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http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Defau...Mode=HTML&GZ=TQuote:
Tendulkar falls to the dreaded finger again
Jaideep Marar | TNN
Colombo: Gamini Silva is a policeman who once was a respectable all-rounder in Lankan club cricket. Only that these days the 48-year-old seems to be a bit trigger happy. At the receiving end has been India’s most celebrated cricketer, Sachin Tendulkar. On two occasions, Tendulkar seems to have been done in by Silva’s dreaded finger. At least, television replays suggest that in a big measure. On both occasions, the ball appeared to have missed the leg-stump.
Gamini seems to be continuing where debutant umpire Kumar Dharmasena left in the first ODI. There too, Tendulkar was stunned when he saw the Dharmesena raise the finger after a long pause. It wouldn’t be fair to say that the umpires have had a bigger impact on Tendulkar than the bowlers in the series. For the record, he has been adjudged lbw in all the three matches and his scores have been 5, 6, 7.
No wonder these decisions drew a stinging remark from former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar in his column to TOI on Tuesday. “Often those umpires wishing to make an impression feel that giving a batsman of the calibre of Tendulkar out will show that they are fearless and not cowed down by reputation.
But a wrong decision does not help their cause whatsoever and in fact delays their promotion to the higher ranks.” He even felt Tendulkar will be keen to ‘play a bit away from the pads so as to not give the umpires a chance to raise their finger.’
Tendulkar didn’t on Tuesday and paid the price! The batting maestro who was warming up nicely having struck a big six off a free hit off Dilhara Fernando, was rapped on the pads by a delivery from the same bowler, which appeared going down the legside. And guess who was the umpire who upheld the appeal? It was Silva again.
Even the India coach Gary Kirsten was found shaking his head in disbelief after watching television replays of the decision. Silva’s worst decision came during the second ODI at the Premadasa when Yuvraj was declared lbw off an inside edge.
The batsman was shell-shocked and stood his ground for sometime before he dragged himself away to the pavilion. The International Cricket Council (ICC) which takes a strict view of such acts pardoned Yuvraj, probably realising the umpire was more at fault. Interestingly, Silva, who made his ODI umpiring debut in 1999, had been in the doldrums since 2004.
His career was revived six months ago when he began officiating in ODIs. He has so far stood in 19 ODIs, 17 of which have been in Lanka itself.
http://www.rediff.com/cricket/2009/f...-tendulkar.htm
Umpiring howler accounts for Tendulkar yet again
http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/slvi...ry/389167.html
Sri Lanka v India, 4th ODI, Colombo
Sachin helped me decode Mendis - Yuvraj
Sriram Veera in Colombo
February 4, 2009
Yuvraj Singh: "I just had a few bad games. I wanted to prove what goes round comes around" © AFP
Last year, before heading to Sri Lanka for the previous ODI series, Yuvraj Singh called on Sunil Joshi in Bangalore for tips on how to tackle Ajantha Mendis. Joshi complied, mimicking the grip and flicking the tennis ball across to Yuvraj. The time constraints didn't allow for a lengthy practice but it showed that Yuvraj was seriously thinking about preparing for what he perceived to be his chief threat.
He didn't succeed; he was mesmerized by Mendis' variations and repeatedly succumbed to the new sensation. He returned home to find he had lost his place in the Test squad for the series against Australia. His first action at the time, he said after Tuesday's century, was to hit the gym.
"I felt I was a bit overweight in the last series and I knew I should be in top fitness," Yuvraj said. He also worked on his front-foot technique: he was taking his right foot a touch late and couldn't adjust quickly if the length was different from what he perceived it to be and ended up losing balance and following the ball.
He hit peak form in the England ODI series but the Mendis threat was always round the corner. Criticism hurt but also motivated him. "What better joy than proving the critics wrong," he said. He sought Sachin Tendulkar's help to tackle the Mendis threat. "He actually gave me plans to play Mendis in this series. I can't tell you what the plans were but whatever he told me was really helpful."
That explained his celebrations after reaching his century on Tuesday, making a point of acknowledging Tendulkar, who was on his feet applauding in the dressing room.
For all his celebration, though, the contest doesn't really have a winner yet. Yuvraj has faced 48 balls from Mendis in the three ODIs, scoring 38 runs, including a six. That's not any conclusive proof but there are clear signs of progress. While that six would have given him great thrill, what would have satisfied him are the 15 singles and 29 dot balls. Previously clueless, Yuvraj is now beginning to show he can stay in there and defend Mendis. In the last game, in the batting Powerplay, he rotated the strike to Virender Sehwag, who went after Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan.
It's learnt that the team is trying to play Mendis as a mediumpacer. Another key tactic is to not press the front foot across but to take it straight adjacent to the line. Play with the bat and not the pad is the mantra. Another factor is that the ball has spun a little in the second half but has been slow; it has not skidded on for Mendis as he would have liked to do. In the Asia Cup, and even in some games in Sri Lanka, the pitch was doing more under the lights and the ball would really skid from Mendis. It hasn't happened so far. Mendis will now have to adjust.
Yuvraj? He has prospered and now has the confidence needed to take on a class spinner. "Doubts are created by the media," he said on Tuesday." I never had doubts. Myself nor the team had any doubts on me. I just had a few bad games. I wanted to prove what goes round comes around."
Sriram Veera is a staff writer at Cricinfo
© Cricinfo
http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/04/stor...0461421900.htm
No luck for Tendulkar
Special Correspondent
Colombo: Sachin Tendulkar has gone through the entire gamut of emotions in his long and distinguished career. But never has the maestro been a victim of three umpiring errors in successive innings — all of them leg-before decisions early on.
Tendulkar said informally over lunch the other day, “I want to look back and count the number of bad decisions I have received over the past six years. There have been so many.”
On Tuesday, he was adjudged leg-before to paceman Dilhara Fernando by umpire Gamini Silva when the ball was clearly missing the leg stump. The same umpire had ruled him leg-before to Nuwan Kulasekara in the second ODI. Again the ball was going down the leg-side.
In the opening game of the series at Dambulla, umpire Kumar Dharmasena upheld a leg-before appeal by left-arm paceman Thilan Thushara when the ball pitched outside the leg-stump.
Exemplary conduct
Of course, Tendulkar has accepted all the verdicts with exemplary grace and dignity. He has walked back in disappointment but without showing any dissent. The master batsman talks passionately about respect for the game and wants to set an example.
Are the umpires under extra pressure when a batsman of Tendulkar’s stature is at the crease? Stress could lead to mistakes. Can the third umpire be brought into the picture? Even in those series in which the umpire referral system is not in place, will the game be better off if contentious leg-before appeals are referred?
For instance, when a left-arm paceman — bowling from over-the-wicket to a right-hander — appeals for a leg-before decision, it is not easy for the umpire to judge whether the ball had pitched in line. The action is over in a split second and the umpire gets very little time to make up his mind.
It is also extremely hard for the umpire to hear a wafer thin edge amidst all the noise — the deviation will be almost non-existent in such cases — before the ball strikes the pad.
Mistakes are highlighted in this era because of the advanced television coverage.
Perhaps some of the umpiring errors in the eras gone by went unnoticed.
Tendulkar’s plight takes us back to the great umpiring debate. It’s man versus machine again.
While the Shane Warne led Rajasthan Royals may be the actual winners of the first edition of the IPL, Sachin Tendulkar’s Mumbai Indians were the winners in terms of viewership. Reportedly, there was post event report compiled by the IPL’s event management company which stated that the Mumbai Indians had a viewership of 239 million, which is the highest among any of the IPL teams.
But there are several other factors that determine viewership: one of those is star power. The fact that Sachin’s team attracted the highest viewership probably indicates that the Little Master is still the most watchable and the most popular cricketer in India.
http://www.cricket360.com/1007-mumba...s-won-too.html
Ippo dhan gavanikurein. Idhu palaya still joe :lol:
Quote:
Originally Posted by joe
Sachin Tendulkar's dedication to the game was evident in his decision to practice at the nets despite the team having a day off from practice on the Sri Lanka tour.
'My runs have come through sheer practice'
By D Datta, Special to Gulf News
Published: February 08, 2009, 23:15
Colombo: On the morning of February 7, Sachin Tendulkar decided he would have a session at the nets. Practice was optional on that morning. But as Sachin wished, there were three more cricketers in the bus - Irfan Pathan, Laxmipathy Balaji and Ravindra Jadeja.
The batting legend batted for 55 minutes then took a seven-minute drinks break. This was followed by coach Gary Kirsten throwing balls at him for almost 40 minutes.
Tendulkar also found time to tell Balaji how to use the good length spot more effectively, bowl to Pathan with the pads on, and show a young Sri Lankan leg-spinner how to get better turn by flexing the wrist.
Tendulkar's energy and enthusiasm for the game has not dipped after almost two decades. He spoke to Gulf News about his passion. Excerpts:
Gulf News: Why does the number one batsman in Tests and one-dayers need to practice intensely even on holidays?
Sachin Tendulkar: The runs I have scored have come through sheer practice. I try to reach perfection through practice. Whatever runs I have scored are immaterial at the start of every innings. I have to start from zero when I take guard. It's part of an athlete's job to keep oneself ready.
Muttiah Muralitharan says that he feels like a Sachin Tendulkar!
Well, he has proved that he is the best in both forms of the game. His determination, dedication, discipline and ability to fight against all odds is phenomenal. After all these years, he still picks wickets at will.
Are you happy with the Mumbai Indians acquiring JP Duminy for the second edition of the IPL?
It is great news. We were looking for a solid middle-order batsman. Duminy fulfils thay role.
Will Duminy bat at number three?
I am yet to finalise it. Sanath and I will be opening - that's certain. Duminy, most probably, will come in either at four or five. We will be flexible and decide only after seeing the wicket.
You also have Asraful of Bangladesh. Was it part of your plan?
Oh yes! I have seen him winning matches for Bangladesh single-handedly. He was very much part of our planning.
Are you happy with the overall team combination?
Yes, very happy. We have acquired some capable players and it is a good team.
http://www.gulfnews.com/sport/Cricket/10283551.html
No Twenty20 for Tendulkar
G S Vivek Posted: Feb 09, 2009 at 0015 hrs IST
Right after the presentation ceremony on Sunday, Sachin Tendulkar’s metal Cricket kit was carried downstairs and loaded into a waiting van. Never too keen on the Twenty20 format, Tendulkar — who didn’t play in the last two one-dayers — took special permission from board officials and returned early from Colombo, taking a midnight flight straight to Mumbai. The rest of the contingent will stay back for the one-off Twenty20 match on February 10. Meanwhile, there were plenty of check-ins and check-outs at the team hotel on Sunday night, with Sri Lanka’s T20 specialists taking over from the jaded one-day team.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/no...dulkar/420897/