Indore was Sachin Tendulkar. I have no recollection of the role he played in that game.

However, as I was cycling back to my home in an area then at the edge of the city, I saw several white Ambassador cars hurtling down the National Highway 3. There were no sirens or red lights, so they could not have been official government vehicles. I guessed that these were the players rushing to the newly constructed home of Narendra Hirwani, by then an India regular, and already an Indore legend. I cycled furiously to my house, picked my barely used autograph book and went to the said house, which of course was like a pilgrimage spot for cricket fans in Indore. I jumped with joy to see those white cars parked outside and absolutely no one except a regular vegetable vendor making a stopover out of curiosity.

I will of course never forget the next 30 minutes. Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Kiran More, M. Azharuddin, Manoj Prabhakar, Venkatpathy Raju, Navjyot Singh Siddhu, Chetan Sharma, Pravin Amre, Narendra Hirwani, Sanjay Jagdale they all walked out to get back in those cars. And so did Sachin Tendulkar. Most of them were gracious enough to sign my drenched-with-sweat-after-cycling autograph book, and a few weren't. The 18 year old boy was initially reluctant but after a few requests, did oblige me.

By then, Sachin had already scored his first test century but of course had not done enough to be seen as the next Sunil Gavaskar as the promises went. That of course was every fanÃÔ big concern even 4 years into SMG retirement. I came back home and showed the autographs to my dad. I told him I managed to get the autograph of the guy who will be our next hero. He looked at the SMG one closely and ignored my comment.

By then, I had already converted into believing the legend of the man child.

http://www.thesightscreen.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Autograph.jpg

-------

It was March 1994. The school exams had just got over and I was up early morning to watch New Zealand score a modest 142 against India. My dad joined me when India was about to bat, and surprisingly we saw Sachin Tendulkar walk out with Ajay Jadeja to open the innings. The next hour and a half marked a key milestone for the 1990s Indian cricket. By the time Matthew Hart got Sachin out c&b for 82 off 49 deliveries in the chase, several fence-sitting Indian fans were finally convinced they had found the right guy to invest their cricketing equity in.

As Sachin walked off the ground, my dad told me it was good I got his autograph already, for it may be impossible to ever get so close to him. He enquired if I had kept my autograph book safely, which of course I had.

An older generation had gotten over the SMG retirement completely. Another generation believed fully in the legend of a world class player.

------

It was March 2010. I had come back in the wee hours of morning after watching Sachin and Harbhajan Singh sink Deccan Chargers at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. I was rudely woken up, all bleary eyed, by my daughter.

She had watched parts of the IPL game hoping her dad will be live on television. While that hope represented the audacity of childhood, she managed to see some of Sachin's batting. She wanted me to explain why I had not taken her to the stadium. "I wanted to see Sachin. Promise me you will take me to a cricket match when he plays in Pune" As I opened my eyes, I realized she was wearing my Mumbai Indians jersey, which I had barely managed to get out of before collapsing in the bed a few hours earlier.

The years had rolled by. A third generation now knew Sachin Tendulkar. A third generation now believed in the legend of a cricketing legend.

------

For many days, I marveled over the love, affection and faith, which three generations of my household had put in Sachin Tendulkar. Surely my household was not unique. Millions of other households in the country probably had the same experience over time. But importantly, I represent that intermediate link, the generation which was the first to drink the Kool Aid.

The cricketing upbringing for my generation was modest. Yes, many of us have vague memories of the ODI successes during the 1983-85 period. But mostly, the cricketing stories involved humiliation. At home, when West Indies or England or Pakistan visited. Or away, when we went to West Indies or Pakistan or Australia. There were the scars from Sharjah. There were also the turf wars between the two stalwarts SMG and Kapil. It was humiliation, because each defeat was rinse-repeat outclassed, overshadowed, and bulldozed. Individual moments of brilliance used to come and go away, but there was no sustainable sense of pride for long time periods. As SMG retired and Kapil started to fade, even the individual moments felt like far and few between.

And then came in Sachin.

It wasn't like his arrival coincided with the general upliftment of India's cricket skills. For years together, he was the lone warrior. The team composition continued to surprise even the most devoted of the fans. Cricketers unheard of continued to walk in and out of the national team for years. Only 9-10 years in his international career, India got a team which started to gel and show a result orientation which was so sorely missing for many years at a stretch.

-------

So the fascination which my generation held, and I presume still does, with Sachin's cricket was principally qualitative. We wanted to win, but we knew that it was largely not possible to win the matches or the occasions we yearned for. The Indian cricket meandered aimlessly in the jungles of international cricket like an adventurer losing way in an expedition. We had a torch, a guiding light, but while it was necessary to have one for any hope of coming out of that situation, it was seldom sufficient.

It was always about searching for positives, whatever the results, and the positives almost always involved Sachin. The opposition was wary of him. His wicket was like the Gateway of India starting where the opposition made inroads. His presence was a psychological boost, a calming down factor, a beacon of hope. Across formats, across countries, across grounds, the chants of SA-CHIN, SACHIN reverberated as a genuine emotional investment in a personal belief.

--------------

Eventually, a Jacques Kallis will score more test centuries than Sachin. Or if he does not, Alastair Cook may do so. Even if he does not, he may end up with more test runs than Sachin. There will be many players who will have talent, character, charm and luck some may have one or more qualities in greater proportion than what Sachin did. This is exactly how evolution works. There may however not be another cricketer, who captures the imagination of multiple generations at one go like Sachin did.

I am sure for me, there will be new cricketing associations. There will be several cricketers of whose success, life and times, I will be a part of. There may however be no one else, who will be a part of me.

In Sachin, I believed.

http://www.thesightscreen.com/post-match-opinions/i-believed/

ajithfederer

27th December 2012, 01:15 PM

ajithfederer

27th December 2012, 01:19 PM

LM, How many ODI 50's and 100's do we have? :)

ajithfederer

27th December 2012, 01:24 PM

Hot Spot | Chetan Narula
My Sachin Tendulkar Story
Posted on Dec 27, 2012 at 07:56am IST

The year was 1992. A young boy and his even younger brother were playing in their room while parents left for office. The maid, a cricket fanatic, promptly switched on the television. India were playing Pakistan in an ODI World Cup. Hearing her cheers, the boy peeped across and saw an infantile batsman at work. The seven-year-old never went back to play with his brother, spending the day watching his first ever cricket match.

That World Cup inspired a scrapbook collection. It was a fad among his schoolmates. How could he not have one? And a cricket bat with the 'Power' logo - that was a must-buy. But this was just the beginning of a fascination. On this particular November night, that batsman showed he could bowl as well. The kid was at a wedding function for his parents had forced him along. They couldn't stop him from standing at the local kirana store from across the hall, from watching that last over. Love seldom happens at age nine. Even so he wasn't the only one afflicted. The whole country went bonkers, he realised much later. The year was 1993.

His father was strict. 'No cable TV until you are in eleventh standard', he decreed. The boy couldn't do anything, but follow commentary on All India Radio and read in newspapers. The few matches on Doordarshan were a boon, for he could watch him bat in all the possible glory. He had started opening now, was all the kid understood. Then, the year was 1996. Cricket came to town, in all its pomp and splendour, and no parent could enforce boundaries anymore.

Kenya and Zimbabwe were shown their place. Australia were smacked, Sri Lanka too. But these two teams couldn't be beaten, especially the latter, especially that night in Kolkata. The batsman was still quite young in comparison to his peers. Yet he carried the hopes of a billion people, the kid was told by his cricket-mad uncle. Why alone? He couldn't answer that question, no one could.

The year was 1998. Australia were a glutton for punishment and Doordarshan started a new channel to showcase their misery, DD Sports. They were thumped in every nook and corner of the country. Their next beating happened in Sharjah. His schoolmates yelled out before morning prayers. 'They are calling it the Desert Storm', said one, imitating his shots, trying to. 'He said Australia could lose in the final, that too on his birthday', said another, also trying to imitate his shots.

The teenager, meanwhile, cursed his ill-luck. He pestered his parents to take him to grandma's place, for he could watch the final on cable TV there. Then, on the way, he prayed for an encore. Lightning did strike twice.

Another World Cup came around and an India Today Special was bought. In it, a senior journalist named Peter Roebuck explained that particular batsman's greatest shot yet. A straight elevated drive down the ground for six - a first lesson in cricket nuance. There were other things to bother about though. His father passed away and he didn't play against Zimbabwe, who won. He returned to play against Kenya, and conjured up a century batting at number four. The gaze at the sky was long and hard, it pierced hearts, old and young.

Even so the teenager, who played gully cricket only with an MRF-stickered bat, thought he needs to open the batting against Australia in the Super Six stage. His father predicted a cheap dismissal and a loss for India. It came true - a four-ball duck to Glenn McGrath. Oh well! The remote was flung in anger and it broke. The TV escaped the impact. The boy didn't escape his father's thumping. The year was 1999.

Diwali that year was sweet though. The TV was in his parents' room and they locked it to make the brothers study whilst they were away, or atleast hoped to. That particular day, India were playing New Zealand in an ODI in Hyderabad. As his mother got ready, an innocent crime was committed. The younger one was asked to keep watch, while he stole the duplicate keys. They were caught in the evening, though it was worth it. He made 186 that day, not out!

The years passed. Boards, entrance exams and college life came up. Never mind that it was miles away from home, travelling from college to home on weekends to watch cricket was the norm. There was a cable connection at home, none at college. Another World Cup meant attendance went for a toss. The reward was wholesome. He played the greatest ODI innings ever. He hit the greatest six, and, the greatest cover drive punch and follow-through ever in the history of limited-overs cricket. Pakistan lost, again. Stockpiles of firecrackers vanished in seconds that night. Then, in his last teen year, he ran like a kid possessed, from door to door, asking if anyone had any more crackers stashed up. The year was 2003.

Life brought up more routine, college, exams, family drama, MBA. In a parallel world, routine brought runs, statistics and records, almost all of them. It also brought debate. He is selfish, not a match-winner. There were arguments, with his uncle over dinner, with friends in the canteen and with strangers on internet forums. An engineer, he learned everything about tennis elbow. A glorious hundred in Rawalpindi went waste. That glorious catch at the boundary in Lahore did not. A World Cup dream was shattered. Tears were shed, both in an obscure hostel in Pune and the dressing room in Port-of-Spain. The year was 2007.

Work beckoned. It meant a new life as an adult. It also meant a mature batsman stepped to resurrect himself on the field, amid comparisons with elephants in small silent dressing rooms. CB Series flashed past, 163* in Christchurch and 175 in Hyderabad came about. It pointed to something gargantuan. Gwalior, a first ODI double hundred. The year was 2010. Firecrackers were passÃ©. Half a bottle of Absolut vodka was toasted to God that night.

All these imprints etched by a bat! Yet, the search for that one moment to cherish was still on. 'I was there', that moment. It came. They came, in fact. The year was 2011. The young adult was there when the 48th hundred came up at Chinnaswamy. He was there at Nagpur, when a rousing delivery from Dale Steyn was dispatched to square leg for six, en-route to the 49th. He was there at Mohali when Pakistan lost again. He was there at Mumbai when they carried him on their shoulders. He was there when his name was chanted outside the Wankhede, all over Marine Drive. He chanted too, arm-in-arm with complete strangers, till 6am.

The year is 2012. 100th hundred, yet debate simmers still, with uncles, friends and strangers. Then it stops, on a cold Sunday morning. 'No more in Blue', he says. The heart skips a beat, brain goes numb. Voice chokes. 'He plays Tests still', says the mind, almost an after-thought. If only to make the world of a twenty-eight-year-old carry on.

This is my story. Perhaps this is your story too. It was written by Sachin Tendulkar.

http://cricketnext.in.com/live/blogs/chetannarula/2970/64174/my-sachin-tendulkar-story.html

littlemaster1982

27th December 2012, 05:31 PM

LM, How many ODI 50's and 100's do we have? :)

I'll check and post the list this weekend.

ajithfederer

27th December 2012, 07:42 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRE8WXdYckg

ajithfederer

27th December 2012, 07:58 PM

Tendulkar's Extraordinary Career

Published: Wednesday | December 26, 2012

NEW DELHI (AP):

Sachin Tendulkar's retirement from one-day internationals on Sunday signalled the winding-down of an extraordinary career which has established him as one of the greatest cricketers of all time and with an almost mythic status in an Indian nation besotted with the game.

Blessed with a prodigious talent, Tendulkar made his Test debut at age 16 and went on to set a series of international batting records - earning him the inevitable comparisons with fellow greats Don Bradman and Brian Lara in the process.

His retirement from one-dayers and likely near-term retirement from Tests had become equally inevitable, though, after former teammates Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman called it a day, and made way for India's younger cricketers. With Sourav Ganguly and Anil Kumble already out of the picture, Tendulkar's gradual departure marks the end of a golden generation that helped India to excel both at home and abroad.

Superb technique

The Mumbai batsman's superb technique, variety of strokes and adaptability brought him no fewer than four prestigious records - most runs in Tests (15,643) and one-day internationals (18,426), along with the most centuries in Tests (51) and one-day internationals (49).

In addition to the personal records, the man they call the 'Little Master' also helped India to win the World Cup on home soil in 2011 and become the world's top-ranked Test nation.

No stranger to the spotlight, Tendulkar started to make a name for himself in his mid-teens, when he scored 326 in a colossal 664-run stand with Vinod Kambli in a school tournament.

Tendulkar later cracked centuries on his debut in all three of India's top domestic tournaments - the Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and Irani Cup. Though he was unable to repeat those feats on his international debuts, he went on to establish himself as a dependable No. 4 batsman in the Test team and an aggressive opener for one-day matches.

He was handed a Test debut in 1989 against a strong Pakistan side, only to be struck on the mouth by rookie pace bowler Waqar Younis. Tendulkar bled, but batted on to make his mark on the series. He quickly grew in stature in his early years as he tackled top bowlers like Wasim Akram, Allan Donald and Courtney Walsh with ease.

That his most memorable performances came against the era's best team - Australia - and his most remembered rivalries with that team's best bowlers - Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath - are a testimony to his abilities.

Tendulkar's 114 on a fiery Test pitch at Perth in 1991-92 when he was still in his teens, a 155 not out in the Chennai Test of 1997-98 and a host of outstanding one-day performances, including in the Coca-Cola Cup at Sharjah (1997-98) and the CB series Down Under (2007-08), made him a marked man for the Australians - along with Laxman.

His performances in Australia in the first half of his career even drew praise from the reclusive Bradman, whose astonishing Test batting average of 99.94 remains the only major cricketing peak that Tendulkar failed to scale.

"Having seen Tendulkar on the television, I was very, very struck by his technique," Bradman said.

"I asked my wife to have a look at him because I said, I never saw myself play but I feel that this fella is playing much the same as I used to play, by looking at him. She had a look at the television and said 'yes, there is a similarity between the two'. I can't explain it - his compactness, stroke-production technique, it all seems to gel."

Tendulkar performed well in the Mohammad Azharuddin era of the 1990s, though India often fell short despite some stellar displays from him.

The team's fortunes changed, however, under Ganguly. A combination of the talent of Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh, with the proven experience of Dravid, Laxman and Kumble, all helped to turn Tendulkar's efforts into match-winning ones over the following decade. Acclaimed for his execution of the cover and straight drives early on, Tendulkar also showed his innovative side by mastering the paddle-sweep in later years.

Waning firepower?

Tendulkar also excelled against other top sides like South Africa, England and Pakistan. Then, just when many believed his firepower was waning, he became the first batsman to score a double-century in one-day cricket with 200 not out against South Africa at Gwalior in 2010.

One year later, Tendulkar's record sixth World Cup appearance culminated in a triumph on his home ground - Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. Pictures of him being lifted by teammates during a victory lap will remain etched in the memories of his fans around the world.

"Winning the World Cup is the proudest moment of my life. ... I couldn't control my tears of joy," Tendulkar was to say later.

He scored the highest number of runs by a batsman in two World Cups - 673 in 2003, when India made the final, and 523 in 1996 when they reached the semi-finals. In the victorious 2011 tournament, he was the second-highest scorer with 482, just behind Sri Lanka's Tillekaratne Dilshan (500).

His absence had been felt in the 1999 World Cup when India failed to advance from the Super Eights, losing a crucial game to Zimbabwe after Tendulkar had returned home on the death of his father. He subsequently returned to the tournament and struck a century against Kenya, but India failed to reach the knockout stages.

Tendulkar played in India's first Twenty20 international against South Africa in 2007 before asking not to be considered for the format, although he went on to spend five seasons with the Mumbai Indians in the lucrative Twenty20 Indian Premier League.

Time seemed to finally be catching up with Tendulkar as the big scores proved elusive after his country's World Cup triumph. The one bright spot came with a return to one-day cricket for the Asia Cup in 2012, when his 114 against Bangladesh completed an unprecedented century of international centuries.

Dravid, who lived in Tendulkar's shadow even though many considered him to be the better Test batsman, spoke in late 2012 of his time at the crease with his illustrious teammate.

"We have scored 6,900 runs together ... and I can proudly tell my grandchildren that I batted with Sachin," Dravid said. "They may not remember me, but they will certainly remember Sachin."

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20121226/sports/sports7.html

ajithfederer

27th December 2012, 08:00 PM

'He toyed with us like we were schoolboys'

Shamya Dasgupta Ž· Dec 24, 2012 Ž·

"It's unfortunate for Australia that he has played many great knocks against us over the years, said Waugh.

Soon after news came in on Sunday that Sachin Tendulkar had retired from One-Day International cricket, there was an outpouring of shock, especially on Twitter. But Tendulkar had practically retired from ODIs a long time ago, hadn't he? He played irregularly for some time before the 2011 World Cup, then played the tournament, and since then had made only sporadic appearances in ODIs.

The Sachin 'Retirement Debate' although it's his selection in the team and not his retirement that was up for discussion; whether he should quit or not is his decision alone has centred on Test cricket. That he won't play ODIs anymore is really just a formal bringing down of the curtains. It wasn't likely that he would play the format once the World Cup was won and the century of centuries was out of the way.

But really, now that the announcement has been made, it is the 'end of an era' - bigger than the era that will end when he quits Test cricket. After all, while Tendulkar has been a great Test cricketer, he was, by some distance, the greatest ODI batsman. Ever.

He was truly at the height of his powers during the period between 1994, when he started opening the batting, and the turn of the millennium. Essentially, the period when India became almost a one-man army, up to the time support came in the form of Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid, and later, Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh. That was when Tendulkar was at his absolute best. In ODIs, he had no peer. Enough said.

Anyway, what can I add to all that's been said over the years, and in the past 24 hours? Instead, I want to go back to a longish interaction I had with Steve Waugh earlier this year this was around the time that the frenzy, and the wait, for Tendulkar's hundredth hundred was at its peak, and our conversation focussed entirely on the man.

When Tendulkar burst on to the scene, Waugh, remember, had already won a World Cup (1987), but was some years away from becoming the massive force that inspired cricket's changing of the guard in the mid-1990s.

"Sachin had a fantastic first tour of Australia and when he got a century in Perth as an 18-year-old, I thought that if he could score a hundred in Perth coming from a country where the ball doesn't bounce very much, he has got to be a special player, said Waugh, taking his memory back to 1991-92 when Tendulkar scored 114 against Craig McDermott, Merv Hughes, Paul Reiffel and Mike Whitney. "So straightaway he was on the radar of the Australian cricket side."

When it comes to Australia and Tendulkar though, thoughts invariably turn to Desert Storm in Sharjah, 1998. Never before, or since, have two consecutive innings of such arrogance, such determination, such aggression and such domination been played in ODI cricket that too against the best team in the world at the time.

"It's unfortunate for Australia that he has played many great knocks against us over the years," Waugh told me with a twinkle in his eye.

But what about Desert Storm, I probed. He was coming to it anyway.

"Those were pretty trying conditions and after he scored his first century (143), Allan Border, who was our temporary coach, told us that there was no way he could score another century in the final. And the next day he got another big one (134). Those were two incredible knocks. He was the closest I have come to where I did not know where to bowl to a batsman. He was toying with us like we were schoolboys and not professionals.

Waugh (or indeed, the Australian side) was not the only one who felt like that, especially in the 1990s. Yes, it was after the turn of the century when all the big landmarks were notched up, but that was when the Indian team was a much stronger and much more organised unit. It was the 1990s that belonged to Tendulkar.

Speaking for myself, I have to say that I watched with some dismay as Tendulkar became an accumulator of records and more records over the past few years. Even the 2003-04 double in the Sydney Test, which has become the stuff of legend because of the way Tendulkar constructed it no drives on the off side and is a technician's delight, was, to me, an innings of a man determined to score a lot of runs without the flamboyance that must differentiate Tendulkar from an average Joe. Where was the bravado, where was the flair? Even after that, Tendulkar, to me, seemed more intent in getting it right than someone who was out to exhilarate, to spread joy.

But that's only me. Others I know see the aestheticism in his technical perfection, in his perseverance. Besides, zillions of Indians across the world didn't care as long as the runs came, as long as the little man with the monstrously heavy bat walked out and strutted his stuff. They were the real fans, I'll have to admit; I was clearly not as devoted. But I continue to console myself with the thought that I admired Tendulkar for what he really was, what he stood for and didn't gloss over what I felt were his flaws.

He might have played hockey the last few years when it comes to ODI cricket, but cricket, in coloured clothing, will always be defined by what he did, what he achieved. Not just the runs and records, but something else something Jayasuriya or Gilchrist or Gayle, despite their murderous hitting, could never quite match.

http://www.wisdenindia.com/cricket-blog/he-toyed-schoolboys/41670

ajithfederer

27th December 2012, 09:00 PM

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/398572_525744174116453_1210998179_n.jpg

This picture was taken at 7am in the morning and the temperature was 3 degrees.

ajithfederer

27th December 2012, 09:54 PM

Sachin Tendulkar: the man with the golden arm

Arguably the world’s greatest batsman ever, Sachin Tendulkar brought down the curtains on his glorious 23-years ODI career on December 23, 2012. With these golden words, Tendulkar bid good bye to the 50-over format: "I have decided to retire from the one-day format. I feel blessed to have fulfilled the dream of being part of a World Cup wining Indian team”.

The batting maestro left a huge pile of records – 18, 426 runs and 49 centuries in 463 ODIs—which is next to impossible for any batsman to achieve it in the next two decades. But besides his batting, Tendulkar was equally a match-winner; he took 154 ODI wickets with two five-wicket hauls to earn the sobriquet of India’s man with the golden arm. Here is look at the best bowling moments in Tendulkar’s glorious ODI career

5 for 32 against Australia in 1998 at Kochi:

Riding on a brilliant century by Ajay Jadeja, India set Australia a challenging target of 310. The Australians were off to a solid start but a magnificent spell by Tendulkar, including the scalps of Steve Waugh, Michael Bevan, Darren Lehmann and Damien Martyn, helped India clinch victory by 41 runs.

5 for 50 against Pakistan in 2005 at Kochi:

The venue was same but the opponents were different this time. With the help of centuries from Virender Sehwag (108 off 95 balls) and Rahul Dravid (104 off 139 balls), India posted a challenging total of 281 against Pakistan. The decision of captain Sourav Ganguly to give the ball to Tendulkar proved fruitful. Tendulkar bowled 10 overs and claimed five important wickets. Ripping through the Pakistan middle order, he dismissed skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Sami. India won by 87 runs.

4 for 34 against West Indies in 1991 at Sharjah:

Tendulkar’s first Man-of-the-Match award as a bowler. He picked up 4 for 34, dismissing Clayton Lambert, Richie Richardson, Gus Logie and wicketkeeper-batsman Jeff Dujon to help India skittle out West Indies for 141. India chased down the target easily by seven wickets. Tendulkar made an unbeaten 11 runs with the help of one boundary.

4 for 34 against Australia in 1998 at Dhaka:

In the quarter-finals of the inaugural Wills International Cup, Tendulkar almost single-handedly led India to victory. With the bat, his 141 off 128 balls set up a total of 307 for 8. With the ball, Tendulkar prized out Steve Waugh, Bevan, Martin and Brad Young as India won by 44 runs.

3 runs off the last over at the Hero Cup 1993:

The 1993 Hero Cup semi-final against South Africa at Kolkata will always be memorable. South Africa needed just six runs off the last over against India. The target was imminently achievable, with Brian McMilan at the crease. After a long discussion, India captain Mohammad Azharuddin gambled by giving Tendulkar the final over. That was his first over of the match. Tendulkar left South Africa confused with his bake of tricks and gave away just three runs. It was one of India’s most famous win of the 90s.

3 for 43 against Sri Lanka in 1994 at Rajkot:

India posted 246 in 50 overs after Sri Lanka won the toss and invited them to bat. Tendukar came in at No. 5 and made just 1. In the chase, the Sri Lankan openers Roshan Mahanama and Dulip Samaraweera were off to start and added a quick 46 for the first wicket. After Javagal Srinath and Manoj Prabhakar failed to make inroads, Azharuddin handed over the bowling to Tendulkar who dismissed both openers in a short span and added the captain Arjuna Ranatunga for 8. That spell turned the match, with India winning by eight runs.

http://cricketnext.in.com/live/news/sachin-tendulkar-the-man-with-the-golden-arm/70129-13.html

ajithfederer

27th December 2012, 09:56 PM

http://im1.cricketcountry.com/image_20121227151815.jpg

http://www.cricketcountry.com/cricket-articles/Amul-honours-Sachin-Tendulkar-on-his-ODI-retirement-in-latest-ad/21414

sathya_1979

27th December 2012, 11:34 PM

yOv! daily azha udaadhayaa....

ajithfederer

28th December 2012, 09:18 AM

The Moment We’re Never Ready For

Anjali Doshi · Dec 25, 2012 ·

Tendulkar will remain the only cricketer that made a billion switch off their television sets once he was out.

There are some stories that catch newsrooms across the country completely off guard. Like 26/11 or the SEAL team six’s raid on Osama Bin Laden. The kind of stories that blindside you on some idle Tuesday. Then, there are the stories that news desks have had months, sometimes years, to plan for. You know they’re inevitable. So you do the best you can to prepare for them. You have intermittent meetings to discuss how the event will be covered. How the logistics and resources will be best utilised. What the packages, the highlights, the pictures and the reactions will be.

Yet, when that moment arrives, no matter how much and how often you have deliberated over it, it still takes you completely by surprise. And so it was with Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement from one-day cricket. Everybody knew it was going to happen. But when the BCCI’s innocuously titled email “Media Release” appeared in the in-boxes of cricket reporters across the world at 11.20 am IST on Sunday morning, it sent many newsrooms across the country into a flap.

Packages were made, tributes written, career highlights picked out, defining innings culled, the best quotes gleaned. Ready four years ago and frequently updated since. But when the moment was upon us, nobody was ready to say goodbye.

There was every indication that Tendulkar’s future, especially in one-dayers, was uncertain. There was some speculation too about how the selectors were seriously considering dropping him for the upcoming series against Pakistan. But nobody expected it to unfold in this anti-climactic fashion, via a press release. And then, the realisation that without knowing it at the time, we had watched Tendulkar’s last one-day innings nine months ago, when he made that ravaging 52 off 48 against Pakistan in the Asia Cup. Right after his hundredth hundred. How could we possibly know? He didn’t know himself.

Tendulkar didn’t get the fairy-tale end he wished for. That all of us wished for. For him and ourselves. Maybe, he was hoping to play one last one-day series against Pakistan at home before bidding the one-day format goodbye. Maybe, he was left with no choice because the selectors made it clear he would be dropped. Maybe, it was his conversation with Sandeep Patil, the selection committee chairman, and N Srinivasan, the BCCI president, that led to the hastily drafted media release before another press release on the T20 and ODI teams for the Pakistan series followed. Maybe, his best chance at a dream one-day farewell was April 2, 2011 but he was too in love to let it go.

That he didn’t get the fairy-tale ending to his one-day story just makes Tendulkar more real. Maybe, he is just as human as we are, after all. Even though we have spent the better part of a quarter of a century believing he is God.

The recent clamour and chorus among fans and experts asking “When?” and saying “About time” notwithstanding, the sentiment that followed his announcement was hardly one of relief. Or detachment.

After all, how do you say goodbye to someone you have shared such a deep emotional connection with for over 20 years? Most friendships and many marriages don’t last that long. How do you come to grips with losing something you can’t replace? He is everything we want to be: dedicated, hardworking, successful, famous, humble, revered. For 23 years, everything he did was a measure of our self-worth. If he failed, we failed. If he succeeded, we were ok. He was ours to knock down, blame, curse, applaud, gasp at, look up to, cherish, be frustrated with, admire. Tendulkar will remain the only cricketer that made a billion switch off their television sets once he was out. Never before. Never again.

Each one of us, even those who may never have met him, has a collection of very personal Sachin memories connected to more than just the desert storm, the 200, the 175 or the World Cups. Mine date back to the time I made a scrapbook on him as an 11-year-old with newspaper clippings and magazine photos. A few years later, I plastered posters of him on the walls of my bedroom. And when the time came to go away to university at 20, I took those posters with me and put them up in my dorm room in Toronto. I needed Sachin to make me feel at home, 8,000 miles away from home.

From cricket fan to cricket reporter to cricket writer, it’s been quite a journey. Reporting was tough because you try to be as objective as possible. You want to detach yourself from Tendulkar’s failures and milestones. And recalibrating this equation was not easy. I had to now acquaint myself with him as a professional. But he never disappointed here either. The more I interacted with him, the more my admiration grew for his work ethic, his focus, his humility and most of all his sense of commitment, all of which I witnessed first-hand on several occasions.

Tendulkar didn’t get the fairy-tale end he wished for.

During the 2007-08 tour of Australia, my first overseas tour as a television reporter, I gingerly approached Tendulkar after a net session in Adelaide to ask if he would consider doing an interview. He said he would think about my request after the series. When India won the CB series in Brisbane, I ran up to a champagne-soaked Tendulkar to remind him of our conversation. All he said was, “Tomorrow in Melbourne.” I had to cancel my bookings and re-route my flight. I had no time or venue for the interview. And I had no guarantee. But I had to take the chance. When I reached the executive lounge at the Tullamarine Airport, he kept his word. As he always has.

The email in my inbox on Sunday felt like a cruel joke. In one fell swoop, a vital chunk of my youth just disappeared. Tendulkar’s goodbye is a grim reminder to us of our own mortality. A reminder that there is very little time left to make the most of him. And ourselves. Are we ever prepared for the end? The end of all our elaborate plans. Of everything that stands.

The end that has just begun.

http://www.wisdenindia.com/cricket-article/moment-were-ready/41809?single_col_view=true

ajithfederer

28th December 2012, 09:37 AM

The Tendulkar habit

More than any other player, Sachin Tendulkar defined ODI cricket. To start with, he played in over half of all India's games

Harsha Bhogle
December 28, 2012

Dear Sachin,

I guess this means the countdown has begun. It couldn't have been easy for you since cricket has been your life, your solitary love outside of family. I know there are cars and music and seafood, and, as I recently realised, the odd glass of wine, but a bat was what you were meant to hold, and it is with one that you mesmerised a nation and a sport. I wondered if you could have given up Test cricket and stayed on in one-day internationals - until you told me it takes a lot out of you. And you were never one to give less than a 100%.

I guess your body finally won. It had been giving you signals - that permanently cracked bone in your toe, the struggle to get out of bed when the back played up, that elbow... ah, that's a different story altogether, but you always overruled it. It must have sulked but you forced more out of it than anyone else. It was bound to serve notice one day. I mean, you will be 40 soon; people get reading glasses at 40.

But you leave behind an aspect of cricket that you defined. There will be comparisons with other greats in Test cricket, and you will be a chapter in its history, but with the one-dayer, you are its history, in a sense, certainly for India, where you played in more than half the games (463 out of 809) (http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/team/6.html?class=2;filter=advanced;orderby=default;pla yer_involve=1934;template=results;type=team). The team had played a mere 165 games before you started (http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/team/6.html?class=2;spanmax1=17+Dec+1989;spanval1=span; template=results;type=team;view=results), and it is a measure of the impact you had that there were only 17 centuries (http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=2;filter=advanced;orderby=start;q ualmin1=1;qualval1=hundreds;spanmax1=17+Dec+1989;s panval1=span;team=6;template=results;type=batting) scored by then. India made a century every 9.70 games. After you started, that number comes down dramatically, to one every 3.52 games. And since that first century, in Colombo (http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65977.html), it comes down even further, to one every 3.23 games. To think that you started with two ducks.

Now, of course, the kids keep notching up the hundreds. This young fellow Kohli, for example, who plays with your intensity but whose vocabulary I guess you would struggle with!

Looking back, I can't imagine it took you 78 games (http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/35320.html?class=2;template=results;type=batting;v iew=cumulative) to hit a hundred. But then you were floating around in the batting order, spending too much time not being in the thick of it all. I can see why you were so desperate to open the batting in Auckland that day in 1994. Why, when you told me the story of how you pleaded with Ajit Wadekar and Mohammad Azharuddin to give you one opportunity, you sounded like you were still pleading. But I guess you had a history of wanting to be in battle, like that misty night in Kolkata (http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65971.html) (it was Calcutta in your youth, wasn't it?) when you took the ball in the 50th over with just six to defend and delivered a win.

It seems impossible to imagine that you averaged a mere 30.84 (http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/35320.html?class=2;spanmax1=26+Mar+1994;spanval1=s pan;template=results;type=batting;view=match) till that day in Auckland (http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/64463.html), and that you dawdled along at a strike rate of 74. Since then you averaged 47 (http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/35320.html?class=2;spanmin2=27+Mar+1994;spanval2=s pan;template=results;type=batting;view=match) at a strike rate of 87. It was a marriage meant to be.

I remember that afternoon in Colombo when you approached your first hundred. It had to be Australia, and you were in sublime touch, and you so wanted that first one. You made 110 in 130 balls, but oh, you agonised over those last 15 runs before you got to the century. In a sense, it was like that with the last one too, wasn't it? It was in those moments only that you were a bit like us, that you wanted something so badly, you let it affect your game. But between those two, you were always so much fun, in that belligerent, ruthless, adolescent first phase, in your second, rather more mature and calculated, existence, and of course in that joyous last. What fun that was. The 163 in Christchurch (http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/366627.html), the 175 in Hyderabad (http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/416240.html), that 200 in Gwalior (http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/441828.html), the 120 in Bangalore (http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/433568.html), the 111 in Nagpur (http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/433586.html). If it hadn't been for that devilish 100th (http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/535797.html), would you have continued playing the same way? That 100th hurt you, didn't it, as it did all of us, and I guess we didn't help you by not letting you forget. When the big occasion came, you always played it like another game, even though you knew it was a big day, like those two (http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/291371.html) classics (http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/291372.html) in CB Series finals in 2008, or, of course, those unbelievable (http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65773.html) nights in Sharjah (http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/65774.html) in 1998. But this 100th took away four or five more.

Somebody said to me he didn't want you to quit because it would mean his childhood was over. It isn't just them. Just as the child in you never grew up, so too did many grizzled old men become children when they saw you in blue

I know how disappointed you were after the 2007 World Cup. You weren't batting in your favourite position, you were unhappy (if you could ever be unhappy in the game that you revered and tended to like a servant), and without quite saying it, you hinted at the fact that you might have had enough. But the dawn always follows the darkest hour.

After the age of 34, in a young man's game, you averaged 48.36 (http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/35320.html?class=2;spanmin1=23+Jun+2007;spanval1=s pan;template=results;type=batting;view=match). Even by the standards you set yourself, that was unbelievable (in spite of all those nineties, when, almost inevitably, I seemed to be on air). And most of those came without your regular partner. While Sourav was around, you averaged almost 50 at a strike rate of 89. The mind still lingers on the time the two of you would come out at the start of a one-day international. (I watched one of those partnerships the other night and it seemed only the commercial breaks could stop you two.)

By now you were playing the lap shots more than the booming drives down the ground. It puzzled me and made many nervous. "I want to play down the ground too," you told me, "that is why I am playing the paddle shot. As soon as they put a fielder there, I'll play the big drive." You were playing with the field the way your great friend Brian Lara did when he was on top of his game.

But beyond the numbers some memories remain. I couldn't believe how you went after Glenn McGrath in Nairobi (http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/66173.html). I must have watched that clip 50 times but understood it more when you told me you wanted to get him angry, that on a moist wicket his line-and-length routine would have won them the game. That pull shot is as fresh in the memory as that first cover drive off Wasim Akram (http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65268.html) in the 2003 World Cup when you took strike because you thought the great man would have too many tricks for Sehwag.

I remember that World Cup well, especially an unheralded innings in Harare (http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65250.html) that helped beat a sticky Zimbabwe and put the campaign back on track. And your decision to keep the Player of the Tournament award in your restaurant because you would much rather have had the smaller winner's medal. It told me how much that meant to you, and when I saw the tears on your face that night in Mumbai (http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/433606.html), I instantly knew why.

I had only once seen you in tears and that was at a World Cup too. You were practising in Bristol. You were just back from your father's funeral and were wearing the most peculiar dark glasses. There was none of the usual style to them; they were big enough to cover half your face. You agreed to my request to speak to the media and briefly took them off while you were arranging your kit bag. I was taken aback to see your eyes swollen. You must have been in another world but you were courteous as ever. It was only Kenya (http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/66291.html) the next day, but I can see why you rate that hundred.

There are so many more. I was only a young cricket writer when I started watching you play, so there will be many. That is also why so many of us will miss you. Somebody said to me he didn't want you to quit because it would mean his childhood was over. It isn't just them. Just as the child in you never grew up, so too did many grizzled old men become children when they saw you in blue. You were a great habit, Sachin.

So you are done with the blue then. But the whites remain. That is our first image of you - the curly hair, the confident look, the front foot stride… all in white. I hope you have fun in them. You don't need to try too hard to prove a point to us because when you have fun we do too.

Cheers, you did well for us. And you gave life and strength to our game.

Harsha Bhogle is a commentator, television presenter and writer. His Twitter feed is here

Feeds: Harsha Bhogle
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/598770.html

ajithfederer

28th December 2012, 11:18 AM

Sach

Sometime in the early 90s trump cards were in vogue. Like most people who grew up in the 90s, I have wasted months on that stupid game. The more popular variety was the WWF one; there was also a less popular but a far more entertaining one on cricket too. You get Desmond Haynes in your turn and you merely snatch the card from your opponent he was the ultimate trump card with the most matches, runs, hundreds, and fifties in ODI cricket. If you get Viv, your only fear is if your opponent holds the Haynes card in that turn. Perhaps the worst card to have in the game was that of Sachin. Very few matches, fewer fifties, and no hundreds. Yet, the joy of holding the Sachin card was unmatched.

While Sachin was taking giant leaps in the world of test cricket, he hardly set the world on fire in ODIs in his first five years. There were cameos of all kind mind blasting, elegant, brutal, and responsible - but the big score was always eluding him. There were all sorts of theories on his inability to score hundreds in ODIs then. Sunny even suggested that he should stay away from ODI cricket and play only tests.

When the first hundred eventually came, he didn't quite break open the glass ceiling as much as he opened the floodgates. He nearly institutionalized the art of scoring a century in ODIs. While 90s witnessed a boom in ODIs, more matches were played on truer and flatter wickets the world over, and perhaps the decade even brought in an avalanche of great ODI batsmen. But without Sachin's constantly rising benchmark, it's hard to imagine we would have seen as many ODI hundreds post '94 as we have.

******

The quote on statistics being like mini skirts is often invoked in the context of cricketers whose record don't quite justify their impact on the game, but to me it's most appropriate for Sachin. His ODI numbers are so humongous, so colossal, so obscene that it's easy to get lost in making sense of them and lose out on the essence of Sachin. The records stand as a testimony to the impact of his methods, but that's only the byproduct the real deal was his method.

How else do you explain the significance of 27th March 1994 to so many Indians, and cricket fans at large? It was the second match of a bilateral series. India dismissed New Zealand for 142 and had the luxury of 50 overs to get there. The regular opener was unfit, which according to a prominent cricket journalist had something to do with a visit to a night club on the eve of the match. Sachin took his place at the top of the order in more ways than one - and scored 82 of the most thrilling runs in this format of the game ever. He didn't help India win a critical match, nor was it a challenging chase. There was very little context to the game except India coming back to square the series. Yet.

That is the essence of Sachin.

******

Who will write a biography of Sir Donald Bradman, must be able to write a history of Australia in the same period wrote CLR James in Beyond a Boundary. Along similar lines, I can add that for a generation of Indians their respective autobiographies will be hollow without Sachin.

Sidvee has compiled a fine list of the delightful micro moments of Sachin's career here, and writes for so many of us, in a way that none of us could, on growing up with Sachin here. There is very little to add to what he's already covered.

If a large part of our formative years was spent in watching Sachin bat, a larger part was spent on anticipating a Sachin innings. The night before a Sachin innings is a conglomeration of all possible human emotions, yet the ecstasy of the impending masterpiece rose above everything else. If he scored a hundred every eighth match since scoring his first one, it didn't stop us from dreaming one every match. For every hundred there are at least seven shattered dreams, but it didn't stop us from losing our sleep, from setting ourselves up for prime disappointment, from going to our annual exam in school groggy-eyed, from going to a critical day in office deprived of sleep and with very little motivation to work. We ran the risk of losing out on academics, a possible promotion at work, sometimes the obsession even came in the way of relationships, but he made it all worthwhile. Looking back at it now, except for the anticipation of a Sachin special, nothing has remained constant.

If ecstasy overpowered all other emotions on the eve of the match, reality doesn't always comply. For someone who's played 463 matches and been dismissed in most of them, a Sachin dismissal is as common a sight as any in cricket. Yet, it always comes as a shock. He can get out for a duck against Namibia, or after a 175 against Australia, but the reaction to his dismissal is always intense, as if it's a violation of the first principles of cricket. The scar a Sachin dimissal leaves behind makes it foolhardy to so emotionally invest in his batting again, but we did it. For 23 years and counting.

******

In a career of such sustained excellence, '98 stands well and truly above the rest of the years. He was walking on water. He decimated Warnie and pulverised all comers. The expectations had become so absurd and almost inhuman that he could only have disappointed us. At the end of a long and punishing home season, Sachin went to Sharjah as a hero and came back as God.

Fleming drifts down on the pads, Sachin plays his precise trademark flick to fine leg for a two to qualify for the final. A nation rejoices, commentators going bonkers, and journalists running out of adjectives to fill their match reports. That's when he slapped us for underestimating him. Little did we know that when we were looking at 24 from 30 balls, he was thinking of 63 from 30.

First ball after qualifying, Sachin danced down the wicket to play the most audacious inside out cover drive off Fleming. Tony Greig is screaming on commentary as if he'd just understood the climax of The Prestige. Momentarily, he even threatened to sprint on water. The singular stroke that separated him from the mortal world.

******

It was the first one dayer of the tri-series in South Africa in October '01. Sachin was coming back from a foot injury, and was struggling against Pollock and Nel, while Ganguly at the other end was in the form of his life. I have seen batsmen scratching their way out of form with a big innings in tests, like Dravid in Perth '08 and Sachin in Sydney '04.

But I have never seen a batsman, leave alone one of Sachin's pedigree, hang around for so long without being able to play with any sort of fluency in ODI cricket. This is also true of Sachin's career at large. No matter how rotten his luck has been, or how terribly he may have been out of form, I have never seen him throw his bat around in the hope of rediscovering his touch. The diligence with which he works his way back to form has been as compelling as watching him walk on water. While Sachin is always celebrated for the mastery of his craft, what is often underappreciated is that he's the game's most humble student too.

101 of 129 balls against Pollock, Nel, Ntini, Kallis, Klusener and Kemp when he was at his scratchiest.

Master and Student.

http://cornerd.posterous.com/sach

Arvind Srinivasan

28th December 2012, 02:50 PM

Schedule for the IND-AUS test series has been announced.

1st Test, Delhi – Feb 22-26, 2013
2nd Test, Mohali – Mar 2-6, 2013
3rd Test, Hyderabad – Mar 14-18, 2013
4th Test, Chennai – Mar 22-26, 2013

So even if this happens to be Sachin's last test series ( hopefully not), he gets to play his last match at Chepauk, a place where he's been most successful.

ajithfederer

28th December 2012, 03:19 PM

That the last test is at Chepauk itself is an indicator that it will be his last Test. (If he lasts that long)

ajithfederer

29th December 2012, 09:09 AM

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/301744_423589861045141_183807531_n.jpg

ajithfederer

29th December 2012, 09:09 AM

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/206689_423151931088934_1426259266_n.png

ajithfederer

29th December 2012, 09:10 AM

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/563966_422742857796508_1505066122_n.jpg

ajithfederer

29th December 2012, 09:11 AM

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/185265_422608694476591_754470397_n.jpg

Our Diehard Sachinist Manu Spartan Singh Holding a Chart "ODI CRICKET LOST ITS VALUE AFTER TENDULKAR'S RETIREMENT" at the Boxing Day test between Australia and Sri Lanka in MCG now.

ajithfederer

29th December 2012, 09:11 AM

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/25016_422362237834570_610276487_n.jpg

Humorous Message For Sachin Tendulkar at Dressing Room in Bangalore Chinnaswamy stadium Today.

He Used to Hear Music Quite Often !

ajithfederer

29th December 2012, 09:12 AM

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/599626_422174734519987_1185146869_n.jpg

ajithfederer

29th December 2012, 09:13 AM

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/9699_421746627896131_2004546219_n.jpg

ajithfederer

29th December 2012, 09:57 AM

December 26, 2012, 4:48 am
Sachin Was Us, and We Were Sachin
By ARNAB RAY

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2012/12/20/world/asia/20-Sachin-2-India-Ink/20-Sachin-2-India-Ink-blog480.jpg

Students in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, held a poster of cricketer Sachin Tendulkar after he batted for his landmark 100th century, in this March 16, 2012 file photo.

If love is defined by that which gives without expecting anything in return, then I guess we love our cricketers.

We skip classes or call in sick to work to watch them roar, we wake up at odd hours of the night to cheer them on, we spend countless evenings fighting away on Internet bulletin boards defending our favorites against their critics, we feel elated by their success and crestfallen at their failure. And all this we do for total strangers, who would walk by us at best or get their security detail to shove us aside at worst, if our paths ever crossed. It’s all crazy, but then that’s what they say about love.

And so it’s only natural that when cricketers you have followed and adored for years ride away into the sunset, sadness will come. But then our fickle hearts discover new objects of affection, and a cricket hero becomes, like a former crush, consigned to the misty depths of forgetfulness.

Yet Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar was not just another cricketer.

He was the sport. One of my earliest memories of Sachin Tendulkar — and memories of Sachin are always very vivid — was an exhibition game in Pakistan. The big guns were going through the motions as India moved toward another inevitable defeat. Then in to bat comes this child-man, all of 16, who decides to go for the win. He unleashes the most audacious of strokes at Pakistan’s best spinners, Qadir and Mushtaq, and scores 50-odd off only 18 balls, an almost unheard-of feat in those days, when a run-a-ball was considered a blinder.

In the process, he captures the imagination of a generation of schoolboys, myself among them, who, for the first time, saw the projection of their cricketing fantasies realized in the real world, cricket played as it is played in boyhood dreams — sixes, fours and never a step taken back. From that day on, Sachin became cricket. Cricket became Sachin. And that’s how it stayed.

He was hope. The nation switched its TV sets on when he came to the middle. They were switched off when he walked back. The pitch might crumble, the deliveries might swerve, the others might depart. But as long as he was there, thumping the ball through the covers off his back foot or angling to leg or going straight down the ground with a voluptuous bat-punch, there was always a chance.

The hope that he brought did not confine itself to the game of cricket. In a country where success in the public arena is more a matter of who you are than what you do, Sachin made us believe that it was possible, maybe not easy but possible, for a middle-class boy of no pedigree, armed merely with godly abilities and an obsession for perfection, to make it to the very top.

He was us. When he was a teenager, and so were we, we could contrast him with the dowdy, joyless uncles that were his teammates. “See, that’s the way we, the new generation, play the game – with a devil-may-care attitude. Those oldies, they just don’t have it.” When he grew up, and so did we, we would appreciate his maturity. “See, that’s how a man should be, responsible, stoic and yet supremely confident.”

When he became old (in his late 30s, he is considered ancient by the standards of modern competitive cricket), so did we. We would point to him diving on the field, or outhitting a younger colleague, and say, “See, that’s what our generation was about. Talent. Commitment. Those young whippersnappers, they just don’t have it.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FrDsffFEP0M

Now, no more. Sachin has retired from the one-day game, a format he revolutionized, leaving a giant hole in the ground. Fluttering around are burning scraps of memories — a pirouette hook, ferociously graceful, on a fast Australian pitch; a sandstorm in Sharjah; Shaun Pollock vanishing into the second tier; Shoaib Akthar smashed to pulp in that World Cup match of 2003; a magical over in the Hero Cup when the great man bowled, yes bowled, India to victory; and finally, another man — once a teen, then a young man and now middle-aged — silently praying, “God, if you are really there, not that I think you are, please let Sachin score a century today and let India win. Please.”

That middle-aged man I scarcely recognize in the mirror will still follow cricket, will still cheer India on, but somewhere, somehow, the personal connection has been irreparably broken. The war of cricket will still be fought. It’s just that I will not be in it.

So goodbye, dear Sachin. We shall not hunt together again, my friend.

By the light of day, Arnab Ray is a research scientist at the Fraunhofer Center For Experimental Software Engineering and also an adjunct assistant professor at the Computer Science department of the University of Maryland at College Park. Come night, he metamorphoses into blogger , novelist (“May I Hebb Your Attention Pliss” and “The Mine”) and columnist.

He is on Twitter at @greatbong.

http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/26/sachin-was-us-and-we-were-sachin/

ajithfederer

31st December 2012, 10:39 AM

Sachin Tendulkar: Did such a man really exist?

Published: Monday, Dec 24, 2012,

By Suresh Menon | Agency: DNA

Sachin Tendulkar is the greatest player to have batted in coloured clothes. For nearly two decades after he made his one-day international debut, Tendulkar was the king without a crown. That crown a World Cup title came in his sixth attempt, last year in India. Unlike in the longer format of the game where you had to take in elements other than pure cricket to bolster your case, in one-day cricket there has never been any doubt. Tendulkar was the best.

There were two options in Tendulkar's bag guaranteed to wipe away the frustration and the public humiliation of recent months. He could have scored a series of centuries, or he could have announced his retirement. The recent disappointments should not colour our appraisal of an all-time great. That he announced his decision to retire on the day the selectors were choosing an Indian team might suggest a kindness he certainly deserved. It does not matter now.

By quitting ODI four months short of his 40th birthday, Tendulkar has left his options open in Test cricket. He played less than a third of India's 37 ODI matches since the World Cup win, and the light was surely dimming. Yet the decision, symbolically arrived at on the longest night of the year, will usurp on-field events as the biggest cricket story of the year. Even partial retirements remind us of life's inevitabilities.

More remarkable than the runs he scored has been the manner in which Tendulkar retained his passion and his fitness over 23 years. Periodically, his body parts which threatened to end his career from the shoulder to the heel and everything in between became national news. But each time Tendulkar came back with renewed vigour, greater hunger and despite the breaks starred in more than half the ODI ever played by India.

One day cricket has its own rhythm, its own context, its own shortened narrative as distinct from what Toynbee might have called the rise and fall of civilised cricket had he been a fan of Tests. The ODI lives and dies by its figures.

And since shorter the game, greater the importance of statistics,here are some: Tendulkar played more games (463), made more runs (18,426), and more centuries (49) than anybody else. Of the Top 10 batsmen those with over 10,000 runs only Jacques Kallis has the marginally better average, only Sanat Jayasuriya the better strike rate and only Ricky Ponting held more catches than Tendulkar (140). In that list, only Jayasuriya had more wickets than Tendulkar's 154. This is one of those cases where the stats do not lie Tendulkar was indeed the best of the lot, the first choice in a game for Earth versus Mars.

India won more than half the matches Tendulkar played in, his importance underlined by his average of 56.63 (career average: 44.83) and strike rate of 90.31 (career: 86.23). He is no longer the only man to have made a double century in the format his colleague Virender Sehwag having overtaken that 200 with a 219, but he was the first to suggest the possibility of attaining that score and then living up to expectations.

One final statistic and then we shall move on. Tendulkar made his first century in his 79th match, having made the career-changing move to opening the batting in his 70th match after Navjot Sidhu pulled out with a strained neck in Auckland. Tendulkar, then a few days short of his 21st birthday, smashed 82 off just 49 deliveries with 15 boundaries and two sixes. The greatest ODI opener, and the greatest ODI century-maker had been set on his way over six months and ten matches the greatest all-time ODI batsman followed inevitably. At 16, on his first tour of Pakistan, Tendulkar was not expected to play ODI. And then came Peshawar. Tendulkar's treatment of Abdul Qadir, the great leg spinner is part of folklore now. The boy had curly hair, curiosity in his eyes, and steel in his wrists. He played only because it was not an official match, and Kapil Dev was nursing a stiff neck. At that stage there was no plan to play Tendulkar in ODI at all. But after that he couldn't be denied.

Eighteen deliveries changed everything. In that time he made 53 (unbeaten), hitting Mushtaq Ahmed for two huge sixes, and then Abdul Qadir for 27 runs in a single over, with three sixes in a row. There was no wild slogging. When Qadir dropped one short as Tendulkar stepped out, the batsman had the arrogance to go through with his shot anyway. The bat made a lovely arc, and for all we know the ball is still travelling no one could find it.

At the other end was the captain, Krishnamachari Srikkanth, no slouch himself. Later that evening he said, referring to the one-day series, 'the little bugger' must play now. The little bugger has been playing ever since, while many of those he played with are coming to terms with the challenges of middle age.

Whereas in Test cricket, Tendulkar has played some great innings but few definitive ones, in ODI, he has played both. The centuries in Sharjah, for instance, twice in succession against Australia, the 98 in the World Cup, the double century in Gwalior against South Africa. If the Sharjah centuries were made by a sportsman at the peak of his powers, the double came off the bat of a mature run-gatherer who hardly played a single stroke that was not in the coaching manual.

And therein lay Tendulkar's greatness as a batsman in the shorter format he combined orthodoxy and innovation to a degree unmatched by any of his contemporaries. He could slash over third man with panache or whip the ball from outside the off stump past mid on with power. He could be beaten and still recover to hit a boundary. But above all, he could frustrate the best bowlers by playing with a straight bat and a sense of mischief.

He loved to open, to hit over the top when the field was in, and strike when the ball was new. With Sourav Ganguly he formed one of the most potent opening partnerships, the drive as straight as an arrow early in the innings indicating that it was going to be his day.

He set such high standards that not only was he expected to score a century every time he went out to bat, he was expected to pulverise the bowling. He did both through most of his career, and that spoilt us. Perhaps our greed was greater than his ambition which from an early age was no longer exclusively his alone. Every thousand runs was seen merely as the starting point for the next thousand. In the end, we had to be content with fewer than 20,000 runs and 50 centuries. Such seductive round figures, but increasingly less meaningful to a player who had achieved so much.

The Tendulkar-shaped hole at the top of the order will always remind us of the man who occupied that space, took Indian cricket to great heights, and in the end bowed out leaving behind the figures, and the memories. Our grandchildren will ask us: Did such a man really exist?

Suresh Menon is Editor, Wisden Almanack, and author most recently of Bishan: Portrait of a Cricketer

http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/report_sachin-tendulkar-did-such-a-man-really-exist_1781056

ajithfederer

31st December 2012, 10:41 AM

Colour leaves his life
|
Aditya Iyer : New Delhi, Mon Dec 24 2012

In both the photographs and the videos on Youtube, the frame is hazy. On one end of the pitch, a bunch of grainy players, all wearing green jerseys and yellow pyjamas, lie low. At the end closer to the camera, a batsman squats. The subjects are largely unrecognisable. But thanks to the solitary figure's colours, no fan who put up with the 90s will fail to pinpoint the significance of the moment. Or its relevance in defining Sachin Tendulkar.

Light blue top, navy blue bottom. Sharjah, 1998 and a sand storm. A crisis, a century and a loss. India, both country and cricket team, came to terms with its dependency on one man. 'We lost the match, but it feels like a win', Mohd Azharuddin would say. It would hold true right through his quest to define 50-over cricket.

That definition was born in the 90s, with Tendulkar's blue standing out from the pile as he single-handedly battled the forces from fiery oppositions to a non-performing set of team-mates to nature's wrath. By the end of the century, India would never shift out of this colour-spectrum ever again, right until the time he walked back to the dressing room for the last time in March this year. But this journey that outlasted time was a colourful one literally and figuratively.

In the blue he built a team, brands and cola jingles. But before that, with the rest of the colours on the rainbow scale, Tendulkar first painted the portrait of a soon-to-be cricketing deity.

When he first appeared as a 16-year old in a buttoned white shirt at Gujranwala, one-day cricket wasn't quite what it is now. Yes, Packer had ushered colour into the game. But apart from an odd World Series, it was yet to catch a fire. It did for many Indians, when Tendulkar wore the flaming yellow kit and became an India opener for the very first time.

Auckland 1992, Tendulkar's 67th inning. The willow blazed like the yellow tee during his 49-ball 82. A destroyer was born. A legend soon would be. In 1994, the yellow glittered as India arrived in Colombo in a golden cream jersey. The wunderboy struck his first ever ODI hundred, against an Aussie side draped in blue. Both the colour and results between these two sides soon reversed. But not Tendulkar's knack of accumulating big ones.

As Bangalore, Calcutta, Bombay and Madras changed to Bengaluru, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai, and as one outrageous print on the India shirt changed to another (from bursting firecrackers to pinstripes), Tendulkar remained the only constant.

If you thought that Tendulkar only accumulated runs in inconsequential matches, then you weren't a fan of the World Cups. The ink blue came first, 1992 Australia. But Tendulkar seemed to prefer the homemade garments at the 1996 edition. As violet, cyan, magenta and indigo found its way around the midriff, Tendulkar feasted impartially from Kenya's green to Lanka's blue.

The team colours stabilised by the mid 2000s and so did Tendulkar. With a tri-colour smear replacing the oddities in the front, Tendulkar helped the flag flutter in South Africa 2003 with pride. But only when the blue bled deeper did Tendulkar give the sponsors a reason to stop creating new jersey designs in 2011. A star, his one and only, had been stitched above the BCCI crest.

Mumbai never saw Tendulkar in colours again. Now, the rest of the world won't. But in the process of lording over a format, he had also hand-held his team through its evolutionary stages jersey colour or otherwise. One-dayers will be paler without him. Quite like the hazy Sharjah frame, minus the blue figure.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/colour-leaves-his-life/1049483/0

ajithfederer

31st December 2012, 10:43 AM

Dec 29 2012 2:36PM

Cricket will not be the same without Sachin Tendulkar

Sumit Mukherjee, TNN Dec 29, 2012, 01.15PM IST

Just as the absence of heat makes us feel cold, the absence of controversies in his resume make Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar the coolest of all Indian icons. Ever wondered what goes into the making of a man who has become a legend in his lifetime? There is a lot more to Sachin than just being a run-machine.

His greatness as a batsman lies not in having made more runs than anyone else, but the process he adopted. Sachin's success underlines the fact that talent alone is not enough. It is what you do with it that matters in the final analysis. Not for a second has Sachin let his focus slip. He has always preferred the hard grind to shortcuts. In spite of his cult status and the trimmings (fame, power, wealth) that go with it, Sachin has never let anything interfere with his game.

We may not think twice about criticizing him for just about everything - his batting technique, hairstyle, sartorial sense, nomination to Rajya Sabha and his decision to play on - but no matter what you say, or how much the critics crib, you can never provoke a reaction from the Little Master, who believes in keeping his own counsel.

CHASING HIS DREAMS

They say, a closed mouth gathers no foot. Never has an Indian celebrity spoken so little and yet inspired so much awe as Sachin. Lack of sound bites has not dimmed the media's enthusiasm to relentlessly pursue the man who has always let his bat do the talking.

Not one word out of place, not one step out of turn in his 23-year career in the course of which Sachin has scaled peaks of success that lesser mortals can only dream of.

Yet, he continues to be humble and honest - values that his parents had instilled in him at an early age. If at 39, his brand value remains intact, it is because he continues to inspire millions to dream.

Sachin, of course, started dreaming about playing for the country quite early. When he was picked in the Indian squad for the Pakistan tour in 1989, Sachin was 16, not even old enough to sign the contract papers sent by BCCI. He continues to live his dream even today.

It has been a fascinating journey that has taken him across continents, exposed him to hostile conditions and challenged him to rise to the occasion at every turn. Critics who label him as 'selfish' often lose sight of the fact that Sachin spent his entire teenage life and youth in the service of the nation whose stock in international cricket was not very high.

Sachin's Taurian stubbornness was on view in his very first Test match in Karachi when he stood up to Pakistan's hostile three-pronged pace attack, comprising Imran, Wasim and Waqar, but it was not until Silakot that Sachin earned his stripes.

On a green, fast and bouncy pitch, Sachin was hit on the bridge of his nose by a snorter from Waqar. He, however, refused to go off the field and took fresh guard after staunching the flow of blood with a handkerchief. His steely resolve and ample talent found full expression in the same over when he twice drove Waqar to the cover boundary even as placards saying, "Go home and drink milk" went up in the stands. Seniors in the squad like Kapil, Vengsarkar, Shastri and Srikkanth were all very protective of the teenager on his maiden tour, but that was the day when Sachin came of age and the nation fell in love with him.

PRISONER OF FAME

Today he is the elder statesman in the side, but such is his stature that youngsters half his age hero-worship him. He has had to constantly work on his game to remain one step ahead of bowlers are always on the lookout for the most prized scalp in international cricket.

It will be unfair to dismiss Sachin as an intensely private person who shuns public life. True, like most celebrities, Sachin too is a prisoner of his own fame, but those who have shared time and space with the "master" describe him as a "regular" guy who relaxes by listening to music, prefers seafood, loves to drive fast cars and enjoys the company of his family most. He is used to being mobbed. Just about everyone, his fans and opponents included, wants a piece of the man who had "reminded " the peerless Donald Bradman "of himself".

He has the temperament of a hermit. He is not known to refuse an autograph-seeker or pose for a photograph. Even when he has got a poor umpiring decision, he's never thrown a tantrum. The only occasions when we have seen him a touch agitated is when someone moved across the sight screen. When it is between him and the bowler, he brooks no interference. It was mainly due to his discomfiture at the crease that the ICC has been obliged to raise the height of sight screens at all international venues.

His teammates have marvelled at his genius while batting with him. Rahul Dravid admitted to getting a "weird" feeling when he found spectators starting to clap after being dismissed cheaply. Later he realised that it was in anticipation of the Little Master's arrival at the crease!

This trend continues even today as Sachin prepares to walk into the sunset. Earlier this year, fans at Sydney, where Sachin has a great record, and the Adelaide Oval, Bradman's backyard, admitted to having a lump in their throats as they gave him a standing ovation one final time.

Sachin would be not human if it had not affected him. To his credit, he betrayed no emotion and acknowledged the cheers by gently raising his bat that betrayed him for the first time Down Under.

He sought comfort in his family. A doting father to his two children Sara and Arjun and a loving husband to Anjali, whom he first met - and later courted - at the Mumbai airport while waiting for his luggage to arrive, Sachin is the quintessential family man we all aspire to be.

His father had the biggest influence on him and it was his mother Rajani who sent him back to England, saying his country needed him more for India's World Cup campaign in 1999, when Sachin had air-dashed to Mumbai to attend his father's last rites.

He is excited to see Arjun among Mumbai U-14 probables. Bowling to Arjun in the nets is a ritual that Sachin really enjoys, but he wants to put no pressure on him, realising that the young boy has his hands full living up to a surname that the world of cricket doffs its hat to.

SACHIN THE SLEEPWALKER

Among the other things that Sachin enjoys is go-karting. He simply loves to drive fast. He permits himself a quiet chuckle when he sees the frightened expression on his co-passengers ' faces. He is also a very talented table tennis player and is always up for a game or two with his teammates.

Like most cricketers, Sachin too is superstitious. He is particularly finicky about his bat. His teammates recall that a young Sachin was so worried about his bat not arriving in time that he was found sleepwalking at the team hotel in Faisalabad in 1989. Known to use the heaviest bat (1.51 kg) in the business, Sachin refused to use lighter ones even after he suffered a tennis elbow. During the Eden Test earlier this month, he had his 'lucky' bat as well as an old arm guard 'fixed' before the match and ended up scoring 76, which turned out to be his highest score in the series.

Much before Sachin struck up a friendship with tennis ace Roger Federer, he was a John McEnroe fan. He was just eight years old when he watched McEnroe end Bjorn Borg's five-year reign at the Big W in 1981 on television and then proceeded to copy his idol's look by reining in his mass of curly hair with a hairband and donning wrist bands!

Like all Taurians, Sachin is a loyal friend. He has a very close circle of friends and it is only when he is in their company that the real, fun loving Sachin emerges. His friends say that if he sets his mind on something, you can rest assured that he will achieve it.

They point to the Sydney Test in 2004 when Sachin made an epic 241 without playing a single stroke between thirdman and cover because he had been getting out caught in that region too frequently.

These are feats of a man who, many say, is destiny's child. To say he has enriched the game with his exceptional talent is like thanking the sun for sunshine. Cricket will not be the same when he walks into the sunset.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-29/top-stories/36050680_1_sachin-ramesh-tendulkar-waqar-pakistan-tour

Rangarajan nambi

2nd January 2013, 02:06 PM

Having retired from onedayers, Sachin should quit IPL too . Will he do that ?

GSV

2nd January 2013, 02:25 PM

Kettutu solren rangarajan nambi sir..

selvakumar

8th January 2013, 09:54 AM

http://tamil.oneindia.in/news/2013/01/08/sports-fans-skip-wedding-ceremony-sachin-167568.html

Only god can make people forget even marriage.

Another interesting this is - Sachin has scored only 18 centuries in Ranji. Wasim J had scored 30+. Innuma ulagam ranji trophy record ah nambuthu :roll:

ajithfederer

16th January 2013, 12:07 PM

Never Imagined that I would be doing Ranji updates here.

Over in Delhi, Mumbai are 42-3 at lunch after 24 overs. Tendulkar batting on 19 off 40 (4x4) Nayar 2 off 43b. Tendulkar got hit on the right hand by Nishant Singh as a shortish ball jumped off the wicket. Took off his gloves and madly shook out the hand, but has generally been solid.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/indian-domestic-2012/engine/current/match/574135.html

littlemaster1982

16th January 2013, 12:31 PM

Ah, didn't knew the match is on today. CI, here I come :D

ajithfederer

16th January 2013, 02:55 PM

Got a 56 1ith 10 fours and 1 six.

SR Tendulkar c Verma b Sinha 56 (75b 10x4 1x6) SR: 74.66

SoftSword

16th January 2013, 05:20 PM

any online links/highlight links for these domestic games...
ivar porappakkamellaam aal podungadaa...

Arvind Srinivasan

16th January 2013, 05:21 PM

Really have to appreciate Sachin here. His ranji trophy stint here shows the extent of his love for the game. Hopefully he gets to form before the AUS series.

Arvind Srinivasan

16th January 2013, 05:24 PM

any online links/highlight links for these domestic games...
ivar porappakkamellaam aal podungadaa...

No link for this game. The last game was telecasted in ESPN. So I guess his innings against Baroda must be available.

Arvind Srinivasan

16th January 2013, 05:27 PM

A fan touching Sachin's feet after he got his 100 against Baroda.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t0EskGSmf4

ajithfederer

8th February 2013, 02:07 PM

Tendulkar on 99 with 11 4's and 2 6-ers off 137 balls striking @72.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/indian-domestic-2012/engine/current/match/574150.html

ajithfederer

8th February 2013, 02:12 PM

100!.

RozeMylm

8th February 2013, 03:37 PM

well done sachiiiiii......:-D

SoftSword

8th February 2013, 03:54 PM

:clap: thala...
romba naalaikku apparam oru scorecard'a follow pannittu irukkaen...

4 again... on 135!!

SoftSword

8th February 2013, 04:26 PM

thala left standing on 140... i always love this score of sachin...
jus remembering the WC match he played after returning from his dads funeral...

Arvind Srinivasan

8th February 2013, 07:34 PM

Some shots were just amazing....Hoping Sachin would carry some of this form to the Australia series.....

SoftSword

8th February 2013, 07:35 PM

did u watch it live AS?

Arvind Srinivasan

8th February 2013, 08:36 PM

No....watched the highlights from the Willow TV channel in youtube....

sathya_1979

8th February 2013, 10:45 PM

The way he quickly got back into the crease when he missed the ball stepping out to Ojha when on 91 :bow: Shows how much he values his wicket even in a domestic match which most of our so-called future prospects fail to do even on international stage...

Arvind Srinivasan

9th February 2013, 05:34 AM

^ True....

ajithfederer

9th February 2013, 10:52 AM

Bleddy willow youtube links don't work in India. Anybody else grab a link and put it here if possible.

No....watched the highlights from the Willow TV channel in youtube....

Arvind Srinivasan

9th February 2013, 10:56 AM

^Will try uploading it on Youtube....

Arvind Srinivasan

9th February 2013, 11:04 AM

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeqayH4U1Fw&feature=youtu.be

ajithfederer

9th February 2013, 11:15 AM

Thanks for the pm and the link Arvind.

GSV

9th February 2013, 12:06 PM

Fantastic Sachin..

Arvind Srinivasan

9th February 2013, 07:04 PM

Thanks for the pm and the link Arvind.

You're welcome, AF....

Arvind Srinivasan

16th February 2013, 02:33 AM

Enna nadakudho ennavo...I want Sachin to perform well here in Chepauk....Cannot see him fail here as well....

ajithfederer

19th February 2013, 02:56 PM

http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report_sachin-tendulkar-bowled-thrice-at-nca-nets_1801086

:omg:

Arvind Srinivasan

19th February 2013, 09:07 PM

^ Oru training sessionkku en ivallo importance....Antha manushana konjam nimathiyaa vidamaatanga polaraikkae...

littlemaster1982

21st February 2013, 05:12 PM

Got this from an interesting site called Quora.

Out of the 2068 ODI cricketers played till date, 2052 have not even managed to score half of Sachin Tendulkar's total ODI runs in their own ODI career.

That is almost 99.22% cricketers!

:shock: :notworthy:

VinodKumar's

21st February 2013, 06:17 PM

As of today cricinfo stats there are only 13 players have managed to score half of Sachin's total ODI runs in their own career.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/83548.html

Arvind Srinivasan

21st February 2013, 07:17 PM

^ Great stat. But coming to think of it, the man's got 18k odd runs and half of it is over 9000. So it's not surprising. Truly the GOAT in ODIs.....

ajithfederer

27th February 2013, 08:22 AM

One of the finest hundreds on a turner I've seen'
Rahul Dravid picks ten memorable performances he's witnessed in India v Australia Test matches. First up: Sachin Tendulkar's Chennai 155 and Glenn McGrath's Sydney ten-for (07:01)
Producers: Gokul Chakravarthy and Suketu Mehta
February 26, 2013

There were no transcripts available.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/video_audio/606439.html

P_R

9th March 2013, 08:30 AM

During the NZ-Eng match I was swapping channels and watched the highlights of the '99 Boxing Day Test.
This is next only to his CapeTown innings as a captain's hundred.
What a complete bunch of crappers he has had to shoulders. Atleast Lara had bowlers. This man had to do every damn thing himself.
Kanitkar comes 4 down and ther endeth the batting line-up. Up against McGrath, Fleming, Warne and Waugh's field setting.
Let's just face it - that we were not seen as a crap team and not spoken of as a touring minnow in those days was simply because of Sachin.
We can never be thankful enough :clap:

Arvind Srinivasan

9th March 2013, 09:35 AM

^ Truly an innings to cherish . Still remember watching it with my aussie loving dad on a Tuesday morning. Tendulkar was that larger than life super hero fighting against all odds to save his side from decadence, wasn't he? and he didn't disppoint. It was at a time when the world had yet to witness Laxman's elegance, Dravid's dexterity and Sehwag's emergence. And he's outlasted everyone of them..

ajithfederer

20th March 2013, 11:15 AM

India news

'Didn't want to break down in front of Yuvraj' - Tendulkar
ESPNcricinfo staff
March 19, 2013

Sachin Tendulkar: "When I saw my wife discussing medical terms with Yuvraj, I realised what he had been going through." © Associated Press

Sachin Tendulkar has said he was scared of breaking down in front of Yuvraj Singh when they met in London after Yuvraj's treatment for a rare germ cell cancer in the United States. Tendulkar was speaking in Delhi at the release of Yuvraj's book The Test of My Life: From Cricket to Cancer and Back.

"When I went to meet him in London, I was telling my wife that I don't want to break down when I see him," Tendulkar said. "I met him and gave him a tight hug. We enjoyed a meal, and from the way he ate I was convinced that he was back on track.

"When I saw my wife discussing medical terms with Yuvraj, I realised what he had been going through. He is like my younger brother and I would ask God why it (the illness) had to happen to Yuvraj."

Yuvraj recollected his first meeting with Tendulkar. "My first conversation was when I was looking at him in awe at the dressing room, suddenly he said, 'please pass on the biscuits.'" To this Tendulkar replied, "I have not got those biscuits till now."

Apart from Tendulkar, India captain MS Dhoni also spoke about Yuvraj's fight with cancer. Dhoni said he knew about Yuvraj's situation even before he was told about it. "When his test reports came, someone told me he has cancer," Dhoni said. "I just said 'are you sure?' The person repeated that Yuvraj has cancer. I was shocked."

Following his return from the United States after his treatment for mediastinal seminoma, Yuvraj set up a cancer charity called Youwecan, which focuses on spreading cancer awareness and early detection.

Several players who spoke at the event in conversation with Yuvraj and Harsha Bhogle said they had seen Yuvraj cough and throw up repeatedly during the 2011 World Cup, but assumed they were throat or stomach problems. Yuvraj was named Player of the Tournament for the World Cup and described the moment after Dhoni hit a six to win the final for India.

"I was running towards Mahi to hug him and he was running towards the stumps." Dhoni had said he'd made a run for the stumps because otherwise the rest of the players would make a grab for them.

During his stay in Indianapolis for cancer treatment, Yuvraj said he had followed India's matches in Australia and admitted to feeling "sad" at not being involved. "I would watch videos of my batting until one day Anil Kumble came to visit me and shut my laptop. He said I should forget about cricket and concentrate on my recovery." The only time Yuvraj found himself "jumping" with excitement and joy during two difficult months of chemotherapy was on hearing about Virat Kohli's century in Adelaide.

The India team and support staff were called onto the stage for photographs, but as the players went up Virender Sehwag stayed seated. Yuvraj called out to him and said, "Veeru, main bhi team main nahin noon, tum bhi team main nahin ho - chal aa jaa [I'm also not in the (Test) team, you're also not in the team - come on up]." Sehwag did with a smile on his face.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/story/625828.html

VinodKumar's

20th March 2013, 12:15 PM

The India team and support staff were called onto the stage for photographs, but as the players went up Virender Sehwag stayed seated. Yuvraj called out to him and said, "Veeru, main bhi team main nahin noon, tum bhi team main nahin ho - chal aa jaa [I'm also not in the (Test) team, you're also not in the team - come on up]." Sehwag did with a smile on his face.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/story/625828.html

lump in my throat :cry:.

SoftSword

20th March 2013, 08:51 PM

Brian Lara v Sachin Tendulkar is a pointless debate – and a grand one

Watching the televised endgame to the waterlogged second Test in Wellington – a cosy space-filling, sofa-bound affair that cricket has always, from the days of the hair-oiled and unapologetically brusque Peter West, done better than any other sport – the Spin was struck by a number of things. First by the familiar low-key excellence of Ian Ward in the anchorman role, a presenter who manages to be nice without being anywhere close to bland, and to remain at all times attentively expert while still teasing the bulk of the chat out of his revolving roster of furtively suited ex-pros. And not to mention doing all this while resembling increasingly some elegantly ravaged fin de siecle decadent levered out of the casino and into a light blue business suit and persuaded to discuss at great length Australia's dearth of spin options with Shaun Udal and Dominic Cork.

Mainly, though, as the day passed in a companionable pretence of hope ("back over to Michael now at a deserted Basin Reserve"), Sky staged a lengthy, well-informed discussion about Brian Lara. The Spin isn't really sure why, other than the obvious fact that there is no time when it is not a good time to have a long discussion about Brian Lara, but on this occasion this was framed around the horribly pointless, horribly interminable, horribly irresistible ambient debate about who was a better batsman, Lara or Sachin Tendulkar: a discussion that under new proposals put forward to the EU could soon be banned in public places, which is punishable by ritual flogging in many of the world's more despotic outposts and which, reduced to its familiar interminable thrashings-out tends to end up recreating the exact physical sensation of arguing interminably about who would win a race between a satsuma and the colour green, while having a breadstick driven up your nostril into the front quarters of the brain. But which remains, for all it migrainous tedium, somehow also a brilliantly insatiable topic of conversation.

The main reason for this is Lara, who may or may not have been the better player, but who, as Sky's video selection ably demonstrated, was in his peak moments one of the most viscerally exciting athletes imaginable in any discipline, every movement an expression of the most unearthly sporting talent.

And happily this is a timely moment to talk about Lara. It is now 20 years since the last great West Indian announced himself, in the winter of 1993, with his first Test hundred: not the usual agonising trudge, but a jaw-droppingly fine 277 on the third and fourth days in Sydney against Craig McDermott, Merv Hughes and Shane Warne. After which Lara produced the two and half years that would define him, scoring just under 3,000 Test runs at 61 including in just his 16th Test his first world record mark, 375 against England in Antigua. This was followed that summer by his enduring 501 not out against Durham (off - gulp - 427 balls) and three brilliant hundreds against England in the summer of 1995.

If Lara's finest innings was perhaps the match-winning 153 against Australia in Bridgetown in 1999, it is this early period that seems to sum him up: not so much the weight of run scoring - Jonathan Trott had the same number of hundreds the same number of matches into his Test career - but a concatenation of unsurpassable peaks. This is the key to the Lara-Tendulkar debate, and in fact the only thing really worth saying about it. Tendulkar obviously wins on pure accumulated stats. Lara wins on visceral sporting elegance and also on the extremity of his peaks.

It is a question of differing frequencies. Lara's five best innings are superior to Tendulkar's five best. But Tendulkar has many more best innings, each one a separate perfectly self-contained draught of the homogenised high-grade matter that is Sachin Tendulkar. If Tendulkar's kind of greatness was the only kind of greatness the sport would be tonally diminished. But a sport whose giants were all Laras would leave you yearning now and then for the cool, clear, beautifully still artistry of a Tendulkar.

For whom, incidentally, the correct comparison is probably not Lara but Jacques Kallis: a fellow technician in a similarly stable team who scores hundreds at the same rate and at a slightly higher average, but who also happens to have the same number of Test wickets as Jimmy Anderson and is therefore statistically the greatest cricketer of all-time (there is a problem here for militant Tendulkar fans: their man may win the Lara battle on points, but bring in the world's greatest all-rounder and Sachin starts to look a bit like Kallis without the wickets).

It is, as The Spin has ably demonstrated while thrashing out its own variation above, still the grandest and most pointless cricketing debate of the past 20 years. And really the broader point is the only real point worth making here. Emerging over a six-year span of notably high-spec Test match bowling talent, all three – Lara, Tendulkar and Kallis – are and were truly great. But then, what a time it was for that kind of thing.

At the time the stand-alone greatness of extant Test cricketers in the 1990s and 2000s was simply a given. Category A specimens, All-Time XI candidates, real-deal merchants: they were everywhere. Shortly after the turn of the century you could have picked a world XI that ran: Hayden, Dravid, Ponting, Tendulkar, Lara, Kallis, Gilchrist, Warne, McGrath, Pollock, Muralitharan. Every member of this team, with others in reserve, would be a decent shout in an all-time composite team to play the all-time composite cricketers of Mars.

Inevitably, there has been a levelling out. There are as ever brilliant cricketers knocking about the place. But the current world XI - at a stab: Cook, Smith, Amla, Sangakkara, Clarke, Kallis, De Villiers, Steyn, Philander, Ajmal, Anderson - is a tangible step down from giddily unassailable to merely very good. If this sense of decline is tangible, it is also politically fraught. It is customary at this point to rage with ubi sunt zeal against the rise of the new world: the distractions of the new formats, the altered gravity of the roving global Twenty20 league, with its short-termist concerns, its stupefying riches, its greatness-skewering sense of dilution.

On the other hand, too many domestic cricketing setups are in a state of turmoil - only in England and South Africa does first-class cricket seem more rather than less organised than it was previously - for this to all be the fault of the IPL, or the BPL, or the SPL or even the FLT20L. It is simply a time of change and adjustment. And perhaps it is the right moment to accept that what it is to be a great cricketer has simply changed a little. What De Villiers, or Amla, or MS Dhoni have managed - excellence in three utterly diverse formats through a rolling calendar of disorientating demands - is not to be undervalued. Perhaps there is, if not greatness, then something close to it here under extreme pressure.

Or at least something that was never quite asked of Lara in his prime, a genius who undoubtedly missed out on a fortune by only just scraping into the T20 era, but whose career was at least agreeably narrow-focus. More likely it is simply cyclical, the greatness dearth - albeit cyclical in a way that is related not just to the standard wax and wane of global talent stocks, but also to the cycle of muddle and confusion beyond, the sense of a sport in the process of shaking itself down into a new and hopefully more coherent shape.

The West Indies may yet produce another Brian Lara but, as CLR James wrote in Beyond a Boundary, genius cannot exist in isolation from it surroundings. Cricket's recent past looks not just like a land peopled by giants, but something calmer and more settled, a mini golden age with little more in the way of distraction beyond the familiar sedate, deliciously irresolvable questions of competing cricketing ultimacy.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/mar/19/the-spin-brian-lara-sachin-tendulkar

sathya_1979

20th March 2013, 10:33 PM

http://www.rediff.com/cricket/report/tendulkar-the-cricketer-of-the-century-book-dhoni/20130320.htm

ajithfederer

21st March 2013, 09:26 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r_Ed9nOs8I

Arvind Srinivasan

21st March 2013, 08:45 PM

Sachin Tendulkar is within striking distance of bettering several records against Australia at home. Some of the statistical highs include highest run-getter, most fifties and the maximum number of centuries. Ahead of the fourth and final Test at the Feroz Shah Kotla, here is a look at the approaching milestones:

# Sachin Tendulkar (3597 runs) needs another 40 runs to overhaul the existing record run aggregate of 3636 by Jack Hobbs of England against Australia. If he gets these runs, he would then have the most runs against Australia.

# Tendulkar requires three more runs for his 3600 runs against Australia. If he gets them, he would become the second batsman in the annals of Test cricket to amass 3600 runs against Australia. Hobbs has scored 3636 runs against the Aussies.

# Tendulkar has scored 27 fifties against Australia and share the record for most fifties against Australia with Hobbs, who also has scored 27 fifties. Tendulkar requires one more fifty to own the record for most fifties against Australia.

# Tendulkar has scored 11 hundreds against Australia. One more century will enable him to equal Hobbs' 12 tons against the Australians.

# Tendulkar has scored 1788 runs against Australia at home and requires 212 runs for his 2000 runs. If he gets them, he would become the first Indian batsman and also the first batsman to aggregate 2000 runs on home soil against Australia.

# Tendulkar, Graham Gooch and Herbert Sutcliffe have scored nine half centuries at home against Australia. One more half century will make Tendulkar to share the record of most half centuries at home against Australia. Michael Atherton of England has scored ten half centuries at home.

# Ricky Ponting, Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis and Mahela Jayawardene share the record for most hundreds on home soil. All the four batsmen have scored 22 hundreds. One more hundred for Tendulkar would give him his 23rd hundred and with it the record for most hundreds on home soil.

# On the flip side, Tendulkar has been dismissed bowled on 27 occasions on home soil. One more bowled dismissal would be his 28th bowled dismissal which would make him to share the record with Rahul Dravid, who has been dismissed bowled on 28 occasions. Allan Border holds the record with 31 bowled dismissals at home.

# Interestingly, Tendulkar has been dismissed bowled on 54 occasions in his Test career. One more bowled dismissal would make him to share the record with Dravid who has been dismissed bowled in 55 occasions.

http://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/news/item/205227-sachin-tendulkar-on-cusp-of-breaking-more-records-vs-aus