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http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...oose-your-pick
It has been quite a while since I have been thinking about this article. My idol (I worship him more than god!), Sachin Tendulkar, who has scored 83 international hundreds to date, has always been criticised of not being a match winner.
To be more precise, it is said he hasn't delivered when it mattered! This article is not about him being a match winner or not. It's just about the various brilliant innings he has played over twenty years of international cricket.
So I have decided to come up with a list of his best knocks (in my opinion), only in the second innings of a test match. Although he has scored only 10 out of his 41 hundreds in the second innings, there have been heaps of knocks in the first innings which have set it up for India to thrust victory.
Here comes the list in my favourite order.
1. 155 not out vs Australia at Chennai, 1998.
India had given away a lead of 71 in the first innings and time was running out. I was utterly disappointed to see Tendulkar get out fifth ball to Warne in the first innings and it was also the first time I had gone to the stadium to watch a match!
He made it up with a counter attacking knock on a wearing pitch against Shane Warne and co. to set up an improbable victory for India. India eventually won by 179 runs. I certainly cannot forget March 9, 1998!
vote to see results
2. 136 vs Pakistan at Chennai, 1999.
It was the first match the two teams were playing after 1989-90. Incidentally that series had also announced the arrival of Sachin Tendulkar and Waqar Younis. The tension and anticipation were very high.
India managed to get a slender lead of 16 runs which definitely was not significant. Sachin was out for a third ball duck. Afridi's ton set India a target of 271. With a sore back Tendulkar put on a magnificent effort to take India 17 short of victory before a rush of blood saw him get out.
The Indians folded up and lost by 12 runs. Pakistan were given a standing ovation by the crowd which was and is one of the greatest sporting moments. I remember someone writing that any other person would have broken down with that back! The only reason I had to name this innings second was due to the result.
3. 119 not out vs England at Old Trafford, 1990.
It was Tendulkar's first tour of England. He had not scored a hundred till then. India lost the lead and England capitalised on it to set a tough target of 408.
The 17 year old Tendulkar, who had scored 68 in the first innings, marched on to a match saving ton. It is considered a classic innings because of the situation and the inexperience of the young lad. He has scored 40 more hundreds after that!
4. 103 not out vs England at Chennai, 2008
An unforgettable match. This is ranked four in my list as it was not a stand out performance by Tendulkar. Initially Sehwag set it up and Yuvraj joined in the party. Having lost a lead of 75, India was set a target of 387.
Tendulkar, once again, proved his critics wrong with a masterly hundred to make it the third highest run chase then. This was not flashy or dominating but purely calculative. I went to watch four out of the five days in this test match and its one of my favourites.
5. 122 vs England at Edgbaston, 1996
An innings which thoroughly proved why he was the most dominant player in world cricket. In overcast conditions India has never done well. This was not any different as they lost a lead of 99 runs.
Tendulkar got his back to the wall and unleashed an array of shots to get a hundred with a huge six off Min Patel. No other Indian managed to cross 20 in the second innings. As expected India lost the game quite badly.
A close competitor to this spot was his 113 vs New Zealand at Wellington in 1998-99. He made a fine 113 but was well supported by others. It still remains a good one eventhough I couldn't fit it in the list.
I hope I have not missed out any obvious innings. Vote for your best. Cheers.
Great work!!! :ty: AF for the link. The article in the homepage is :notworthy: :notworthy:
Ella pugazhum thagaval kalanjiyam orkut sachin fans community'kkae :notworthy:
Looking ahead: New plan for Sachin?
Sitting In T20 Dressing Room, Legend Could Invite Broader Role
Bobilli Vijay Kumar | TNN
Christchurch: As the captains stepped out for the toss, followed by the reserve-forces of the day, a fully loaded figure warmed the eyes: Sachin Tendulkar.
The little master-blaster has, of course, already slipped in and out of virtually every role that this rapidly-evolving game can offer. But this one is not just new and unexpected; it is incomprehensible too. Yes, who would have imagined that Tendulkar would actually be cooling his heels in the dressing room when Team India is in action? Especially, when he is not carrying a niggle or injury; or, indeed, the series is still alive and kicking.
Well, as the story turns out that is the latest twist. Tendulkar might have announced, just before this exciting tour, that he was (temporarily?) hanging up his Twenty20 boots; that he would make himself unavailable in the interest of the team’s balance. In other words, as he (and Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly) stepped out aside for the Twenty20 World Cup last year, the new game has all but shot past him.
MS Dhoni took over the attimes-tenuous-at-times-silken reins and transformed the team into a smooth but ruthless unit; he converted a young and talented bunch into confident machines who don’t know the meaning of fear. It wasn’t just in T-20 though; one could see the magic in One-dayers and Tests too. Now, suddenly, the holes in the batting have evaporated (in the shorter versions); virtually, every slot is taken, and there are others waiting with bazookas to bring down the door.
If he wanted, of course, Tendulkar could have insisted and commanded a place yet; after all, wasn’t he India’s pioneer in power-hitting and blazing strokes? He is still playing in the IPL too, isn’t he? So what is the gameplan behind this move?
Tendulkar clearly wants to nurture his body as much as possible; he still has his eyes on the 2011 World Cup (an elusive trophy would quite severely dent his claims to greatness) and possibly many more ODI runs and Test centuries. Maybe, his body is screaming all the time; maybe, this is just his way of acknowledging the fact that the world is becoming faster and younger; maybe, his is still trying to reinvent himself, and looking for a newer role.
For an answer, you have to look deep into the dressing room; you just have to listen to his teammates, especially the younger ones, to understand the possibilities. It is more than apparent that every player holds him in high esteem; each one turns to him when the runs dry up or a glitch appears in the technique.
Like god, his word is truly the last one; like the all-knowing guru, he has answers for everyone. Maybe, that is where lies his next calling; maybe, he is the missing messiah (Indian coach) that the country has always been waiting for. That is, of course, still in the distant future; it is quite possible that the thought has not yet crossed the mind. But what does Tendulkar really do when the game slips out of him? Will he sit behind Tendulkar’s cash-counter? Can he really pull it off as a commentator? No, and maybe not.
He has to look beyond for something different; surely, he can’t contemplate staying away completely after giving cricket 20 years of his prime life; surely, the answer is already ticking somewhere in the back of his mind. One just had to look at him on Wednesday evening to see the emerging picture: the same enthusiasm, the same passion, the same old tricks. Who can keep him away from cricket?
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Defau...1702&AppName=1
Sachin is going to play in a T20 for Nz's board 11 team. (Practice match)
Watched the videos. Great compilation. Must watch :notworthy:
Quote:
Originally Posted by ajithfederer