A series of phone calls and emails to investigate whether Sachin Tendulkar was indeed the Great Satan in the DRS debate, the leader of the Indian resistance to the referral system, led to a startling discovery. That the world's most seasoned international cricketer and one of the leading sports graphics technology providers agreed with each other. Tendulkar and Virtual Eye actually see, well, eye to eye.
Tendulkar believes the DRS will be more effective and consistent if the best technologies available can be used together: Hot Spot and Snicko supporting the ball tracker, for instance. Virtual Eye CEO Ian Taylor told ESPNcricinfo in an email yesterday: "We have always argued that the DRS is not solely about ball tracking, and that every tool available should be used. More importantly, we should be looking at tools that work together."
This is two ends of a spectrum: the techies who get vector graphics and point the 230-frames-per-second cameras towards the pitch, and the cricketer who's waiting for the third umpire to respond to the man on the field want the same thing. The best available technology converging millimetre by millimetre to provide an accurate depiction of what just happened inside six or so milliseconds.
Why, then, is there so much trouble in between the two ends?
The absence of the DRS has this week become the central point of interest in what is a drool-worthy series regardless. Should the DRS be used for England v India? Of course, absolutely yes. Isn't the BCCI's refusal somewhat Dark Ages? Yes, but on to them later (patience, guv'nor, patience).
Will the absence of the DRS be the single dominant factor that will bring in the crowds or empty seats of bums? No. Will it decide the eventual outcome of the series? Over jelly beans, you mean? How can that be possible?
Does all this mean cricket's one-man multimedia entertainment industry, aka Graeme Swann, wuz robbed before a ball has been bowled? His Mirthfulness will snigger at such kidology. Is VVS Laxman heaving a sigh of relief about leg-befores now? Twenty-one lbws in his 198 Test innings - does he care? If Chris Tremlett and Jimmy Anderson are annoyed, you think Zaheer Khan's not glowering somewhere too?
The England players are completely entitled their bewilderment at the BCCI's refusal to accept the DRS. Tendulkar's measured response on Thursday certainly contained none of the two pet phrases floated into discussions to do with DRS and SRT: there was neither "apprehension" nor "vehement opposition". MS Dhoni's is the more forceful opposition to the DRS, and in England he will get many a chance to expand his metaphors beyond life jackets and adulteration, in the cause of dissing the DRS. Unless he's changed his mind.
The strife that exists in the space between the technology providers and the cricketers is shared between two lots of governors. The BCCI's inflexibility is nothing other than more of their customary unsavoury muscle-flexing. Tendulkar's comments have certainly taken away one excuse. The one about the expense involved is laughable: the BCCI could be the global sponsors of DRS technologies, their logo popping up on TV screens around the world during a referral.
Muted grumbling about monopoly technologies do not apply to the ball-tracker they so despise: Hawk-Eye is not the only predictor path available on the market. But travelling to Australia to see how the rival worked during the Ashes was just too hoi polloi. The most revealing is the BCCI's reluctance to speak to the senior core of players about their views on the current system. It is what autocrats do before claiming they act in the interests of the masses.
Then there's the ICC, whose venerable cricket committee has strongly recommended pushing the DRS across all international cricket. They have been unable to follow through due to political constraints and economic self-interest.
When Snicko, Hawk-Eye / Virtual Eye and Hot Spot were introduced, they were part of the entertainment, not the rules. Like manhattans and wagon wheels, they were targeted at TV viewers, not cricketers or umpires. Today these enhancements find themselves in the playing conditions. It is only fair the ICC invests in some of the R&D that will eventually help in the enforcement of the rules these technologies now serve. Else, it is only fair to let them remain part of the entertainment, paid for by broadcasters. The current hands-on, expenses-off approach to the DRS reflects poorly on an otherwise well-meaning governing body.
Their gently-gently bilateral approach makes little sense today; it exists only to make room for the BCCI's objections to the DRS. The ICC executive board, made up of representatives of every full member board, meets later this month in Hong Kong. If they are unable to make referrals mandatory, from piecemeal, the blame will be on world cricket as much as it will on the BCCI.
In the DRS' twilight zone, where the ICC dithers, the BCCI bullies, and there is politicking all-round, the techies remain diligent, the broadcasters supportive, and most of the world's cricketers - Dhoni among the exceptions, as of today - eager to see how the system can work for them.
Ten years down the line there's a damn good chance folks will wonder why it took so long to get the DRS going everywhere, and what the hell the BCCI was thinking
The BCCI's favourite whipping boy, Hawk-Eye, made it through a World Cup without cricket being torn asunder. The Hot Spot guys have now bought two new, faster cameras. Their total of six means that two concurrent series can both offer Hot Spot, one with the higher-end four-cam version and the other with two square cameras.
During the Ashes there were pictures of the merging of Hot Spot with the Virtual Eye tracker under a new name, Hot Track. Virtual Eye's Taylor says the system was able to "bring another level of certainty for the umpires and the players". The BCCI could have seen the system at work in Australia but chose not to. Tendulkar and Co. would be interested.
The best DRS geeks accept that their technology is not 100% accurate, and keep pushing it as close as possible to perfect. The best umpires admit to having bad games occasionally, accept that technology sometimes rescues them, and walk out wanting to have their most flawless day every day. The best cricketers in the world understand that the DRS will have a few iffy moments, and that replays of close catches can be hellish, but anything's better than seeing dismissals off no-ball bat-pads, or lbws given to balls pitching outside leg.
Ten years down the line, with a range of technologies working seamlessly through replays, there's a damn good chance folks will wonder why it took so long to get the DRS going everywhere, and what the hell the BCCI was thinking.
Cricket's been through such obduracy in various forms, covering the full range of mankind's pig-headedness. Boycotting apartheid South Africa was stridently resisted. Day-night cricket was sacrilege, wearing helmets was considered wimpy, neutral umpiring was blasphemy, and reverse swing an unspeakable crime. The resistance to DRS belongs to that category of ridiculous.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
Mumbai Indians all charged up
Mumbai Indians, currently second behind Chennai Super Kings with 16 points, would be keen to seal its place in the play-offs with a victory over the bottom-placed Deccan Chargers at the Wankhede Stadium here on Saturday.
Apart from the Chargers encounter, Mumbai also has a home match against Rajasthan Royals and an away game against Kolkata Knight Riders.
After a three-match winning streak at home, Mumbai lost the momentum by losing to Kings XI Punjab at Mohali.
It has been dismissed for under 100 twice during this year's IPL, suggesting that its batsmen have not been in control always.
Search still on
On paper, Mumbai has a strong batting line-up with Sachin Tendulkar, Ambati Rayudu, Rohit Sharma, Andrew Symonds and Kieron Pollard in its ranks.
However, it is still searching for a partner to Tendulkar.
The Tendulkar-Sanath Jayasuriya and Tendulkar-Shikhar Dhawan combinations performed reasonably well in the previous editions, but neither Davy Jacobs (out of the tournament because of a finger injury) nor James Franklin, Rajagopal Satish and Aiden Blizzard have provided encouragement to the Mumbai think-tank. Moreover, Satish, a fine fielder, has been replaced by T. Suman.
It looks as though Mumbai would bank on Blizzard for the remaining part of the league phase.
Mumbai's spin department, too, has not been consistent, and it would be interesting to see if it uses the opportunity to bring in left-arm spinner Raymond Price against Chargers.
A win against Chargers would improve Mumbai's chances of finishing among the top two. It would fancy its chances since it's playing at Wankhede.
On its part, Chargers would like to play spoilsport.
It does have the resources with bowlers Dale Steyn, Ishant Sharma and Amit Mishra, and competent batsmen, including former Mumbai batsmen Jean-Paul Duminy and Dhawan, in its line-up.
Apart from the Chargers encounter, Mumbai also has a home match against Rajasthan Royals and an away game against Kolkata Knight Riders.
After a three-match winning streak at home, Mumbai lost the momentum by losing to Kings XI Punjab at Mohali.
It has been dismissed for under 100 twice during this year's IPL, suggesting that its batsmen have not been in control always.
Search still on
On paper, Mumbai has a strong batting line-up with Sachin Tendulkar, Ambati Rayudu, Rohit Sharma, Andrew Symonds and Kieron Pollard in its ranks.
However, it is still searching for a partner to Tendulkar.
The Tendulkar-Sanath Jayasuriya and Tendulkar-Shikhar Dhawan combinations performed reasonably well in the previous editions, but neither Davy Jacobs (out of the tournament because of a finger injury) nor James Franklin, Rajagopal Satish and Aiden Blizzard have provided encouragement to the Mumbai think-tank. Moreover, Satish, a fine fielder, has been replaced by T. Suman.
It looks as though Mumbai would bank on Blizzard for the remaining part of the league phase.
Mumbai's spin department, too, has not been consistent, and it would be interesting to see if it uses the opportunity to bring in left-arm spinner Raymond Price against Chargers.
A win against Chargers would improve Mumbai's chances of finishing among the top two. It would fancy its chances since it's playing at Wankhede.
On its part, Chargers would like to play spoilsport.
It does have the resources with bowlers Dale Steyn, Ishant Sharma and Amit Mishra, and competent batsmen, including former Mumbai batsmen Jean-Paul Duminy and Dhawan, in its line-up.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
quotes about life
Horace: Quotes about Life
It is of no consequence of what parents a man is born, as long as he be a man of merit.
Margaret Bonnano: Quotes about Life
It is only possible to live happily ever after on a day to day basis.
Elizabeth Kubler-Ross: Quotes about Life
It is only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it were the only one we had.
Charles Darwin: Quotes about Life
It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
worldcup 2011 - updates
Malinga's yorkers dismantle Kenya
Lasith Malinga announced his return to full fitness by storming his way to an unprecedented second World Cup hat-trick with an exhibition of yorker-on-demand bowling that proved too much for Kenya's tail at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The visitors imploded to 142 all out despite dogged half-centuries from the Obuya brothers, who enjoyed plenty of fortune in a determined 94-run stand that kept the varied threats of Sri Lanka's bowling at bay for nearly 30 overs. Sri Lanka's batsmen barely had to break a sweat in the chase, finishing it off in 18 overs.
The Obuyas weren't exactly convincing - testing every edge of their bat, surviving close lbw calls, regularly air-driving outside off and rarely reading the spinner's variations - but hung on obdurately to take Kenya into triple-digits. A solid platform was in place when they had hauled Kenya to 102 for 2, but Malinga's burst demolished the tail as the final eight wickets were blasted out for 40 runs. None of the other Kenyan batsmen made it past single-figures.
The Kenyan collapse was rapid: it took only 22 deliveries for them to go from 127 for 4 to being bowled out. Muttiah Muralitharan started it off by getting the set batsman David Obuya to slog-sweep to midwicket.
Then it was Malinga time. Jimmy Kamande barely found his bearings after being struck by a toe-crusher, and decided to go for a single when the ball was only a couple of metres away from him. Chamara Silva pounced from midwicket and did a passable imitation of Jonty Rhodes from 1992 to crash into the stumps and dismiss Kamande.
Tanmay Mishra was next, becoming the first victim of Malinga's hat-trick after missing a full delivery on leg stump to fall for a 13-ball duck. It was the final ball of the over, and Malinga gave Peter Ongondo the warmest welcome possible to the tournament in the first ball of his next - a yorker that uprooted middle. The staggered dismissals meant many in the crowd weren't aware that Malinga was on a hat-trick. He steamed in and middle stump was dismantled again next ball, the clueless batsman this time was Shem Ngoche.
Attention then shifted to whether Malinga could repeat his outrageous four-in-four from the 2007 World Cup, but he sprayed a wild delivery for five leg-side wides. Elijah Otieno defended the next ball, but that was followed by another unstoppable yorker from Malinga that thud into leg stump to end Kenya's innings. Malinga had taken four in five legal deliveries to finish with 6 for 38.
A tiresomely familiar tale seemed set to play out earlier in the afternoon when Kenya slid to 8 for 2 in the third over. Nuwan Kulasekara and Malinga removed the openers cheaply with their favourite weapons - Kulasekara getting Maurice Ouma with an inducker, and Malinga dislodging Seren Waters with an inswinging yorker that left the batsman on his knees.
The Obuyas ensured there wasn't a repeat of Kenya's house-of-cards performance against New Zealand. Kulasekara gave away only nine runs in a constricting six-over opening spell, but Kenya were more at ease against Angelo Mathews, who was taken for a couple of boundaries.
Sri Lanka brought on the spin of Ajantha Mendis in the 14th over to break the frustrating stand, but though the batsmen weren't sure which way the ball would turn, they survived his bag of tricks with some dour defence. Kumar Sangakkara then turned to Muttiah Muralitharan to get the wickets, but though there were leading edges and outside edges, Murali couldn't break through, with the batsmen negotiating him with a series of sweeps.
It was painfully slow progress from the Obuyas, and after more than two hours of defiance, it was that most deadly of weapons that separated them - a Malinga yorker. Some more of those left Sri Lanka chasing a tiny target in front of a raucous Colombo crowd.
The fans had even more to cheer when Sri Lanka batted, as Tillkaratne Dilshan provided a typically fast start with an array of punches through cover. He picked up a couple of boundaries in three successive overs to power Sri Lanka to 51 in the sixth over. Upul Tharanga, who started sedately, then joined the party with three fours in the next over. Dilshan fell short of a half-century, but Tharanga went on to make 67 with a string of lofted boundaries in the batting Powerplay to hasten the finish, and push Sri Lanka to the top of the table on net run-rate.
Lasith Malinga announced his return to full fitness by storming his way to an unprecedented second World Cup hat-trick with an exhibition of yorker-on-demand bowling that proved too much for Kenya's tail at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The visitors imploded to 142 all out despite dogged half-centuries from the Obuya brothers, who enjoyed plenty of fortune in a determined 94-run stand that kept the varied threats of Sri Lanka's bowling at bay for nearly 30 overs. Sri Lanka's batsmen barely had to break a sweat in the chase, finishing it off in 18 overs.
The Obuyas weren't exactly convincing - testing every edge of their bat, surviving close lbw calls, regularly air-driving outside off and rarely reading the spinner's variations - but hung on obdurately to take Kenya into triple-digits. A solid platform was in place when they had hauled Kenya to 102 for 2, but Malinga's burst demolished the tail as the final eight wickets were blasted out for 40 runs. None of the other Kenyan batsmen made it past single-figures.
The Kenyan collapse was rapid: it took only 22 deliveries for them to go from 127 for 4 to being bowled out. Muttiah Muralitharan started it off by getting the set batsman David Obuya to slog-sweep to midwicket.
Then it was Malinga time. Jimmy Kamande barely found his bearings after being struck by a toe-crusher, and decided to go for a single when the ball was only a couple of metres away from him. Chamara Silva pounced from midwicket and did a passable imitation of Jonty Rhodes from 1992 to crash into the stumps and dismiss Kamande.
Tanmay Mishra was next, becoming the first victim of Malinga's hat-trick after missing a full delivery on leg stump to fall for a 13-ball duck. It was the final ball of the over, and Malinga gave Peter Ongondo the warmest welcome possible to the tournament in the first ball of his next - a yorker that uprooted middle. The staggered dismissals meant many in the crowd weren't aware that Malinga was on a hat-trick. He steamed in and middle stump was dismantled again next ball, the clueless batsman this time was Shem Ngoche.
Attention then shifted to whether Malinga could repeat his outrageous four-in-four from the 2007 World Cup, but he sprayed a wild delivery for five leg-side wides. Elijah Otieno defended the next ball, but that was followed by another unstoppable yorker from Malinga that thud into leg stump to end Kenya's innings. Malinga had taken four in five legal deliveries to finish with 6 for 38.
A tiresomely familiar tale seemed set to play out earlier in the afternoon when Kenya slid to 8 for 2 in the third over. Nuwan Kulasekara and Malinga removed the openers cheaply with their favourite weapons - Kulasekara getting Maurice Ouma with an inducker, and Malinga dislodging Seren Waters with an inswinging yorker that left the batsman on his knees.
The Obuyas ensured there wasn't a repeat of Kenya's house-of-cards performance against New Zealand. Kulasekara gave away only nine runs in a constricting six-over opening spell, but Kenya were more at ease against Angelo Mathews, who was taken for a couple of boundaries.
Sri Lanka brought on the spin of Ajantha Mendis in the 14th over to break the frustrating stand, but though the batsmen weren't sure which way the ball would turn, they survived his bag of tricks with some dour defence. Kumar Sangakkara then turned to Muttiah Muralitharan to get the wickets, but though there were leading edges and outside edges, Murali couldn't break through, with the batsmen negotiating him with a series of sweeps.
It was painfully slow progress from the Obuyas, and after more than two hours of defiance, it was that most deadly of weapons that separated them - a Malinga yorker. Some more of those left Sri Lanka chasing a tiny target in front of a raucous Colombo crowd.
The fans had even more to cheer when Sri Lanka batted, as Tillkaratne Dilshan provided a typically fast start with an array of punches through cover. He picked up a couple of boundaries in three successive overs to power Sri Lanka to 51 in the sixth over. Upul Tharanga, who started sedately, then joined the party with three fours in the next over. Dilshan fell short of a half-century, but Tharanga went on to make 67 with a string of lofted boundaries in the batting Powerplay to hasten the finish, and push Sri Lanka to the top of the table on net run-rate.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Sachin bears immense burden
LONDON: Sachin Tendulkar, possessor of every one-day batting record worth holding, carries an unparalleled weight of expectation.
Even the incomparable Australian Don Bradman, whose feats at the crease during the Great Depression sustained an emerging nation’s morale, did not endure the pressure Tendulkar will confront at the 10th World Cup opening in Dhaka on Feb. 19.
According to the historian Ramachandra Guha, Tendulkar is the best-known Indian alive with a status equivalent to a Hindu god or a Bollywood film star. When he faced the former Pakistan opening bowler Wasim Akram the television audience in India exceeded the entire population of Europe.
“Batsmen walk out into the middle alone,” wrote the Indian poet and critic C.P. Surendran.
“Not Tendulkar. Every time Tendulkar walks to the crease, a whole nation, tatters and all, marches with him to the battle arena.
“A pauper people pleading for relief, remission from the lifelong anxiety of being Indian, by joining in spirit their visored savior.”
Tendulkar scored his 51st Test century this year after a duel with South African fast bowler Dale Steyn recalling Bradman’s jousts with England’s Harold Larwood in the 1932-33 Bodyline series.
Three more one-day hundreds in the World Cup climaxing in his native Mumbai on April 2 would make him the only batsman to total 100 centuries over both forms of the game, a landmark which like Bradman’s Test average of 99.94 would probably last forever.
“I still want to achieve something and everyone knows that,” Tendulkar, 37, said last month at a ceremony to celebrate India’s number one spot in the world Test rankings.
As Tendulkar heads into his record sixth World Cup, a nation of 1.2 billion hopes a World Cup win will complete his career of achievements.
He is the holder of virtually every major batting record in Test and one-day cricket, including most runs and most centuries in either form, and most believe a World Cup win will complete his career of achievements.
Former West Indian batsman Vivian Richards said during a World Cup promotional event here last month that “the World Cup would be the icing on the cake for Sachin Tendulkar.”
Just as Tendulkar’s consistency has been credited with India’s superb recent form, runs from the Mumbai player’s bat have had a direct bearing on the team’s fortunes in the World Cup.
Tendulkar, 37, played for India in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa and the semifinals in 1996. He played a major role in both those campaigns. establishing the record for most runs in any single World Cup by accumulating 673 in 2003, and was the highest scorer in 1996 with 523.
Tendulkar’s absence from a match against Zimbabwe in the 1999 World Cup, when he returned home briefly after his father’s death, resulted in India losing the match and spoiling its finals chances despite consistent performances from others like Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly.
Tendulkar, who also leads the aggregate table for most runs in World Cups at 1,796 in 36 matches and shares the record of four World Cup centuries, will now be tied with Pakistan’s Javed Miandad in terms of Cups participated in.
Brian Lara, the only modern-day batsman who has been consistently compared with Tendulkar, says the Indian’s records will not be easily broken.
“I believe that the entire world appreciates Tendulkar still playing cricket,” Lara said on a recent visit to New Delhi.
“His records will not be surpassed, especially with more Twenty20 cricket being played.” Lara said he was honored to have his name being spoken in the same breath as the Mumbai batsman.
“Winning the World Cup or not, Tendulkar’s achievements are enormous,” he said.
Tendulkar avoided one-day cricket for almost a year after hitting 200 not out against South Africa at Gwalior in 2010.
He then returned home midway through the one-day series in South Africa this month because of a hamstring injury, but that was more of a precaution with the World Cup round the corner.
Tendulkar has learnt the art of remaining fresh by taking timely breaks, and while he, along with Australia captain Ricky Ponting, South Africa’s Jacques Kallis and Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka, is among the top players expected to have a last stint at the World Cup, not everyone feels that is the case.
Kapil Dev, the 1983 World Cup winning captain, says Tendulkar is capable of playing in a seventh World Cup.
“People say it is his last World Cup, but I don’t believe this. We might see him play the next World Cup also as I feel he will not quit till he wins the trophy.”
– Reuters __
Even the incomparable Australian Don Bradman, whose feats at the crease during the Great Depression sustained an emerging nation’s morale, did not endure the pressure Tendulkar will confront at the 10th World Cup opening in Dhaka on Feb. 19.
According to the historian Ramachandra Guha, Tendulkar is the best-known Indian alive with a status equivalent to a Hindu god or a Bollywood film star. When he faced the former Pakistan opening bowler Wasim Akram the television audience in India exceeded the entire population of Europe.
“Batsmen walk out into the middle alone,” wrote the Indian poet and critic C.P. Surendran.
“Not Tendulkar. Every time Tendulkar walks to the crease, a whole nation, tatters and all, marches with him to the battle arena.
“A pauper people pleading for relief, remission from the lifelong anxiety of being Indian, by joining in spirit their visored savior.”
Tendulkar scored his 51st Test century this year after a duel with South African fast bowler Dale Steyn recalling Bradman’s jousts with England’s Harold Larwood in the 1932-33 Bodyline series.
Three more one-day hundreds in the World Cup climaxing in his native Mumbai on April 2 would make him the only batsman to total 100 centuries over both forms of the game, a landmark which like Bradman’s Test average of 99.94 would probably last forever.
“I still want to achieve something and everyone knows that,” Tendulkar, 37, said last month at a ceremony to celebrate India’s number one spot in the world Test rankings.
As Tendulkar heads into his record sixth World Cup, a nation of 1.2 billion hopes a World Cup win will complete his career of achievements.
He is the holder of virtually every major batting record in Test and one-day cricket, including most runs and most centuries in either form, and most believe a World Cup win will complete his career of achievements.
Former West Indian batsman Vivian Richards said during a World Cup promotional event here last month that “the World Cup would be the icing on the cake for Sachin Tendulkar.”
Just as Tendulkar’s consistency has been credited with India’s superb recent form, runs from the Mumbai player’s bat have had a direct bearing on the team’s fortunes in the World Cup.
Tendulkar, 37, played for India in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa and the semifinals in 1996. He played a major role in both those campaigns. establishing the record for most runs in any single World Cup by accumulating 673 in 2003, and was the highest scorer in 1996 with 523.
Tendulkar’s absence from a match against Zimbabwe in the 1999 World Cup, when he returned home briefly after his father’s death, resulted in India losing the match and spoiling its finals chances despite consistent performances from others like Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly.
Tendulkar, who also leads the aggregate table for most runs in World Cups at 1,796 in 36 matches and shares the record of four World Cup centuries, will now be tied with Pakistan’s Javed Miandad in terms of Cups participated in.
Brian Lara, the only modern-day batsman who has been consistently compared with Tendulkar, says the Indian’s records will not be easily broken.
“I believe that the entire world appreciates Tendulkar still playing cricket,” Lara said on a recent visit to New Delhi.
“His records will not be surpassed, especially with more Twenty20 cricket being played.” Lara said he was honored to have his name being spoken in the same breath as the Mumbai batsman.
“Winning the World Cup or not, Tendulkar’s achievements are enormous,” he said.
Tendulkar avoided one-day cricket for almost a year after hitting 200 not out against South Africa at Gwalior in 2010.
He then returned home midway through the one-day series in South Africa this month because of a hamstring injury, but that was more of a precaution with the World Cup round the corner.
Tendulkar has learnt the art of remaining fresh by taking timely breaks, and while he, along with Australia captain Ricky Ponting, South Africa’s Jacques Kallis and Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka, is among the top players expected to have a last stint at the World Cup, not everyone feels that is the case.
Kapil Dev, the 1983 World Cup winning captain, says Tendulkar is capable of playing in a seventh World Cup.
“People say it is his last World Cup, but I don’t believe this. We might see him play the next World Cup also as I feel he will not quit till he wins the trophy.”
– Reuters __
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Tendulkar is all praise for his 'Fab' teammates
Sachin Tendulkar says Anil Kumble is the greatest bowler he has played with, finds Rahul Dravid's technique and concentration excellent and VVS Laxman the most wristy, while Sourav Ganguly is one who figured out his game well.
Tendulkar, who has closely seen all the four who formed the Fab Five of the Indian team not long ago, elaborated on the the style and substance of the four players.
"From the manner in which Rahul and Sourav had batted in their debut Test match, it was quite evident that they were there to stay." Tendulkar said in a book titled 'SACH,' by Gautam Bhattacharya.
"Rahul's forte was excellent technique and he loved to occupy the crease for long hours. Rahul concentrated extremely well -- I mean, still concentrates very well. Sourav was somebody who figured out his game well enough. He knew which bowler to hit and which one to defend. Sourav liked scoring runs in boundaries. He was a boundary hitter.
"Laxman depended on hand-eye coordination. He was the most wristy player. And Kumble, of course, is the greatest bowler that I have ever played with. Apart from being a champion matchwinning bowler, his greatness lay in the fact that he would bowl the last delivery of the day with the same amount of fire irrespective of his performance during the day.
Tendulkar, who has been witness to the various contraptions that came into the game, feels, the computer has been the most important as it gives the opportunity to study the opposition. He, however, insists the electronic gadget cannot substitute the "skills" of a player.
"Your performance is the biggest indicator that skill can march well ahead of the laptop! The computer does play an important role in today's cricket. You forget so many things. With the computer you can store them. For me the biggest advantage is you can study the opposition. The computer helps and provides you with that vital two to three per cent difference. As far as I am concerned it is not overrated."
When I sledged to rattle McGrath, the ploy worked: Sachin
Sachin Tendulkar says he, too, has sledged, but only once and that as part of team strategy. The batting maestro needled Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath by telling he would go after his bowling and the ploy worked.
"I have never sledged per se merely for the sake of sledging. I did that only once as a part of team strategy. This was at the Kenya Champions Trophy. We were playing Australia." Tendulkar recollects in a book 'SACH' penned by Gautam Bhattacharya.
Tendulkar describes how he irked McGrath with a cheeky line.
"The match was played under overcast conditions. The wicket was also very damp. I had told Sourav before that I would do something to upset McGrath's rhythm. So, in the very first over, I stepped out to him. The first thing I said to him was: 'Today I will hit you out of the ground.' He got really angry and started spraying the ball around. This was exactly what we wanted. As on that surface, he may have been very dangerous.
"We did win that match ultimately and I felt very happy. My sledging did work for the team. My own experience of sledging came very early on my first tour to Australia. I remember having blocked a delivery and the ball landed near my foot. I tried picking it up when Allan Border shouted from gully. 'Don't touch the ball.' So I stopped immediately."
"I have never sledged per se merely for the sake of sledging. I did that only once as a part of team strategy. This was at the Kenya Champions Trophy. We were playing Australia." Tendulkar recollects in a book 'SACH' penned by Gautam Bhattacharya.
Tendulkar describes how he irked McGrath with a cheeky line.
"The match was played under overcast conditions. The wicket was also very damp. I had told Sourav before that I would do something to upset McGrath's rhythm. So, in the very first over, I stepped out to him. The first thing I said to him was: 'Today I will hit you out of the ground.' He got really angry and started spraying the ball around. This was exactly what we wanted. As on that surface, he may have been very dangerous.
"We did win that match ultimately and I felt very happy. My sledging did work for the team. My own experience of sledging came very early on my first tour to Australia. I remember having blocked a delivery and the ball landed near my foot. I tried picking it up when Allan Border shouted from gully. 'Don't touch the ball.' So I stopped immediately."
Friday, February 4, 2011
‘The team is ready for the World Cup, focusing on fitness and fielding’
Sachin Tendulkar’s mere presence in the dressing room is enough to lift the morale of the players, feels India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Dhoni also urged the other players in the team to perform and take the pressure off the champion batsman.
“When Sachin is with the team, the morale of the players is very high. But it is not right to put pressure on him. All the players should perform and take the pressure off him,” said Dhoni.
The India skipper reiterated that the team would like to win the forthcoming World Cup for Tendulkar, who will, in all probability, be playing for the last time in cricket’s biggest event.
“Team India wants to give (this) World Cup to Sachin as a gift,” he said during the inauguration of the T20 Jharkhand Premier League (JPL) here today.
In a lighter vein, Dhoni said that he wants the 37-year-old Tendulkar to play in a few more World Cups.
“God willing, Sachin can play in another three or four World Cups. If it happens the whole team will be happy,” he said.
Asked about the team’s preparations for the mega event, he said, “the team is ready for the World Cup, focusing on fitness and fielding.”
Dhoni also recollected the historic moment when Tendulkar notched up his 50th Test century.
“It was a treat to watch him standing from the other end,” he said.
On Eden Gardens missing out on the India-England tie, he said he would miss the crowd and the atmosphere there.
Dhoni also urged the other players in the team to perform and take the pressure off the champion batsman.
“When Sachin is with the team, the morale of the players is very high. But it is not right to put pressure on him. All the players should perform and take the pressure off him,” said Dhoni.
The India skipper reiterated that the team would like to win the forthcoming World Cup for Tendulkar, who will, in all probability, be playing for the last time in cricket’s biggest event.
“Team India wants to give (this) World Cup to Sachin as a gift,” he said during the inauguration of the T20 Jharkhand Premier League (JPL) here today.
In a lighter vein, Dhoni said that he wants the 37-year-old Tendulkar to play in a few more World Cups.
“God willing, Sachin can play in another three or four World Cups. If it happens the whole team will be happy,” he said.
Asked about the team’s preparations for the mega event, he said, “the team is ready for the World Cup, focusing on fitness and fielding.”
Dhoni also recollected the historic moment when Tendulkar notched up his 50th Test century.
“It was a treat to watch him standing from the other end,” he said.
On Eden Gardens missing out on the India-England tie, he said he would miss the crowd and the atmosphere there.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
EA sports Cricket 07 patch
Yes it's true I have done it. Now you will be able to edit ashes with tournament editor and you can also make any series replacing ashes like Border Gavaskar trophy. Now you can also select your own any team like you can play as India and can make opposite team New Zealand.
Tournament Editor V3.0 Beta. Now you can edit
Long Ashes Tour to Australia
Long Ashes Tour to England
2007 Ashes Series
2005 Ashes Series
Editable Tours/Tournaments:
Knockout Cup
Long Australian Tour
Long English Tour
New Zealand/Zimbabwe Tour
Short Australian Tour
Short English Tour
South Africa Tour
Test Series
West Indies Tour
World Cup
Aussie Domestic ODI Tournament
Pura Cup
Things which are in Bold are new features in 3.0 version
Here is preview of India Selected as user team
Sorry but I was unable to chat with harry so I am releasing beta version but there are some bugs which I was unable to solve as I dont know anthing which Harry knows.
How to Fix bug- There is a bug when you select Long Ashes tour to Australia by default only 3 teams shows so you have to select any 7 teams to edit this tournament. After you edit it save it and load it again and now you can edit match.
Same problem is with Long Ashes tour to England. By default it shown only 3 teams so you have to select any 10 teams then save it and load it again and you can now edit matches.
If you find any other bug then please read post here. I will try to solve it
All credits goes to vicky47
Tournament Editor V3.0 Beta. Now you can edit
Long Ashes Tour to Australia
Long Ashes Tour to England
2007 Ashes Series
2005 Ashes Series
Editable Tours/Tournaments:
Knockout Cup
Long Australian Tour
Long English Tour
New Zealand/Zimbabwe Tour
Short Australian Tour
Short English Tour
South Africa Tour
Test Series
West Indies Tour
World Cup
Aussie Domestic ODI Tournament
Pura Cup
Things which are in Bold are new features in 3.0 version
Here is preview of India Selected as user team
Sorry but I was unable to chat with harry so I am releasing beta version but there are some bugs which I was unable to solve as I dont know anthing which Harry knows.
How to Fix bug- There is a bug when you select Long Ashes tour to Australia by default only 3 teams shows so you have to select any 7 teams to edit this tournament. After you edit it save it and load it again and now you can edit match.
Same problem is with Long Ashes tour to England. By default it shown only 3 teams so you have to select any 10 teams then save it and load it again and you can now edit matches.
If you find any other bug then please read post here. I will try to solve it
All credits goes to vicky47
Sri Lanka v West Indies
Tharanga powers SL to easy win
Upul Tharanga's ninth one-day century and his first against West Indies steered Sri Lanka to a convincing eight-wicket win and a 1-0 lead in the three-match one-day series.Tharanga paced his innings superbly, and batted out the entire length of the Sri Lanka innings, to remain unbeaten on 101 off 143 balls with the help of seven fours.
The tall, lean left-hander is expected to play the sheet anchor role during Sri Lanka's World Cup campaign and bat out the entire 50 overs. On Thursday, he showed what he is capable of doing, as Sri Lanka chased down a rain-revised total of 197 off 47 overs in just 42.3, after West Indies had been dismissed for 203.
Tharanga's innings was chanceless, and on a slow pitch which suited his style of batting he was never in trouble despite West Indies using as many as seven bowlers, who managed to prize out only two wickets between them.
Tillakaratne Dilshan left in the ninth over, attempting to cut a ball too close to his body and offering a catch behind the wicket. Captain Kumar Sangakkara managed 20 out of a second-wicket stand of 70 with Tharanga, before hitting a half volley from Dwayne Bravo to short extra cover.
Mahela Jayawardene and Tharanga made sure West Indies didn't make any further inroads into the batting by sharing an unbroken stand of 97. Jayawardene sealed the match with an inside-out drive to the boundary off Miller. He was unbeaten on 48 at the end of the match.
Sri Lanka came up with a disciplined bowling performance to restrict West Indies to 203. Given the persistent rain over the previous two days, the toss was vital and Sri Lanka had no hesitation in inviting West Indies to bat on the same surface on which the first match was played three days ago. Openers Chris Gayle and Adrian Barath, who made a century in the first ODI, negotiated some testing overs from Lasith Malinga and Nuwana Kulasekara to add 45 runs within the first 10 overs, before Kulasekara trapped Barath lbw, playing across the line to a ball that pitched on off stump.
Gayle, who had previously hit Kulasekara for a six and four in one over, then edged Muttiah Muralitharan to Thilan Samaraweera at second slip. Gayle came forward to a good length ball and was surprised by the bounce that Muralitharan got off the very first ball of his spell.
The fall of the openers on 45 slowed West Indies' run-rate and Sangakkara took advantage of it by getting a few overs from part-time offspinner Dilshan in. West Indies looked to be getting their innings back on track as Darren Bravo and Ramnaresh Sarwan added 49 runs off 96 balls. The stand ended when Sarwan, who was backing up too far at the non-striker's end, was run out after a hard drive by Darren Bravo hit the stumps off bowler Rangana Herath's hand.
Darren was joined by his half-brother Dwayne Bravo and the duo put on 38 before Malinga, returning for his second spell, trapped Darren Bravo lbw with a reverse-swinging delivery. Another reverse-swinging delivery from Malinga soon accounted for the dangerous Kieron Pollard, who played down the wrong line, and had his off stump pegged back.
Dwayne Bravo and Carlton Baugh added a further 37 runs to take West Indies to 175 for 5 before Herath, who had bowled a tight line and length, was finally rewarded with the wicket of Dwayne Bravo. The remaining West Indies batsmen failed to offer much resistance as the last four wickets fell for just 16 runs.
It was an all-round bowling effort from the Sri Lankans, with Malinga the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 30. Sri Lanka's fielders backed their bowlers with some excellent ground fielding and missed just one catch when Angelo Mathews dropped Baugh at long leg.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
New Zealand v Pakistan
Misbah-ul-Haq masterminds narrow win
Pakistan continued to show they are masters of making mountains out of molehills, but Misbah-ul-Haq's supremely paced innings and Sohail Tanvir's nerveless hitting took them to a tense win in Napier that puts them 2-1 up. New Zealand had earlier showed the benefits of stacking their side with allrounders as they recovered from an all-too-familiar top-order collapse to post a respectable total but it didn't prove enough.
On a pancake-flat track and with McLean Park's short boundaries and a quick outfield to assist them, Pakistan looked to be gliding towards victory when Misbah and Younis Khan played safety-first cricket to take them to 173 for 3 in 37 overs. With the batting Powerplay in hand, two set batsmen at the crease and a host of heavy-hitters to follow, New Zealand seemed down and out.
The first blip was the run-out of Younis who slipped when attempting to regain his ground after tipping the ball to point. The new batsman, Umar Akmal, meandered to 10 when the Powerplay was taken. As has been the case in recent matches, the Powerplay resulted in immediate wickets: Umar holed out to extra cover and Shahid Afridi was trapped in front. With Pakistan at 198 for 6, New Zealand were back in it.
The match swung again in the next over as Abdul Razzaq clubbed a mighty six, and Misbah calmly picked off two effortless, wristy boundaries as Tim Southee went for 17. New Zealand clawed back again when Hamish Bennett had Razzaq skying a catch to Vettori in the 47th over.
Twenty-four needed off the final three overs - enough time for more twists. Misbah, yet again, seemed to have sealed it when he slammed Scott Styris beyond midwicket off the first ball of the 48th, and then followed it up with a punch past mid-on for four. No. 10 Wahab Riaz then decided to go for glory instead of turning over the strike to Misbah, and his swipe ballooned to the keeper.
Only two wickets remained, and there was a genuine threat of Pakistan being bowled out. Tanvir then showed that though his bowling isn't at the level it was before his back injury, his hitting retains the ferocity of old. He forehanded three fours in the penultimate over from Southee to sew up the victory with six balls remaining.
Tanvir may have applied the finishing touches but it was Misbah who had done the grunt work earlier on. When Pakistan were wobbling at 84 for 3, Misbah and Younis stroked the ball into the gaps for singles to keep the required rate in check. Their 89-run partnership had put Pakistan in charge, before the slew of wickets led to an exciting denouement.
It was Misbah's finest one-day effort, and his first significant contribution in the format in a long time. With 18 days to go for the World Cup, Pakistan are still without a captain, and this series hasn't made the decision easier for the selectors. Afridi was panned after the heavy defeat in the first match, then praised after his electric half-century in the Christchurch victory, and Misbah has now pushed his case with this match-winning innings.
New Zealand continue to desperately seek someone who can provide Misbah-like calmness to their famously fragile top order. Today, their stuttering batting unit squandered another chance to hit form on a placid track, with shot-selection that will leave John Wright fuming. Martin Guptill flicked to midwicket after impressing early on, Jamie How pulled imperiously but straight to deep square leg, Ross Taylor's expansive drive ended in first slip's hands, and Kane Williamson chipped the ball to long-on.
The home side had tumbled to 79 for 5 before Brendon McCullum jumpstarted the innings with a typically energetic cameo. James Franklin then led the rescue with his third half-century in four innings; after a watchful start, he cut loose in the Powerplay reeling off four boundaries in two overs. Afridi handcuffed him with a legstump line in the 44th over and had him holing out to deep fine leg.
The batting recovery was completed by Nathan McCullum, who blasted his way to his maiden one-day half-century. The highlights of his innings were a couple of high-risk paddles for four against the quicks and a murderous carve over cover for six in the penultimate over.
Franklin and the McCullum brothers helped New Zealand put on 170 in the second half of the innings despite the top-order collapse, but even that proved insufficient as Misbah continued his prolific tour.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Injured Ryder left out, New Zealand bat
On a postcard-perfect day in Napier, Daniel Vettori won the toss and expectedly chose to bat on a belter of a track. The teams are level after three matches, and a big batting performance will be necessary in McLean Park to take the series lead.
Surprisingly, New Zealand picked more specialist spinners in their side than Pakistan - Vettori returned after being rested for the third game and Nathan McCullum came in for Luke Woodcock. Jesse Ryder remained on the sidelines due to an injured finger, while Jacob Oram and Kyle Mills were left out. Allrounder James Franklin also got a game.
Pakistan went in with the same XI that won in Christchurch, which means they still have a pace-heavy attack. Their slow bowling will be handled by Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez.
Pakistan: 1 Ahmed Shehzad, 2 Mohammad Hafeez, 3 Younis Khan, 4 Misbah-ul-Haq, 5 Umar Akmal, 6 Kamran Akmal (wk), 7 Shahid Afridi (capt), 8 Abdul Razzaq, 9 Sohail Tanvir, 10 Umar Gul, 11 Wahab Riaz
New Zealand: 1 Jamie How, 2 Martin Guptill, 3 Ross Taylor, 4 Scott Styris, 5 Kane Williamson, 6 James Franklin, 7 Brendon McCullum (wk), 8 Daniel Vettori (capt), 9 Nathan McCullum, 10 Tim Southee, 11 Hamish Bennett
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Sachin Tendulkar strikes Rs 40 cr, two villas in new endorsement deals
It must be the greatest start Sachin Tendulkar ever had: earning Rs 1.5 crore a day! In the first 27 days of 2011, the Little Master has won Rs 40 crore and two villas in new endorsement deals. If only he could match the strike rate on the pitch during this World Cup!
Indian cricket's little big man has signed deals with Pune-based real estate company Amit Enterprises for Rs 9 crore and apparel maker S Kumars Nationwide (SKNL) for Rs 12-13 crore, within days of Coca-Cola announcing a Rs 20-crore, three-year contract with the top batsman.
Tendulkar's deal with the Rs 250-crore developer includes two villas, priced at Rs 2.5 crore each, in Amit Enterprises' upscale housing project.
"We have taken Sachin as our brand ambassador because we are not known outside Pune, and his association with us should help when we start projects in Mumbai and Nashik," Amit Enterprises chairman and managing director Kishor Pate (Wani) said. The company plans to enter Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai, he added.
SKNL , which already has high-velocity brand ambassadors such as Shah Rukh Khan for Belmonte and Amitabh Bachchan for luxury suitings brand Reid and Taylor, believes Tendulkar can help its economy brand, World Player, break into the value segment for men and become a pan-Indian brand.
"The timing of the World Cup is purely coincidental to the endorsement," SKNL's apparel and retail director Ashesh Amin said.
Tendulkar's association with the brand will extend to incorporating his personal tastes with respect to colours as well as the look & feel of the brand. "Tendulkar is a go-getter. His dedication and attitude fits into World Player's brand values," Amin said.
Last week, Coca Cola signed Tendulkar as its 'happiness ambassador', laying the pitch for a Tendulkar-M S Dhoni face-off in the cola battlefield this season. "Sachin Tendulkar will play his part in the company's various strategic communication initiatives including its corporate, CSR and brand campaigns," Coca-Cola said in a statement.
PepsiCo has already released a high-visibility campaign featuring the Indian cricket captain Dhoni. Sachin had endorsed PepsiCo for close to a decade before being dropped two years ago as they felt he did not fit their 'youngistaan' campaign theme.
Tendulkar endorses 17 brands, including Adidas , luxury Swiss watch maker Audemars Piguet, Canon, ITC, Aviva Life Insurance , RBS and appliances major Toshiba. He charges about $1 million per year per deal. His endorsements are managed by sports management firm World Sport Group .
Other cricketers like Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli are also learnt to be on a signing spree, and are on the verge of signing two-three deals each. Details of the same were not available.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
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Saturday, January 29, 2011
ICC rejects plea for Eden Gardens extension
The ICC has rejected the BCCI's request to reconsider moving the Group B match between India and England from Kolkata. The match, scheduled to be held at the Eden Gardens on February 27, will now be played at an alternate venue, which the Indian board needs to finalise by January 31.
On Thursday, the ICC, after many deliberations, ruled out Kolkata as a host venue after its inspection team deemed the stadium unfit and expressed strong concerns about various facilities in the ground being ready in time for the game. Following the decision, the Cricket Association of Bengal president, Jagmohan Dalmiya, sent a plea to the ICC through the BCCI asking for a ten-day extension to finish the remaining work. Dalmiya received support from Shashank Manohar, the BCCI president, who sent in a separate "forwarding letter" to ICC chief executive, Haroon Lorgat, echoing the CAB's request.
However, Lorgat said the ICC could not be swayed at the last minute and conveyed his message to Manohar in an email late Friday night. "I told him the ICC could not accommodate the request," Lorgat told ESPNcricinfo. "There was too much of planning and too much of logistics that would be involved,"
It is understood that the ICC refused to climb down from its original stance because, having spoken to its stadium and ground-preparation experts again, the consensus remained that there was no guarantee Eden Gardens would be ready for the February 27 game. The feeling at the ICC was that Dalmiya, having found himself in a tight corner, was acting out of desperation. They believed things could not be sorted out in ten days, especially since Dalmiya had conceded to the ICC's inspection team on their January 25 visit that a further 20 days would be needed to get the ground ready.
The status of the other three group matches scheduled to be hosted by Kolkata - Ireland v Holland, South Africa v Ireland and Zimbabwe v Kenya - remains unclear at the moment. The ICC has clarified that there will be no further inspections of the venue. It is for the BCCI and CAB to let them know if Kolkata can host those three matches.
"The big commercial game was India v England. The other matches involve Associates, which cannot be big money spinners. It is now for the CAB to take a call and if they want to save the face, they could get the ground ready for the other three matches," an official close to the negotiations said.
Manohar, who had said on Friday that the ball was in the ICC's court regarding the decision, told DNA that the ICC was well within its rights to refuse the plea for reconsideration. "This is an ICC tournament and it has every right to decide on this," he said. "We've tried our best for the CAB but the final word was always going to be the ICC's."
Tendulkar steals the show at awards ceremony
Sachin Tendulkar was the star attraction at the Castrol awards for cricketing excellence here on Friday night.
He was declared the Indian cricketer of the year, Test cricketer of the year and also felicitated for his remarkable feat of becoming the first batsman to score a double century in ODIs and score 50 Test centuries. He has, in fact, scored 51 Test centuries and 46 ODI centuries.
India captain M.S. Dhoni was declared the ODI cricketer of the year, Virender Sehwag batsman of the year and Harbhajan Singh, bowler of the year.
Rahul Dravid was felicitated in the special achievement category (highest number of catches in Tests), Yusuf Pathan (impact cricketer) and Jaydev Unadkat (junior cricketer of the year).
Mohinder Amarnath was given the Lifetime Achievement award.
“I feel extremely proud to be part of this team. To get there (to the No 1 spot) was not easy. We had to face a lot of challenges and stood together supporting each other. We had to work hard. Gary brought a remarkable change in the squad, Tendulkar said.
Sachin sweeps Castrol Awards
Without saying in as many words, Sachin Tendulkar reiterated his desire to win the World Cup on Friday. "I still want to achieve something and everyone knows that," he declared when asked about the motivation that drives him, having already claimed all batting records in the game. Tendulkar
was speaking after sweeping the Castrol Awards for Cricketing Excellence --- winning the Indian Cricketer of the Year Award and Test Cricketer of the Year Award, 2009.
The India World Cup team received a boost when stalwarts Mohinder Amarnath, hero of the 1983 triumph, and Sunil Gavaskar termed MS Dhoni's team the best ever to represent the country.
Tendulkar admitted it would be motivation for his teammates.
"It has been terrific being part of a team which Jimmy paaji and Mr Gavaskar rated as one of the best sides to play for India and it is a big compliment coming from them. The goal was to be No. 1 (Test team) and we are happy to achieve that," he said.
Tendulkar was happy to have proved the critics wrong as few gave India a chance against South Africa on their turf.
"When we got there (No.1) people thought it was just a matter of 30-40 days. After losing the first Test to South Africa in Nagpur (2010), we got to hear a lot that we will lose the No.1 spot but were standing here a year later and we are still No. 1. To get to No.1 is wonderful but to stay there for a year is just fantastic," said Tendulkar, who played a pivotal role in helping India square the Test series 1-1.
With his performance post-35, Tendulkar has proved that age is no bar for him. "I don't think it is about age, it is about what you bring in as a team member and what you contribute."
The new star on the cricket horizon, Yusuf Pathan said his strategy is to keep it simple: "If it's in my area, I hit it," said the big-hitting Baroda player, who won the Impact Player Award.
was speaking after sweeping the Castrol Awards for Cricketing Excellence --- winning the Indian Cricketer of the Year Award and Test Cricketer of the Year Award, 2009.
The India World Cup team received a boost when stalwarts Mohinder Amarnath, hero of the 1983 triumph, and Sunil Gavaskar termed MS Dhoni's team the best ever to represent the country.
Tendulkar admitted it would be motivation for his teammates.
"It has been terrific being part of a team which Jimmy paaji and Mr Gavaskar rated as one of the best sides to play for India and it is a big compliment coming from them. The goal was to be No. 1 (Test team) and we are happy to achieve that," he said.
Tendulkar was happy to have proved the critics wrong as few gave India a chance against South Africa on their turf.
"When we got there (No.1) people thought it was just a matter of 30-40 days. After losing the first Test to South Africa in Nagpur (2010), we got to hear a lot that we will lose the No.1 spot but were standing here a year later and we are still No. 1. To get to No.1 is wonderful but to stay there for a year is just fantastic," said Tendulkar, who played a pivotal role in helping India square the Test series 1-1.
With his performance post-35, Tendulkar has proved that age is no bar for him. "I don't think it is about age, it is about what you bring in as a team member and what you contribute."
The new star on the cricket horizon, Yusuf Pathan said his strategy is to keep it simple: "If it's in my area, I hit it," said the big-hitting Baroda player, who won the Impact Player Award.
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