Sir Sachin Tendulkar - The Greatest Cricketer Ever

'Tendulkar rightful owner of Test cricket's most run-getter'

London (PTI): Former England captain Mike Atherton on Saturday sang paeans of Sachin Tendulkar, saying that the mantle of Test cricket's highest run-getter passed on to the rightful-owner.

"The record (of highest Test runs) passed to its rightful owner. Two decades of consistent run-scoring against the very best the game has to offer, having made his debut at 16 and achieved in a country that has refused to allow him the possibility of failure," Atherton wrote for 'The Times'.

Atherton said Tendulkar's greatness was such that Australia, who steamrolled any cricketing country in the world in the last 20 years, had never been able to subjugate him.

"While they (Australians) might have steamrolled the rest of cricket world over the past two decades, they had never quite found a way to subjugate Tendulkar's talent. He averaged 56 against the world's best team."

Former England medium pacer Derek Pringle said Tendulkar conquering Test cricket's summit was never in doubt from the day he strode the cricket field for the first time as a 16-year-old.

"If ever a destiny was written in stone it was that Tendulkar would become Test cricket's leading run-scorer. Supreme greatness has been predicted ever since he made 326 not out in a school match.

"Plenty are born with talent but few are as driven to express it in full and he is as much a product of the nets as blessed genes. The endless practice has not yet dulled his zest, but it has made his batting mechanically precise. That does not make him dull to watch, though," he wrote for the 'Daily Telegraph'.

Sachin Tendulkar: A God In The Making?

Sachin Tendulkar, "The Master Blaster" has become the highest run getter by crossing the 12000 run mark. Indians are, as usual, jubilant with his achievement.

What he has done is indeed commendable, but somewhere I believe that the jubilation and happiness is somewhat overdone.

He is no doubt a brilliant cricketer, but there are cricketers who are perhaps a shade better than him and who don't even get half of the accolades he gets.

He has been dominating Indian cricket for over two decades now and should perhaps hang his boots paving the way for new and enthusiastic talent.

There was a time in the Nineties when Sachin was the Prima Facie player and the entire team used to depend on him so much so that, if by chance he used to fail, the entire side used to collapse like a pack of cards.

It was frustrating to see India lose just because Sachin did not perform.

It was only in the late '90s that the Indian team actually stabilised a bit and the dependence on Sachin actually reduced, but even then, he was the one who was always centre-staged and the rest, the rest were pointedly ignored.

A lot of Indians love to compare Sachin to the likes to Lara and Sir Viv Richards. These players had their own uniqueness which was perhaps their trademark and I wonder whether it is justified comparing Sachin to these players.

Sometimes, I even get the feeling that Sachin more often than not, plays for himself. This might very well be my prejudice but there are many incidents which give me second thoughts.

The most prominent one being the first test match between India and Pakistan played in Multan in 2004. It was the test in which Virender Sehwag became the first Indian to score a triple hundred.

And then there was our Sachin; who scored 198 runs not out and who was openly cribbing that the acting captain Rahul Dravid had declared the Indian innings before he could complete his double hundred.

Later on he did issue a public a statement saying that he was perfectly in tandem with any decision that the captain takes.

But the incident did leave a bad taste in the mouth and this from the person who has always been treated as an emperor.

Nowadays the BCCI is forcing the senior cricketers to retire but with Sachin they somehow develop cold feet. If players like Ganguly, Dravid are old then is Sachin getting young?

Moreover his fitness is also not what it used to be. He gets injured, has to be kept out of the squad but still won't admit that he has become old!

When players like Dravid and Ganguly get dropped from the side when they don't score runs, why doesn't Sachin get the same treatment? Why such step-motherly treatment when their statistics is almost on par with Sachin?

Yes I do accept that Sachin has often been the knight in shining armour when we have needed him, but the attention and treatment that he gets exceeds what he deserves.

And it is not only the media which has raised him to a pinnacle. It is the crowd as well.The crowd who forget that there were cricketers beforeSachin, cricketers with Sachin and there will be cricketers after Sachin.

"Sachin, Sachin." the name seems to be reverberating everywhere and sometimes it just ends up being a cacophony which is absolutely uncalled for.

http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=145300

The unbeatable cricket mogul Sachin

THE PENT-UP anxiety was at its crescendo between Siddle’s delivery and Sachin’s batting. The next moment a record was created breaking another. Cricket mogul and India’s asset Sachin Tendulkar surpassed Brian Lara’s 11,593 test cricket runs with his 12,027 runs in 152 Test match, in the second Test match at Mohali. It was a historic moment for world cricket as the record came from the ’Master Blaster’. Waves of thrill and exhilaration whizzed zillions, making the moment unforgettable.

In the late 80’s Indian cricket fell into a void with the retirements of legends like Gavaskar and Kapil. Riding on the back of Sachin’s genius, it gradually revived the rage to take over the world. His contribution towards a commanding cricketing status of India is absolute.

There have been many cricket stalwarts, but the kind of undiluted respect and love that Sachin is crowned with is unique. Controversies have never blemished his fame. This solely points at the fact that he is a greater human being than a great player. Although he enjoys a celebrity status, his identity remains grounded as a gamut of ethical values. He has shielded his philanthropic activities from publicity.

Awarded with Padma Vibhushan and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, his modesty makes him all the more great. A nondescript face that brings all smiles and a voice that motivates a toddler to swish his bat.

With this record the talking point is back: Is Sachin the greatest? Such a relative question is contextual and time-bound. What Garfield Sobers achieved in his age is incomparable with what Sachin has accomplished.

Gavaskar attributed Sachin in his writings as ‘A talent designed by god himself’. Sachin’s enigmatic playing style proves this. He started his career in 1989 in a Test match against Pakistan under the guidance of Srikkanth. He got his training from Ramakant Achrekar. He still reserves those 13 coins, which Achrekar rewarded him for staying not out. He attended the MRF Foundation to get training as a bowler. But the famous Dennis Lillee turned him into batting. Today Sachin is the name of the phenomenon, beyond time and place. He is the one player who is even saluted by the zealous Australians. It was the moment of every Indian in January 2008, Sydney, to see Sachin receiving a standing ovation. Today even if India loses a match, every Indian would proudly says “so what Sachin is ours”. Such is the greatness of Sachin.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ajithfederer

Today Sachin is the name of the phenomenon, beyond time and place. He is the one player who is even saluted by the zealous Australians. It was the moment of every Indian in January 2008, Sydney, to see Sachin receiving a standing ovation. Today even if India loses a match, every Indian would proudly says “so what Sachin is ours”. Such is the greatness of Sachin.

---

:clap: :bow: [/tscii]

http://content-eap.cricinfo.com/ci/e...tch/63632.html

found this intresting (IND Vs SL test match scorecard)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HonestRaj

http://content-eap.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63632.html

found this intresting (IND Vs SL test match scorecard)

---

why posting here :?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Thirumaran

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HonestRaj

http://content-eap.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63632.html

found this intresting (IND Vs SL test match scorecard)

---

why posting here :?

---

Its a 1994 match & Sachin out for 96 :P

M Prabhakar c Dassanayake b Wickramasinghe 14 (43)
NS Sidhu lbw b Muralitharan 99 (228)
VG Kambli c Wickramasinghe b Muralitharan 82 (132)
SR Tendulkar b Anurasiri 96 (140)
M Azharuddin lbw b Muralitharan 108 (217)
SV Manjrekar c Mahanama b Muralitharan 39 (111)
N Kapil Dev not out 53 (68)
NR Mongia not out 18 (47)

TM,

I was checking Sachin's performance in India's biggest wins & i found the above score card to be intresting. I was an innings victory.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HonestRaj

TM,

I was checking Sachin's performance in India's biggest wins & i found the above score card to be intresting. I was an innings victory.

---

Oh ok :P

Kudos to Ramakrishna for starting a thread for the greatest living cricketer!

hope our little giant plays for a couple more years atleast so that we experience the sheer joy of watching him!

http://ukpress.google.com/article/AL...MD7XD9NxmUuGZw

Lara hails little master Tendulkar

7 minutes ago

Brian Lara may have seen his Test run-scoring record surpassed by Sachin Tendulkar last week, but he believes the India batsman is only keeping it warm for Australia captain Ricky Ponting.

Tendulkar claimed the highly-regarded record on Friday, during his first innings score of 88, as India paved the way for their comprehensive 320-run win against the Aussies in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar series.

"There is no better individual or batsman in the world that could can go past you than Sachin Tendulkar," Lara said. "He has been a great for so many years and is someone who is deserving of such a record. So I just want to wish him the best. Ricky Ponting is someone who is in line to hold such a record as well."

The 35-year-old had stretched his new mark out to 12,037 runs by the end of the match in Mohali.

And Lara added: "I think it (the record) is the one that most batsman would cherish.

"I would think that (Ponting) still has 30 or 40 Tests matches left under his belt and he has already gone past 10,000 runs so it is one of those records that if you play long enough and you score runs consistently then you are capable of doing it."

Ponting, who will turn 34 in December, has scored 10,246 runs in his 121-Test career to leave him 1,791 runs behind Tendulkar, who has played 31 more matches.

The Tasmanian right-hander has shown no signs of slowing, scoring his first Test century on Indian soil during the first Test in Bangalore to edge his average ever closer to the 60 mark.

By contrast Tendulkar's international future has come under the spotlight during the past 12 months, highlighted by a forgettable series in Sri Lanka in July when he averaged just 15.8.

:D

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus...0810211660.htm

Tendulkar, Ganguly felicitated

Mohali (PTI): Sachin Tendulkar, who broke Brian Lara's record to become the highest run-getter in Test cricket and Sourav Ganguly, the fourth Indian batsman to cross the 7000-run mark, was felicitated here on Tuesday during the prize distribution ceremony.

Punjab Governor General (retd) SF Rodrigues presented a trophy to Tendulkar while BCCI Secretary N Srinivasan handed another trophy to Ganguly after India won the second Test by 320 runs at the PCA ground.

Out of eight Tests played by India on this ground, the hosts have tasted success thrice. Tendulkar also became the only Indian player to have played in all the eight Test matches here.

http://www.orkut.com/Main#CommMsgs.a...62098489047822

A Tribute to the Lord from the Core of My Heart!!!
Hey This is Something i Wrote 4 Lord Sachin Tendulkar..I ws Partyin Yesterday so Cudnt Post..This is Just a Small Gesture to say thanks to the Lord 4 Giving Just So Much..Thanks Sir Sachin..Though i can never Thank you enough Bt this is Just My Heartfelt Wishes For you..Thank you Sir!!!

Once in a Millenium ,On Earth Comes God's Incarnation
As Every other Day such Legends are not Born

God Sent it to Earth to Bless us people
Thats Why for Everyone he is So Special
He is the Soul of the World
And this Run Machine Never Comes to a Halt

He is as Pure as the Ganges' Water
He is Popularly known as Sachin Tendulkar
His Class and Elegance is Difficult to counter
He can Play any Ball Whether That be a Googly or Bouncer

I Call him the Cricketing Czar
Because one Special Innings from him can end a War
As Even the War Fighters Wont do Such Silly Things
They Would Miss Everything but not Sachin's Innings

This Maestro is Just so Difficult to Explain
When he is Batting the Runs Keep Coming like Rain
His Smile is Sweeter than a Sugarcane
His Batting Will Give Nightmares to Bowlers Even 20 Yrs Down the Lane

He Performs the Art of Batting to an Amazing Perfection
Watching him Play, every Youngster has a Lot to Learn
His Class Can Never Be Imitated by Anyone
He is the One and Only " The Cricketing Don"

This Master Brought So Many Critics to Rest
He has in a Magical Way Surpassed Every Test
He Lets his Bat do the Talking
And if he is Out , You'll FInd him Walking

Thats why he is a Cricketing Genius
Who has an Inborn Class
He has Proved Time and Again that he is A Champion
Cricketers May Come and Go But Like Sachin There will be None

Yet This Day is Just so Special for Me $ the Sachinism Family
All the Records have Been Bagged Finally
I Will Party Dance and Rejoice
I Will Shout at the Top of My Voice
Thanks Sachin For Everything tat U Have Given
No one Can Ever Come close To your Contribution
You Efforts Will Never Ever Be Forgotten
You Are and Will Always Be Loved by Everyone!!

http://www.sportstaronnet.com/stories/20081025501201300.htm
From the publishers of THE HINDU

VOL.31 :: NO.43 :: Oct. 25, 2008

• Contents

Printer Friendly Page Send this Article to a Friend
ON THE BALL / W.V. RAMAN COLUMN

The class of Tendulkar

While his aggregate may probably be surpassed by someone in the years to come, I seriously doubt if anyone can be as great a human being as Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

I was reminded of the statement, “Even if the little kid loses half his ability with the passage of time, he will still go on to be a world beater”. It was made by the late Raman Lamba in the late 1980s, even before the little kid (Sachin Tendulkar) made his debut in international cricket.

The chubby little kid then has gone a long way since making his debut at the age of 16. And on October 17 (incidentally, it is the birthday of another legend, Anil Kumble), he reached yet another milestone at Mohali. It was rather strange that people felt Sachin made them wait a shade longer before he got past the aggregate of Brian Lara.

Poor Sachin! One does not score 12,000 runs in Test cricket within a certain time frame. There has been no let-up for Tendulkar during his journey that has lasted 19 years and it is rather sad that sometimes people do not express their adulation for him in the right manner.

The little master is generally not prone to reacting to negative reports about him in the press but the hurt was evident when he mentioned that the stones hurled at him enabled him to reach several milestones in his career. Obviously, Tendulkar would not have forgotten the criticism of him and the Indian team following the debacle in the last World Cup. There was a public outcry for ousting the little master as well as the other senior cricketers from the team. It is remarkable that Tendulkar stayed away from the eye of the storm as the mood in general then was not conducive to giving any explanation whatsoever.

Tendulkar must certainly be relieved that the monkey is off his back. But even before he could savour the achievement, the press wanted him to predict the shelf life of his latest record! One wonders why the media is always so keen to be so far-sighted and analytical while there is no saying what the future has in store. By and large, the media have been good to Tendulkar over a good period of time, but unfortunately insensitivity has also sneaked in at times and that probably would hurt the great batsman more than anything else.

“When will Tendulkar rejoin the team?” was the question at a time when a bereaved Sachin had to return to India during the 1999 World Cup. Of course, the implication was that Tendulkar is the man for India, but the way it was conveyed was not very pleasant, especially at a time when the little master was going through a personal tragedy.

Enough has been written about his batting and his technique over the years but what has escaped one’s attention is his sustained dedication and the sacrifices he has made in order to achieve laurels for himself and the country. His dedication to the game borders on obsession so much that for the time being he cannot entertain the thought of life without the game he loves so dearly.

Tendulkar’s retort, “you are in the wrong press conference”, to a reporter when he was asked about his retirement indicates the passion he still has for the game. Passion is just about the only reason why he is continuing to play the game, for he has done all that is possibly there to be done on a cricket field.

Since Tendulkar is aware that there is nothing left for him to prove to anybody, he would be looking to enjoy the game for whatever duration that he represents the country. While Tendulkar would want to have a good time, the onus is on his followers to enjoy the entertainment that he will provide and not indulge in formulating his retirement plans. The little master has surpassed the record of his good friend Lara and though Ponting may be on his heels, we Indians must be proud of the great batsman and cherish his achievement.

It will be difficult not to talk about Tendulkar the person as sportsmen are not only expected to excel on the field but also to be role models. Tendulkar has been impeccable in his behaviour on and off the field. This in itself is a great achievement considering the media attention on him over the years. To be in the limelight from the age of 16 and have the world at your feet and yet not lose one’s bearings is a phenomenal achievement by itself.

While his aggregate may probably be surpassed by someone in the years to come, I seriously doubt if anyone can be as great a human being as Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

http://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite...4?OpenDocument

Warne hails Tendulkar for becoming highest run-scorer in Tests



London, Oct 22 (PTI) Retired spin legend Shane Warne has hailed Sachin Tendulkar on becoming Test cricket's highest run-getter, saying that a batsman of his class and skill deserved to be on top of the run heap.
"I just think he has a class about him. I just take my hat off to him. It's everything about him. The way he conducts himself on and off the field, the pressure he's under with a billion people watching him every time he goes out to bat, the way he handles decisions, he's pure skill," Warne told British radio broadcaster talkSPORT.

Warne would not forget the beating he got from the Indian master batsman during Australia's tour of India in 1998.

"Bowling to him in the mid-1990s, when I thought I was at my best and I thought a lot of the Australian bowlers were at their best, the way he played quick bowling and spin bowling was just fantastic.

"It was always a challenge to bowl to him. You knew if you bowled well then you would get him out, if you were lucky. If you didn't bowl that well he would smash you all over the park," he added.

Warne had also rated Tendulkar ahead of Brian Lara as the best player in his recently released book 'Shane Warne's Century' in which he picked 100 cricketers he had played with or against.

He also said that though Australians were 'outplayed' by India in the second Test at Mohali, they could bounce back.

"Australia just didn't play that well. They are 1-0 down in the series and it will be tough for them. But I'm sure they'll bounce back. I thought India were fantastic. I thought their bowling was outstanding, their batting was good, and their tactics were good. They just generally outplayed Australia," he said. PTI

http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatim...ow/3629284.cms

Tendulkar returns to top 20 batsmen in ICC Test rankings
22 Oct, 2008 1805hrs IST, ANI

DUBAI: India great Sachin Tendulkar has proved again that he still has what it takes to make an impact at the highest level.


Before the second Test against Australia, he had slipped to 24th place in the Reliance Mobile ICC player rankings for Test batsmen, his lowest position for 15 years.

But the 35-year-old has broken back into the top 20 batsmen and now sits in 19th position after scoring 88 and 10 not out in the Mohali Test against Australia.

Tendulkar now has Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman in his sights as both have lost ground in the latest rankings.

Australia left-hander Michael Hussey has slipped from the number-one perch to third position. West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul takes his place, while Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka moves up to the second spot.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting has dropped one place to fifth after scoring just seven runs in the match while Virender Sehwag (up one place to 10th) and Michael Clarke (up two places to 13th) enjoyed more success in the top 20.

The other big movers include Gautam Gambhir, who moves up eight positions to 29th place after innings of 67 and 104, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who progresses seven places to 37th, and Sourav Ganguly, whose century in the first innings gave him a two-place boost to 23rd on the list.

New Zealand's Daniel Vettori in the first Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong has netted him the 31st spot in the latest batting rankings.

India's Harbhajan Singh with a match haul of 49-12-96-5 in the Mohali Test is back into the top 10 Test bowlers. He is now India's top-ranked bowler, taking over from Zaheer Khan who slips one place to 12th spot.

Australian Mitchell Johnson is 30th in the list, while Ishant Sharma is in 31st position.

Twenty-five-year-old leg-spinner Amit Mishra is a new entry at number 50 after taking seven wickets for 106 runs in a dream debut against Australia.

Vettori now sits in 14th position in the bowling ladder, up seven places in the latest rankings.

வாட்ட்ட்ட்ட்ட்ட்ட்ட் எ எ எ எ எ சிக்ஸ்.....

பிரேசில் மக்களைக் கடவுள் என்று எழுதச் சொன்னால் P e l e என்றுதான் எழுதுவார்கள். அதே பாணியில், 'கிரிக்கெட் எங்கள் மதம், சச்சின் எங்கள் கடவுள்' என்று ரசிகர்களைச் உச்சரிக்கவைத்து கடந்த இருபது வருடங்களாக அவர்களை மயக்க நிலைக்குக் கொண்டு சென்றவர் சச்சின்.

தெண்டுல்கரை அவருடைய ஆரம்ப காலம் முதல் பார்த்துவரும் பாக்கியம் எனக்கும் உண்டு. 1989-ம் வருடம் வெளிச்சம் போதாமையால் நிறுத்தப்பட்ட ஒருநாள் ஆட்டம் பிறகு கண்காட்சி ஆட்டமாக மாற்றப்பட்டது. ஆளுக்கு இருபது ஓவர்கள் ஆடுவது என்று இந்தியாவும் பாகிஸ்தானும் ஒரு முடிவுக்கு வந்தன. 20-20 கிரிக்கெட்டின் ஆரம்ப விதை அங்கு விதைக்கப்பட்டது.

பம்மலில் உள்ள எனது நண்பர்களான லெனின், பால் வீட்டில் இந்த மேட்சைப் பார்த்துக் கொண்டிருந்தேன். இந்திய அணியில் ஸ்ரீகாந்த், அசாரூதினைத் தவிர சொல்லிக்கொள்ளும்படியான வீரர்கள் ஒருவரும் இல்லை. மஞ்ச்ரேக்கர், ராமன் லம்பா, டபிள்யூவி ராமன், அஜய் சர்மா (முட்டி போட்டு சிக்ஸர் அடிக்கப் போகையில் பலமுறை இவர் ஆட்டம் இழந்திருக்கிறார்) விவேக் ரஸ்தான் போன்ற சொங்கி வீரர்கள்தான் இந்திய அணியை நிறைத்திருந்தார்கள். பாகிஸ்தான் அணி முதலில் ஆடி 20 ஓவரில் 157 ரன்கள் குவித்திருந்தது (20-20 உலகக் கோப்பை இறுதி ஆட்டத்தில் இந்திய அணி எடுத்ததும் இதே ரன்கள்தான்).

அப்போதெல்லாம் 50 ஓவர் ஆடி 200 ரன் அடித்தாலே அது பெரிய காரியம். 20 ஓவரில் பாகிஸ்தான் சர்வசாதாரணமாக 157 அடித்தது இந்திய டிரெஸிங் ரூமில் பேதியைக் கிளப்பியிருந்தது. டெண்டுல்கர் ஆடவரும்போது 5 ஓவரில் 69 ரன்கள் தேவைப்பட்டன. அசட்டுத் துணிச்சல் இருந்து பந்துகளை எதிர்கொண்டால் கூட இத்தனை ரன்களை குறுகிய ஓவர்களில் அடிக்கமுடியாது. அதுவும் எதிரே இம்ரான் கான், வாசிம் அக்ரம், வக்கார் யூனுஸ், அக்யூப் ஜாவத், அப்துல் காதர், முஷ்டாக் முகமது போனற பாகிஸ்தானின் சென்ற தலைமுறை, அன்றைய தலைமுறை, அடுத்த தலைமுறை என மூன்று பிரிவினரும் பந்துவீசிக்கொண்டிருக்கும்போது. வந்த வேகத்தில் முஷ்டாக் முகமது பந்தில் இரண்டு சிக்ஸர்கள் அடித்தார் சச்சின். பாகிஸ்தான் வீரர்கள் ஒருவரையொருவர் பார்த்துக்கொண்டார்கள். முஷ்டாக்கும் அப்போது பாகிஸ்தானுக்குப் புதிது. அப்துல் காதிர் நேரே சச்சினிடம் வந்தார். என்ன தம்பி, புது ஆள் பந்துல மட்டும்தான் சிக்ஸர் அடிப்பியா. முடிந்தால் என் பந்திலேயும் அடி என்று சும்மா இருந்த இளஞ்சங்கை ஊதிவிட்டுச் சென்றார். தெண்டுல்கரால் பதில் பேசமுடியவில்லை. பேசாமல் காதில் வாங்கிக்கொண்டார் சச்சின். துணைக்கு ஸ்ரீகாந்த் ஆடிக்கொண்டிருந்தார்.

அடுத்த ஓவரை அப்துல் காதர் வீசினார்.

6, 0, 4, 6, 6, 6

நானும் என் நண்பர்களும் எப்போதும் படுத்துக்கொண்டுதான் மேட்ச் பார்ப்போம். ஒவ்வொரு பந்துக்கும் கிரீஸை விட்டு எகிறி குதித்து சச்சின் ஆடியபோது டேய்ய்ய்... என்று கத்தி எல்லோரும் எழுந்துவிட்டோம். யார்ரா இவன், வெள்ளையும் தோளுமா முயல் குட்டி மாதிரி இருந்துட்டு அப்துல் காதரை இப்படிப் பொளக்கறான் என்று நான் என் அதிர்ச்சியை வெளிக் காட்டினேன். உலகக்கோப்பை இறுதி ஆட்டம்போல பிறகு அந்த ஆட்டத்தில் கூடுதல் கவனம் செலுத்தினோம். அந்த க்ஷணத்தில் நூறு ஆண்டுகளுக்கு ஒருமுறை பிறக்கும் ஒரு வீரன் கண்முன்னே ஆடிக்கொண்டிருந்தான். மூன்று ரன்கள் வித்தியாசத்தில் இந்தியா தோற்றுப் போனது.

அதன்பின்பு தெண்டுல்கர்மீது தனிக்கவனம் செலுத்த ஆரம்பித்தேன். என்னைப் போலிருந்த பள்ளி மாணவர்களை வெகுவாகப் பாதித்திருந்தார் சச்சின். இந்திய அணியில் கபில்தேவ், ஸ்ரீகாந்த் என்று பாதி பேர் ரிடையர் ஆகும் தருணத்தில் இருந்தார்கள். இளமையாக இருந்த தெண்டுல்கருக்குத்தான் ராக் ஸ்டாருக்குரிய மகத்துவம் கிடைத்தது.

92-ம் வருட உலகக்கோப்பையில் பாகிஸ்தானுடன் இந்தியா ஆடியது. ஏதோ இரு நாடுகளின் போரை நேரில் பார்ப்பதுபோல விறுவிறுப்பாக அந்த ஆட்டத்தைப் பார்த்தேன். அந்த மேட்ச் பார்ப்பதற்காக பம்மல் சங்கரா வித்யாலயா பள்ளிக்கு நான் செல்லவில்லை. இனிமேல் உலகக்கோப்பையில் இந்தியா-பாகிஸ்தான் ஆட்டம் காணக்கிடக்காது என்கிற கிளர்ச்சியே அந்த மேட்சுக்காக எல்லாத் தியாகங்களையும் செய்யச் சொன்னது. குழந்தைபோல அழகாக இருந்த தெண்டுல்கர் அந்த ஆட்டத்தில் 50 ரன்கள் சொச்சம் எடுத்து இந்திய அணியின் வெற்றிக்கு சூத்திரதாரியாக இருந்தார். அன்றுமுதல் எப்போது கிரிக்கெட் மேட்ச் நடந்தாலும் தெண்டுல்கரின் ஸ்கோரை மட்டும் தனியாகக் கேட்கத் தொடங்கினேன்.

96 உலகக்கோப்பை முதல் சச்சின் நட்சத்திரமாகிவிட்டார். அவருடைய ஒவ்வொரு அசைவும் மீடியாவால் கவனிக்கப்பட்டது. தெண்டுல்கரோடு ஆடத்தொடங்கிய மஞ்ச்ரேக்கரும் காம்பிளியும் சிறிது காலத்தில் மங்கத் தொடங்கி அணியை விட்டு வெளியேறினார்கள். சச்சின் அணையாவிளக்காக ஒவ்வொரு ஆட்டத்திலும் இந்தியாவின் மானத்தைக் காட்கும் ரட்சனாகப் பார்க்கப்பட்டார்.

98-ம் வருடம். ஷார்ஜாவில் இந்தியாவுக்கும் ஆஸ்திரேலியாவுக்கும் இடையே கோக்கோ கோலா கப் இறுதி ஆட்டம். கடும் காய்ச்சலுக்கு மத்தியில் கொட்டக் கொட்ட கண்விழித்துப் பார்த்துக்கொண்டிருந்தேன்.

'ஓஓஓஓஓ.... வாட்ட்ட்ட்ட்ட்ட்ட்ட் எ எ எ எ எ சிக்ஸ்..... வாட்ட்ட்ட் எ எ எ சிக்ஸ்...'

டோனி கிரேக் முழு வீச்சில் கத்தினார். பந்து பவுண்டரி கோட்டுக்கு வெளியே போய் விழுந்தது. எனக்கு குப்பென்று வியர்த்துவிட்டது. எழுந்துவிட்டேன். காஸ்பரோவிச் பந்தில் லாங் ஆனில் காட்டமான சிக்ஸர் ஒன்றை அடித்திருந்தார் சச்சின். ஸ்டீவ் வாகின் நெற்றிப் பொட்டில் புல்லட் பாய்ந்தது போலிருந்தது. பந்து கூரையின் மேல் விழுந்தது. 134 ரன்கள் குவித்து இந்தியாவின் வெற்றியை நிச்சயமாக்கினார் சச்சின். சச்சினின் முக்கியமான ஆட்டங்களில் சார்ஜா மைதானத்தில் ஆஸ்திரேலியாவுக்கு எதிராக அடித்த செஞ்சுரிகள் அமரத்துவம் பெற்றவை. இன்று வரைக்கும் அந்த சிக்ஸரும் டோனி கிரேக்கின் அலறலும் என் நினைவுகளில் பத்திரமாக கொண்டிருக்கின்றன.

பிராட்மேன் வாழும் காலத்தில் நீங்களும் நானும் இல்லை. பீலே வாழ்ந்த காலத்திலும் இதே நிலைமைதான். ஜான் போர்க்கை நாம் பேப்பரில் பார்த்துதான் தெரிந்துகொண்டோம். ஜெஸ்ஸி ஓவன்ஸைப் பற்றி ஒலிம்பிக் போட்டி நடக்கும் சமயங்களில்தான் கேள்விப்படுகிறோம். ஆனால் சச்சினை நீங்களும் நானும் அவர் ஆடிய முதல் நாள் முதல் கவனித்து வருகிறோம். கொடுப்பினை.


இதே சச்சினை சகட்டு மேனிக்குத் திட்டியிருக்கிறோம். ஒருபோதும் சச்சினை மனிதனாக எண்ணியது கிடையாது. மிஷின். ரோபோ மிஷின். மைதானத்துக்குள் இறங்கிவிட்டால் இந்தியாவுக்கு வெற்றித் தேடித் தராமல் நீ திரும்பக்கூடாது என்று மனத்துக்குள் அவருக்குக் கட்டளையிடுகிறோம். சொற்ப ரன்னில் தெண்டுல்கர் அவுட் ஆனால் மட்டும் நமக்குக் காது புடைக்கிறது. வாயில் வந்ததைத் திட்டி டிவியை ஆஃப் செய்துவிடுவோம். வேறு எந்த வீரர்மீதாவது இப்படிப்பட்ட உரிமையை எடுத்துக்கொண்டிருக்கிறோமா?

இன்று லாராவின் சாதனையை மிஞ்சிவிட்டார் தெண்டுல்கர். ஒருநாள், டெஸ்ட் போட்டிகளில் அதிக ரன்களைக் குவித்த பெருமை இனி சச்சினுக்கே. கலைஞனும் விளையாட்டு வீரனும் வாழ்ந்த காலத்தில் பேசப்படுவதைவிட மரித்த பின்னர்தான் அதிகமாகப் போற்றப்படுவர்.நூறு ஆண்டுகளில் கழித்துப் பார்த்தாலும் முக்கியமான ஆவணமாக சச்சினின் சாதனைகள் மெச்சப்படும். பாதுகாக்கப்படும்.

சேப்பாக்கத்தில் நடந்த இரு ஆட்டங்களில் நான் சச்சினை நேரில் பார்த்திருக்கிறேன். அப்போது கல்கி நிருபர். சேப்பாக்கம் மைதானத்துக்குள் நுழைந்து பெவிலியனுக்கு அருகே சச்சின் பயிற்சி எடுப்பதை அருகில் சென்று பார்த்து புளங்காங்கிதம் அடைந்திருக்கிறேன். சச்சின் பயிற்சி எடுப்பதைப் பார்ப்பதற்கே சேப்பாக்கத்தில் ரசிகர்கள் அதிக எண்ணிக்கையில் கூடுவார்கள். ஒருசமயம், காவலர்களின் உதவியோடு பாதுகாப்பாக பஸ் ஏறி அமந்தார் சச்சின். ஆனாலும் நானும் ஐம்பது பேரும் ஆட்டோகிராப் புக்கை எடுத்துக்கொண்டு பஸ்ஸின் முன்கதவு அருகே நின்றுகொண்டிருந்தோம். காவலர்கள் எங்களைத் தள்ளிக்கொண்டிருந்தார்கள்.

பேருந்தின் முன்வரிசையில் அமர்ந்திருந்த சச்சினைப் பார்த்து நான் என் ஆட்டோகிராப் நோட்டை மேலே தூக்கி நீட்டினேன். சச்சின் அதைப் பார்த்துவிட்டு உடனே கீழே இறங்கினார். நடப்பதை என்னால் நம்பமுடியவில்லை. சச்சின் கீழே இறங்கி என் அருகே வந்தார். இதைப் பார்த்துவிட்டு எல்லோரும் முண்டியடித்துக்கொண்டு முன்னேறினார்கள். நேராக சச்சின் என் நோட்டை வாங்கி சைன் பண்ணினார். அவரால் முடிந்தவரை பத்து நோட்டுகளுக்கு கையெழுத்திட்டு மீண்டும் பேருந்தினுள் சென்றார். இருக்கையில் அமர்ந்த பிறகும் அவர் ரசிகர்களைப் பார்த்து கையசைத்துக்கொண்டுதான் இருந்தார். ஒருபோதும் தன் பார்வையைத் தாழ்த்திக்க்கொள்ளவோ வேறு திசையிலோ பார்க்கவோ இல்லை. அதை அவர் செய்யவேண்டும் என்பது கிடையாது. ஆனால் பேருந்து எங்களிடமிருந்து மறையும்வரை கையசைத்துக்கொண்டும் புன்னகை செய்துகொண்டும்தான் இருந்தார். பிறகு அந்த ஆட்டோகிராப் நோட் எங்கே காணாமல் போனது என்று எனக்குத் தெரியவில்லை.

உணர்ச்சிவசப்பட்ட நிலையில்தான் நான் இக்கட்டுரையை எழுதுகிறேன் என்று எனக்கு நன்றாகப் புரிகிறது. இதே சச்சின் மே.இ தீவில் நடந்த உலகக்கோப்பையில் மோசமாக ஆடியபோது அவரை அணியிலிருந்து வெளியேற்றும்படி கல்கியில் காட்டமாக ஒரு கட்டுரை எழுதினேன். அப்போது அந்த விமரிசனங்களுக்கான முழுத் தகுதியும் அவரிடமிருந்தது. சறுக்கல் என்பது வாழ்வின் நிகழ்வுகளில் ஒன்று. சாதிப்பவன் விமரிசனங்களுக்குக் காது கொடுக்கமாட்டான். அவனுக்குத் தெரியாதா அவனுடைய ஒவ்வொரு தவறும்? ஈகோ இல்லாமல் தோனியின் தலைமையில் சச்சின் கூடுதல் பொறுப்புடன் ஆடினார். இப்போதும் ஆடிக்கொண்டிருக்கிறார். தன் வாழ்க்கையில் சச்சின் சந்திக்காத விஷயம் என்று எதுவும் இல்லை.

இந்திய கிரிக்கெட் அணிக்கும் இந்தியாவுக்கும் சம்பந்தம் இல்லை, அது பிசிசிஐ என்கிற ஒரு வாரியத்தின் அணியே என்று பிசிசிஐ கோர்ட்டில் தெரிவித்தபோதும் இன்றுவரைக்கும் தனது ஹெல்மட்டில் மூவர்ணக் கொடியைப் பதித்திருக்கும் ஒரே இந்திய வீரர் சச்சின்.

லாராவின் சாதனையை சச்சின் உடைத்ததுபோல நாளை இன்னொருவர் சச்சினின் ரன்களைக் கடக்கலாம். ஆனால் அவரும் தெய்வீகத்தன்மை கொண்டவராகக் கொண்டாடப்படுவார் என்று நிச்சயமாகச் சொல்லமுடியாது.

A blogger

Quote:

---

இந்திய கிரிக்கெட் அணிக்கும் இந்தியாவுக்கும் சம்பந்தம் இல்லை, அது பிசிசிஐ என்கிற ஒரு வாரியத்தின் அணியே என்று பிசிசிஐ கோர்ட்டில் தெரிவித்தபோதும் இன்றுவரைக்கும் தனது ஹெல்மட்டில் மூவர்ணக் கொடியைப் பதித்திருக்கும் ஒரே இந்திய வீரர் சச்சின்.

---

:)

Quote:

---

லாராவின் சாதனையை சச்சின் உடைத்ததுபோல நாளை இன்னொருவர் சச்சினின் ரன்களைக் கடக்கலாம். ஆனால் அவரும் தெய்வீகத்தன்மை கொண்டவராகக் கொண்டாடப்படுவார் என்று நிச்சயமாகச் சொல்லமுடியாது.

---

:exactly:

Quote:

---

பிராட்மேன் வாழும் காலத்தில் நீங்களும் நானும் இல்லை. பீலே வாழ்ந்த காலத்திலும் இதே நிலைமைதான். ஜான் போர்க்கை நாம் பேப்பரில் பார்த்துதான் தெரிந்துகொண்டோம். ஜெஸ்ஸி ஓவன்ஸைப் பற்றி ஒலிம்பிக் போட்டி நடக்கும் சமயங்களில்தான் கேள்விப்படுகிறோம். ஆனால் சச்சினை நீங்களும் நானும் அவர் ஆடிய முதல் நாள் முதல் கவனித்து வருகிறோம். கொடுப்பினை.

---

:exactly:

LM - Thanks a ton ! :notworthy: What an article ! 8-)

:shock:

all sachin fans have the same feelings

a year before in my blog I wrote these lines which reflect the feel of this author

"tony greig while commentating the famous sharjah match against australia where sachin ravaged australian bowling said "this little man is the nearest thing to b bradman that has ever been".that single day of commentary by tony greig made him my most favourite commentator.especially his words.."what a player...whaaaaaat a player"."

"There may be a player who would surpass the records of sachin in future.but the impact sachin created among the indian crowds and the hope that indian crowd pinned on sachin tendulkar couldnt be surpassed by anyone.thats his unbeatable record."

the sharjah math is ofcourse "amarathuvam" vaaindha match :notworthy:

Heroism on cricket field :cool:

I can never forget the way Sir shouted at Hrishikesh Kanitkar on his way out after being dubiously 'dismissed' by the umpire (not in the final but in the match before that). Must have been Something like "otha ozhunga match a *win* pannungada!" - we didn't have to win that match as Sir had double-handedly made us qualify...
vethu pasanga adhukkappuram aadnadhu... :banghead:
Sir dressing room la parade-a kalappiruppaaru nu nenaikkaren...

And during the match(es) my brother was in hospital after an accident.. he told me to watch the match and give reports whenever possible... Unforgettable two days of cricket.. and if IIRC, at that time many cable operators were not showing ESPN/STAR Sports (?) and podhu makkal sila pala peru koral kodutha odane dhaan enga area la pottaanga...

Bala, adhai vida periya kodumai 136 dhaan.
mudhugu valiyOda oru manushan uyirai kuduththu viLayAdittu pOraan.
Joshi,Kumble, Prasad, Srinath....naalu pErum sErthu oru 17 run adingadAnnA :curse:

idhula enakku eRichchal ennannA.....adhE season-la , idhE Chepauk-la, TN v Kar match. Joshi and Kumble had turned the match around with a century and fifty respectively :x

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Prabhu Ram

Bala, adhai vida periya kodumai 136 dhaan.
mudhugu valiyOda oru manushan uyirai kuduththu viLayAdittu pOraan.
Joshi,Kumble, Prasad, Srinath....naalu pErum sErthu oru 17 run adingadAnnA :curse:

---

andha kodumaya nenachaale thudikkidhu bujam! :evil: :(
adhulerndhu meelave time-aachu, seriously...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Prabhu Ram

idhula enakku eRichchal ennannA.....adhE season-la , idhE Chepauk-la, TN v Kar match. Joshi and Kumble had turned the match around with a century and fifty respectively :x

---

Oh! :lol:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Prabhu Ram

Bala, adhai vida periya kodumai 136 dhaan.
mudhugu valiyOda oru manushan uyirai kuduththu viLayAdittu pOraan.
Joshi,Kumble, Prasad, Srinath....naalu pErum sErthu oru 17 run adingadAnnA :curse:

idhula enakku eRichchal ennannA.....adhE season-la , idhE Chepauk-la, TN v Kar match. Joshi and Kumble had turned the match around with a century and fifty respectively :x

---

most unforgettable match :oops:

joshipaya vandhu six ellam adichan .. :lol:

if sourav and rahul were in the 1996 world cup team we would have won that series comprehensively on our home soil...

manjarekar,azarudin,prabhakar...andha teama nenachale vomit varudhu

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Prabhu Ram

Bala, adhai vida periya kodumai 136 dhaan.
mudhugu valiyOda oru manushan uyirai kuduththu viLayAdittu pOraan.
Joshi,Kumble, Prasad, Srinath....naalu pErum sErthu oru 17 run adingadAnnA :curse:

idhula enakku eRichchal ennannA.....adhE season-la , idhE Chepauk-la, TN v Kar match. Joshi and Kumble had turned the match around with a century and fifty respectively :x

---

antha match la DADA va 1 pitch catch pudichu out aakitaanga... Rascals... I still remember it was Steve Dunn who gave Dada out for that 1 pitch catch....

Nandri senthil :D

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tms/2008/...rom_afar.shtml
Witnessing history - well, almost

From a personal point of view it was a mistake to match Nasser Hussain's decision to bat at the Gabba in 2002 or Allan Donald's decision to run in the 1999 World Cup semi-final.

Back home in England before I set off for India, the thought of a 40 or 50-hour train journey north from Bangalore to watch the second Test against Australia and a week in the Milton Keynes of the Punjab that is Chandigarh had seemed like one trip too far in my cricketing journey.

And so, sat in various hotel rooms and bars around Karnataka, Kerala and Goa, I suffered in self imposed exclusion wondering what I had been thinking of to miss Sachin Tendulkar make history in Mohali.

Sachin Tendulkar

One very, very tiny positive that came from watching from afar was the chance to sample the TV coverage of the Test and I was soon spellbound by the incredibly swift advertising breaks between each over.

With only a handful of ads being rotated throughout the day's play I'm now completely sure what bank (although I guess some British shareholders wouldn't agree!) to choose, which motorbike to ride, which suit to wear and which widescreen plasma TV to watch my IPL, sorry Test match, cricket on!

More importantly, I now can also confirm, thanks to the epic two minute ad during each drinks break, that Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra IS the most beautiful women on earth!

In between the avalanche of ads there was, of course, quite a decent Test match going on between India and Australia.

Rather naively, I thought that when Sachin finally broke Brian Lara's Test runs record, the feat would be recognised, celebrated and then the match would move on.

How wrong I was! Within minutes of Sachin going past the landmark viewers were showered with a series of Sachin stats and it seemed a host of companies had a 'Congratulations Sachin' adverts up their sleeves ready for blanket coverage from the moment the Little Master broke the record.

If you've never been to India before it really is impossible to describe the sheer depth of feeling and interest there is in Sachin Tendulkar and the affection shown to him over the 19 years of his impeccable Test career.

I can add little to what has already been said around the cricketing world but I do genuinely believe the game of cricket will never see the like of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar again.

And it didn't end with Sachin's record of course.

Having sat through two painful Ashes series defeats in Australia in the past it was, and I'll admit it openly here, nice to see the Aussies brought down a peg or two.

But not even I, or those surreptitious drinkers watching the game with me in a drinking den in Bangalore, could believe what we were seeing on the fourth afternoon as five Australian wickets tumbled in what seemed like about five minutes.

I'd like to think they were sober the following morning when India wrapped up a historic 320-run win and claimed yet another piece of history that I, so foolishly, had missed seeing in the flesh.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kalyasi

antha match la DADA va 1 pitch catch pudichu out aakitaanga... Rascals... I still remember it was Steve Dunn who gave Dada out for that 1 pitch catch....

---

Steve Dunne is the worst umpire to have ever been part of the 'elite' panel.
He was a notorious 'out-giver', especially to LBs. Appeal panlenaalum kuduppaan, appeal panna kandippa kuduppaan...

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/20...351451472.html

FORMER Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist is set to further inflame tensions between cricket's superpowers by questioning India's sportsmanship, singling out its most revered player, Sachin Tendulkar.

Gilchrist implied that Tendulkar was a sore loser, and questioned his honesty during last summer's "Monkeygate" affair that soured relations between the Australian and Indian sides.

In his autobiography, an extract of which appears in tomorrow's Good Weekend, he describes as a "joke" Tendulkar's evidence at an appeal over the episode, in which Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh was accused of calling Andrew Symonds a monkey.

He said that when Tendulkar told the initial hearing that he could not hear what was said he was "certain he was telling the truth" because he was "a fair way away".

But Tendulkar told the appeal that Harbhajan used a Hindi term of abuse that sounded like "monkey" to Australian ears. Harbhajan's suspension was quashed, infuriating the Australians.

"The Indians got him off the hook when they, of all people, should have been treating the matter of racial vilification with the utmost seriousness."

Gilchrist, considered one of the fairer players to represent Australia during its dominance, makes it clear he believes Harbhajan was guilty and says India's threat to abandon the tour was "a disgraceful act, holding the game to ransom unless they got their way".


He says there was a cultural difference in the way the teams approached the game. "In the Australian mentality, we play it hard and are then quick to shake hands and leave it all on the field. Some of our opponents don't do it that way. Sachin Tendulkar, for instance, can be hard to find for a changing room handshake after we have beaten India. Harbhajan can also be hard to find.

"I guess it's a case of different strokes for different folks."

The comments are certain to revive ill-will between the rivals, which are in the middle of another testy series, in which India has taken a 1-0 lead. Tensions bubbled over late in the second Test, with Indian bowler Zaheer Khan fined 80% of his match fee for abusing Matthew Hayden.

The book also reveals the depths of Gilchrist's feelings about the whispering campaign about his private life during Australia's 2002 tour of South Africa.

He describes how he received a telephone call from his manager telling him to turn on his laptop and check his emails.

One of them linked to a website called Cricket365. To Gilchrist's horror the site featured an anonymous email saying his recently born son Harry had been fathered by his former teammate Michael Slater.

"At first I thought it was a prank, and had a chuckle," Gilchrist writes in True Colours. But as he reread the email, "my eyes dimming over", he "got a sick feeling in my stomach". He immediately called his wife, Mel, back in Australia, who was extremely agitated and had to be "calmed down".

Minutes before taking the field in the first Test, he surveyed the stadium and spotted a huge banner reading: "Baby Gilly, who's your daddy?" Next to it, another sign read: "Slater, Slater."

"This was a disgusting thing to do," Gilchrist writes. "But my initial feeling wasn't outrage. It was more a vicious stab of paranoia. It set me thinking: 'Is the whole world talking about it behind my back? Are my teammates talking about it?' "

Gilchrist describes the rumour as "preposterous nonsense".

Gilchrist edhukku indha vendadha velai.

:)

Sagavaasam sari illai-nu ninaikkiren :?

Is anybody supposed to talk on an issue after it has been taken to ICC?. Isnt that a violation or something.

Sachin can be hard to find after a loss aama, vera velai illa paarunga :).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ajithfederer

Is anybody supposed to talk on an issue after it has been taken to ICC?. Isnt that a violation or something.

Sachin can be hard to find after a loss aama, vera velai illa paarunga :).

---

I have lost all the respect I had for Gilchrist :banghead:

http://www.cricketnirvana.com/columns/g-rajaraman/2008/October/columns-20081017-8.html

What a journey and what a man!

In the beginning there was just an intense dream. And, of course, there was faith that the dream could be realised. Back in 1989, when he made his Test debut against Pakistan, he was a wiry lad, eminently gifted and confident. The 35-year-old now sits on top of Test cricket's charts as the greatest run-scorer in its history. He has lived the dream every moment. Along the way, he spawned, fuelled, stoked, encouraged and inspired others to dream as well.

What a journey and what a man!

On Friday, even when Sachin Tendulkar turned Peter Siddle to third man for three runs and ventured into unchartered terrain, he was showcasing a remarkable intensity, a quality he has not allowed to flag even one bit. When his partner in a stirring fightback, Sourav Ganguly turned down a plea for a third run, there was an intensity in his "C'mon yaar" reaction.

He has remained intense while adjusting to changing environs of the dressing room with great comfort. There have been many who came to the Test side after him and have faded away. From being a little teenager to being the senior statesman in the squad, he has accepted the changing roles and evolved. He has stayed intense when, despite the growing years, he is thinking a step ahead of the bowlers. Of course, all batsmen make mental preparation. But when you can read the bowlers as well as Tendulkar does, you can find fruit over a number of years.

Till the time his body started complaining, Tendulkar radiated an unadulterated joy with his Viv Richardsesque approach to batsmanship. The first signs of trouble came during the knock of 136 against Pakistan in Chennai in 1999 when his back caused him trouble. A defensive and watchful approach seemed to take over his mindset and accumulating runs was paramount.

I have often said that Tendulkar has shifted gear – deliberately, it would appear – to be an accumulator rather than aggressor that he was in the first decade of his wonderful career. With a set of wonderful batsmen around him like Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Ganguly, he has had the chance to determine his own role.

But none of that has diminished the intensity he brings to the table.

My favourite Tendulkar story – and I will never tire of relating this – is more than a decade old. I was interviewing him for the first time during a match at the Lal Bahadur Stadium in Hyderabad and I remember asking him what was uppermost in his mind when he scored a century – happiness or satisfaction. He took his time and told me that the two things were different states of mind.

"I am allowed to be happy when I score a century because it is a milestone but if I allow myself to be satisfied, I am denying the facts that I may have edged a few deliveries or may have been beaten or mistimed a few shots in the innings," he said. "Satisfaction is like engaging the handbrake in a car and hoping the vehicle would move forward."

He could not have given a better expression to his hunger for excellence. It was a great lesson in living. He has given Indians – and everyone else – many wonderful moments. Not only to celebrate them but also to ruminate on some of those in our moments of solitude and reflection.

On Friday, as the helmet came off and he looked heavenwards, it was clear that he was having a private moment with his late father, Prof Ramesh Tendulkar. Each time he does this, he reminds me of the first time. There was a lump in the throat as one saw him make his way to the crease at the fall of a wicket in Bristol in May 1999.

He had returned to bat for India from Prof Ramesh Tendulkar's funeral. His innings against Kenya under grief and stress was reminiscent of Raj Kapoor's wonderful performance in the lead role in Mera Naam Joker. Aware of his mother's death, the protagonist in the movie wears a pair of dark glasses to hide his tears from the world as he entertains the audience under the big tent.

Tendulkar could not even shed tears in public. And, when he reached the century, he gave one of my most poignant moments in many years of watching cricket. It seemed like he was locked in a brief and private conversation with his baba, his dear baba. "This one is for you, baba," he seemed to say as he looked up heavenwards.

Indeed, no one cricketer has given so many people around the world such unadulterated joy as he has, taking them along on a remarkable journey. No one batsman has caused such jaw-dropping awe among rival bowlers as the little big man. No one causes the air to be filled with so much electricity that can bathe more than a whole stadium in glorious light as consistently at the little big man. Sachin Tendulkar.

http://www.cricketnirvana.com/interv...081018-14.html

Another wak wak wacking goose (Javed Miandad) which I am not interested to post the contents. Members can have a good laugh :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ajithfederer

Is anybody supposed to talk on an issue after it has been taken to ICC?. Isnt that a violation or something.

---

I don't think so. He is free to comment

Actually I was also a bit surprised about Sachin's evidence in the hearing.

I was quite convinced - don't ask me, it is just my impression - that Harbhajan was guilty of racial abuse. (I am guessing his best argument would have been something on the lines of avanai niruththa sollu..). And I was feeling quite annoyed about India threatening to walk out of the series etc. Asian bullies ! Pakistan walking out of the Test in Oval.Asians have done major damage by bending the rules to legally accomodate chucking.

I was quite surprised about Sachin's evidence. I guess "being there when it happened" put him in a spot. And the situation had become just too big, thw whole world was watching. And there were bound to pressures like some misplaced sense of solidarity.
Atleast that is how I try to convince myself.


>> digr: Sad note about the Slater rumour.Gilchrist made his first double century in that SA tour. He got emotional when he reached 200<<

why Ghilly and why now :? :?

He is one of the few respected Australians and why does he have to do it... yaaroda sadhi :?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ajithfederer

http://www.cricketnirvana.com/interviews/international/2008/October/interviews-20081018-14.html

---

:rotfl:

Quote:

---

Members can have a good laugh :)

---

I sure did!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Prabhu Ram

And I was feeling quite annoyed about India threatening to walk out of the series etc.

---

Well, after watching the events (not the mangi episode) in the Sydney test i thought it wasn't such a bad idea...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by crajkumar_be

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Prabhu Ram

And I was feeling quite annoyed about India threatening to walk out of the series etc.

---

Well, after watching the events (not the mangi episode) in the Sydney test i thought it wasn't such a bad idea...

---

:exactly: Look who is talking abt being a good sport while the whole world knows which team played the fair game.

And for him to talk of Sachin shaking hands is plain silly. These are the guys who were so happy about winning a fraud game that they forgot to shake hands with the "sore losers" :x

Funny the game of cricket is no longer 11 players vs 11 players .. it includes an assortment of media guys, ex cricketers, supporters doing their best to make their team win :lol2: