Two Chances Gone

A hard blog to post, this time, to report that Sachin has again missed his chance at achieving what must be one of his greatest wishes, to celebrate a 100th century at Lords.

In the second innings of this Test match, with India's prospects poor, we were all hoping he could attain the near impossible - all of us: Indians, Australians, South Africans, even Swedes and Chinese - but not the Brits.


Immediately after lunch Tendulkar and Raina come out to massive applause from a standing crowd. During the morning session the noise from the crowd was near deafening after every ball, but in the later session it was all about quiet and expectancy.

Commenting on London’s sunny weather for the match, Cricinfo's Nitin quipped: "Rain gods aren't going to help India. Raina and God might."

But they didn't - and Sachin played too defensively, causing inner tensions, surely.

Facing balls from Tremlett at 132.8 kph – working hard, never harder - with Raina facing similar treatment from Broad at 138.7kph! Swann comes on and ups the ante as far as he’s able, at a reasonable 87.2 kph! He’s pleading for a drive – but Tendulkar focuses on defence.

Cricinfo is definitely a globalising social force when it comes to keeping up with Sachin's play. The text commentary seems to offer a 21st century equivalent of tuning in the crystal/wireless set for radio announcers’ commentaries back in the day. I understand that was more comfy though, perched forward to hear the thud of bat on ball, then relaxing back into a lounge chair before an open fire, with a beer to hand, or a toddy. Or was it just a cup of cocoa?

But now we can also watch on the internet - and we do!
http://crictime.com/server6.htm'

Then suddenly it's all over. Tendulkar's gone to Anderson's skill. Our Sachin walks off the field, head bowed at one point, shy of the honour of a standing ovation shown by admiring spectators who forgive him this lapse.

Only a miracle might one day allow Sachin a third Lords innings ... and it might be some years coming.

Close friend Harsha Bhogle explains that Tendulkar sometimes ‘lapses into defence ... He tells himself I’m going to be here for 12 hrs ... but better to ask questions of the players.’ Harsha's upset for him, clearly, but it's too late, and futile, to chastise.

One keen internet fan tells cricinfo:‘Doing my PHD here in Australia. Have to do some tutoring tomorrow. Am trying to prepare for that. However, can't simply - this Cricinfo commentary is just too addictive. What will I teach my students then?" 'The value of a solid forward defence perhaps?' is the suggestion.

Finally, a defensive focus is of little value without the fire of attacking play.

Tut, tut. Australian university tutors are not so irresponsible about their duties, surely? At least this fellow will now be able to get down to his teaching prep work.

A very sad day for Sachin, for India - and for those who love attacking play, SRT's in particular.

Yet we look forward to the adage, 'he lives to play another day.'

Check out earlier blogs edited into an exclusive ebook at:
Searching for Sachin.

Credit photo cricinfo.

Sachin's Achilles Heel

Oh dear, Not again. The nervous thirties, not the nineties.
Sachin is out for 34, caught Swann off Broad's bowling in the third day's play at Lords. He managed six 4s off 58 balls.
That elusive 100th century on that elusive ground, the hallowed home of cricket.
Sachin played confidently until he hit a bad patch in the 30s. And of course we know why - he's never done better than 37 runs at Lords.
After one particular no run today, a short ball down the leg side, Prior collected and appealed. Sunil Gavaskar observed that it was a sign of how desperate the English bowlers were for Sachin's wicket.
Well, they got it. There were plenty of no runs - yet he was also able at times to shine with some of his usual brilliance, such as when directing a slightly wide of off-stump and slightly short ball through to a successful cover point.
He seemed to have it - the footwork, the strength, the grace, the vision. But the thirty-something doldrums - like being a ship at sea that makes no progress - must have rattled him.
Never mind Sachin. There's always next time. And we'll be watching.

Check out earlier blogs edited into an exclusive ebook at:
Searching for Sachin.


Photo credit cricinfo.

Sad Birthday for Sachin

It's reported that Sachin Tendulkar spent a quiet day mostly indoors, rather than publicly celebrate his 38th birthday, out of respect for the guru Sathya Sai Baba who died at the age of 85 yesterday.

Yet the Mumbai Indians captain went to work as usual, in a match against Deccan Chargers in the Indian Premier League at Rajiv Gandhi cricket stadium, Hyderabad.

He is said to have remained inside his hotel room throughout the day to watch television coverage of mourners honouring the guru at the ashram in Puttaparthi.

Then in the evening he led his team to victory, but was not in top form, getting out for 28 runs.

Plans that had been underway to celebrate his birthday - the first since India's World Cup win - were cancelled by management of the Mumbai Indians and officials of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA).

Sai Baba declared himself an “avatar,” in 1940 at the age of 14, claiming to be a reincarnation of another Hindu holy man, Sai Baba in Shirdi, who died in 1918. Shirdi is a town in western Maharashtra state.

The coincidence of the guru dying on Sachin's birthday will hold great significance for many devout followers of the guru, who was worshipped by millions of bhakti worshippers around the world. They disregarded controversy over allegations of fraudulence that tinged Sai Baba's proven reputation for charity and generosity in donating food, clean water and hospital & medical services to the poor.

Check out earlier blogs edited into an exclusive ebook at:
Searching for Sachin Tendulkar, plus an ebook of interviews with Sachin's friends and cricket notables.
www.searchingforsachin.net/

THE LITTLE MASTER A TRUE HERO

Yes, Sachin has done it. The first batsman ever to reach the extraordinary Test target of 50 centuries.
It’s a record he may hold long into the future - perhaps always considering the state of Test cricket - with his nearest competitor, Ricky Ponting, back at the 39 mark. The record century, comprising one 6 and twelve boundaries, was gained in front of a buoyant Centurion South African crowd. How would you feel being Dale Steyn bowling to such a colossus?
Take a look at this Ten Sports exclusive video.
Once again Sachin looked to the skies as he achieved the almost impossible – there was no doubt he believed his father’s soul was looking on. In fact he made the comment:
"The first thing obviously I thought of was my father because I wanted to do it for him. Yesterday was his birthday, and I would like to dedicate this to him."
Of his remarkable achievements this year – 7 test centuries - Sachin has commented:
"I am playing for the love of it."
Harish Krishnamachari, the senior vice president of World Sports Group, the marketing firm that handles Sachin Tendulkar, is negotiating a multi-million deal signed between Tendulkar and Coca Cola .
“It (the 50th Test ton) doesn’t make any difference to Brand Sachin. In the last couple of years, he has reached a level where there’s no comparison. Anything he does will not impact the brand. People will just choose to look at what he’s up to next,’’ he said.
And with talk of Sachin’s admirable refusal of a beer sponsorship, he’s a sure thing not to be tempted to ruin his concentration on extreme fitness.
..................................................................................
Alas, I wasn’t lucky enough to be present to witness Sachin's historic feat – quite the opposite in fact – due to a prior commitment in hospital. And it seems timely that I leave this blog unattended for a couple of months with my feet up during the Christmas-New Year break, as it will take that long to heal my recently-broken leg.
In 3 weeks my leggings have gone from this:















to this, after surgery by a specialist referred to as ‘The King of Ankles’ in Sydney. And I can’t even boast I suffered the ‘maisonneuve’ fracture on a cricket pitch.
No disrespect to The Great Tendulkar - but I won’t be posting again anytime soon – though I will nevertheless be up and running when Sachin’s glorious goal of 15,000 Test runs is achieved – a record certain to be knocked over during the upcoming World Cup year.
Instead check out earlier blogs edited into an exclusive ebook at:
Searching for Sachin.
All best wishes for success in 2011 to the most extraordinary cricketer in the world, Sachin Tendulkar ....

Copyright cvwilliams.

GALA FELICITATIONS

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Searching for Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin’s power to impress almost beyond belief has not yet deserted him. Will it ever? We can only watch in wonder at his latest triumph, a double century and some.

On the Bangalore ground today he stood like a great tree in a forest, a tree on which all the lesser plants rely for protection. Or perhaps a block of granite, a soaring a pillar of security in the centre of his countrymen’s attack on their opponents. Until Tendulkar was defeated, Australia could not advance. As soon as he fell, his team crumbled to dust.


Even the manner of his defeat was appropriate to the occasion. Despite his vigilance, finally Tendulkar was taken by surprise by callow fast bowler, Peter George capturing his first Test wicket, an exceptional gift George will glory in his whole life long.

What drives Sachin? The pursuit of excellence? A competitive nature that insists that the Commonwealth Games will not outshine his own and India’s favoured sport, cricket?

He’s a marvel. His score was accrued through diligence, patience and great attention to detail. His score of 214 runs comprised 92 singles and 11 twos. Even so, in 363 balls he also impressed with 22 boundaries and two amazing sixes. This his 6th double century was a scorcher!

Along with millions around the world, Ricky Ponting surely couldn’t help but feel moved to witness Sachin’s purple patch, so that now he can only call on his teammates, ‘Play up, play up and play the game’.

For, in the spirit of high competition and the example of Sachin as a model of excellence, tomorrow is another day ... another chance for all to excel, Australians especially.

Check out earlier blogs edited into an exclusive ebook at: http://www.searchingforsachin.net/


Copyright C V Williams.

SACHIN’S 49TH TON

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Sachin Tendulkar has scored his 49th Test century – reinforcing his standing as world batting record-holder.

Not long to wait for another Sachin century is what I wrote in this morning’s blog!

Howzatt!!! No, not out. He's very much in.

With batting partner Murali Vijay, Sachin’s doggedness took India to 224 by lunch today in reply to Australia's 478 in the second and final Test in Banglaore.

Sachin Tendulkar, also the record-holder with 46 one-day hundreds, reached his 49th Test ton with 15 boundaries and two sixes in the morning’s play.

Check out earlier blogs edited into an exclusive ebook at: http://www.searchingforsachin.net/


Copyright CVWilliams.

Waiting, waiting, waiting ....

Check out our other blogs edited into an exclusive ebook at: http://www.searchingforsachin.net/

Great work Sachin!
Nearly there ... 14,000 down and 1,000 to go.

Ever since I started 'Searching for Sachin', I’ve been waiting – for the magical number 15,000 to roll around.
That’s the number for the total Test runs Sunil Gavaskar told Sachin he expected from him, based on his talent many moons ago.
In the first Test in Mohali recently Sachin was edging toward a ton, sitting primed on 98, and smiling – he couldn’t help from smiling in anticipation, as everyone around him was grinning too – and then it happened – he got ahead of himself, lost concentration for a second, and BOOM ... he was out.
Oh dear – I was expecting to write a new blog about his magnificent play – but decided to WAIT until his next century, surely not too far away. Sachin will no doubt be chastising himself about that slip up, I thought, and he’ll be taking steps to correct this imperfection.
So - not another century in the last couple of weeks, but plenty else.
During this time Sachin has received high praise from many quarters.
First, Australian cricket writer, Peter Roebuck, showered him with plaudits (SMH Oct 8), putting the secret to his success down to staying focussed on the ball. Not a new idea – but certainly worth canvassing again, as Sachin’s powers of concentration are legendary.
Roebuck also pointed to a ‘more vital’ reason for his success, which again is not a new concept, but it’s worth remembering that it is an essential for the longevity of his winning approach – and that is that Sachin still loves cricket and he loves to bat.
And Roebuck has had many opportunities to witness this love affair with the ball over the years:
‘Tendulkar loves the game. Even after all these years, all these grounds, hotels, fielding drills and press conferences, it’s not an effort for him to play or practise. Cricket is his game and his way of life. He does not need anything else.’
Roebuck reckons the most underestimated thing about Sachin is his longevity, his constancy.
But others were similarly impressed, resulting in Sachin scoring the most sought after ‘The Sir Garfield Sobers Cricketer of the Year' ICC Award. Sachin totted up 1,000 Test runs this year, as well as becoming the first man to score a double hundred in ODI cricket.

Not only that, he remains our popular hero, also winning the ‘LG People's Choice Award.'
'Better late than never,’ was Sachin’s laconic response at the award ceremony, expanding slightly to praise the team, in particular V.V.S. Laxman and Ishant Sharma.
Now let’s not say, ‘Oh that’s great for a 37 year old’. In fact it’s great for a player of any age – and that’s how Sachin wants to be judged, not as a veteran player holding up well, looking towards retirement. He doesn’t look anywhere except where the next ball is coming from. It’s those around him who have been harping on about what might cause his retirement.
But Sachin’s not going anywhere, at least until he gets those magic 15,000 Test runs under his bat.
Yesterday he crossed the last thousandth increment before his interim goal of 14,000 Test runs, with a cut off the bowling of Australia’s Nathan Hauritz at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.
And this stage between 13,000 and 14,000 runs has involved the fewest number of innings of all the stages!
‘Better than ever,’ cricinfo declared, as crichotline hailed ‘India's all time great Sachin Tendulkar’ as ‘the only person to scale the 14000 peak’.
‘Sachin Tendulkar reaches 14,000 Test runs landmark,’ Britain’s The Guardian trumpeted.
‘Still sprightly,’ Sydney’s SMH Daniel Brettig was disrespectful enough to say – clearly too partisan about Australia’s position, mean-spirited and blind to the significance of Sachin’s achievement. [The error of this Australian chauvinism being corrected in part here, and with Roebuck's insightful praise, I would hope.]
And The Times of India acknowledged the enormity of the physical feat: ‘Tendulkar scales Mount 14,000 in Tests’.
I can only wait with bated breath for the World Cup and Sachin’s 15,000 goal to come. WORTH WAITING FOR ....
Check out earlier blogs edited into an exclusive ebook at: http://www.searchingforsachin.net/

Copyright cvwilliams.