CRICKET IS OUR RELIGION AND SACHIN TENDULKAR IS OUR GOD

India vs Australia Adelaide ODI: Sachin Tendulkar may be rested

2012-02-11T20:41:00.000+03:00

Indian batting genius Sachuin Tendulkar might be rested against Australia in the fourt ODI of Commonwealth Bank triangular series here at Adelaide on Sunday.

As per the rotation policy of Team India to give more chances to Youngsters, it is Tendulkar’s turn to sit out in the crucial match against Australia. Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir have already rested in first two one-dayers against Australia and Sri Lanka respectively.

However, resting Tendulkar might cost heavily to Team India as he is the leading run getter against Australia in ODIs. He also made vital contribution in the last game against Sri Lanka, which India won by four wickets. Tendulkar made 48 runs in the game.

Tendulkar and Vorat Kohli are the only batsmen for India, who have some runs under their belt during this Australia series.

Despite of Team India’s rotation policy, management will not take risk of dropping a inform batsmen for off colour Sehwag and Gambhir. It is expected that Gambhir may miss Sunday’s game again.

After much needed victory against Sri Lanka, Dhoni & Co. will try to keep the momentum going. India must learn the fighting sprit from Sri Lanka’s game against Australia.

Australia is still unbeaten in this triangular series after defeating India in first ODI and clinching cliffhanger against Sri Lanka by 5 runs.

It will be a major relief for India that inform batsman Mike Hussey has been rested for Adelaide ODI. Mitchelle Marsh has replaced Hussey in the side.

Sachin Tendulkar going through a bad patch: Sunil Gavaskar

2012-02-11T20:21:00.000+03:00

It has been 11 months and 27 innings that the Sachin Tendulkar has gone without a century © Getty Images

Sachin Tendulkar’s 100th ton is fast becoming a millstone around his neck, but legend Sunil Gavaskar feels the Master Blaster is going through a bit of a bad patch.

It has been 11 months and 27 innings that the batting maestro has gone without a century.

Tendulkar came agonisingly close to reaching the landmark twice - 94 against West Indies in the Mumbai Test and 91 versus England in the Oval Test.

“I think he is just going through one of those periods,” Gavaskar was quoted saying by Sport 360°.

“If he was getting out for scores of one, two or three, then we could say bowlers were on top. But if you see every time he has got off to 30s, 40s, 70s and 80s. When that happens, you have to say that the player is going through a bit of a bad patch, because you are batting well but still you are not reaching the mark.”

Gavaskar felt the problem could have been sorted out had Tendulkar taken a shorter break.

“He should have played in the West Indies, but immediately after the Indian Premier League (IPL) he wanted to be with his family. Not playing the one-dayers was fine as then he would have got three weeks of rest, but he could have played the Test matches,” the legend said.

“What happens is that after the age of 35 and 36 you should not miss out on competitive cricket.

“I can tell from my experience that I did not really miss out for a long time as we did not have much cricket, though sometimes we used to have a big gap between April and September.

“If your mind is relaxed your body also relaxes. At the age of 35, 37 and 38, even if your mind comes back, the body’s elasticity to come back is not there. That is why it is important to keep playing, whether it is tennis, badminton or whatever sport. As you get older, the more you play, the more you are going to stay at the competitive level.”

Tendulkar’s lacklusture form along with opener Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman’s poor performance Down Under has raised questions about India’s Test future.

“I think the selectors have to be very clever,” feels Gavaskar, while dwelling on the remedial measures.

“They have got to mix and match so that the youngsters, they feel are going to take over, are also blooded in along with a couple of seniors. The experience of the seniors in the dressing room, during practice and their approach to preparation for the big game is something that the younger players can learn from.

“You can’t have all of them out of the team because then it becomes very difficult as there would be zero experience in the dressing room. It would be like learning from scratch. So it is important to have some experience, whether it is batting or bowling.”

Batsmen from sub-continent have been criticised for their vulnerability to pace but Gavaskar puts the record straight.

“Frankly, it takes lot more skill to play spin than pace. In pace there are just two movements either forward or back but for spin the skill levels are higher because you have to go down the pitch to get to the pitch of the ball to try and smother the spin, whether in offence or defence. Therefore a lot more footwork is needed to play spin while not so much footwork is needed to play pace.

“I have always believed to play spin requires lot more skill while to play pace, you may require a little more courage. At the end of the day, it is a game of skill. Good players are those who play spin bowling well.

Video: Making of Kolaveri Di version on Sachin

2012-02-04T15:25:00.001+03:00

Photos:Sachin Tendulkar's Rare memorable unseen images

2012-02-04T15:25:00.000+03:00

We can turn things around, says Raina

2012-02-04T14:49:00.000+03:00

Suresh Raina can be a game-changer in the shorter formats of cricket. He brings with him inventiveness and dynamism.

The left-hander believes the Indians would put up a good fight in the ODI triangular series beginning at the MCG here on Sunday. The side’s morale, he says, has been lifted by the victory in the second twenty20 international.

The side, Raina said, is a good blend of experience and youth. “We have seniors, such as Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan, and then we have the younger bunch. It’s a well balanced side. The bonding in the team has been good even during the defeats. We have been adhering to the process. We can turn things around.”

The fact that India fielded brilliantly in the twenty20 game here on Friday – it was the highlight of the side’s victory – pleased Raina immensely. He said, “Anticipation is the key. Only then you can dive to catch or stop balls. Fielding in the big ground here is a challenge in itself.”

Raina added, “We jelled as a unit on the field in the last game. Jadeja, Virat, Rohit and me were sharp in the cricle. To top it all, Gautam (Gambhir) came up with a terrific catch in the outfield. We now have new rules in ODI cricket but, importantly, have men who can run swiftly between wickets as well.”

He acknowledged the work put in by fielding coach Trevor Penny. “He makes us work for nearly an hour every day and this has improved our technique and the manner we take on every ball on the field.”

Raina also revealed he had been practicing his technique against the lifting deliveries from the quicks. “I honed my skill with Praveen Amre in Mumbai before coming over here. I worked on my wrist position to tackle the short ball. It's coming on nicely, I'm looking to keep the ball down while executing the pull stroke.”

He elaborated on the topic. ““I have been working on playing the short stuff . Once I was out to a short ball in England and the talk started. I did well in England, New Zealand and in the West Indies. I have improved over the years. There are not many wickets in India which prepare you well. But I have batted on cemented wickets with a wet ball to improve my technique. Seniors, such as Sachin (Tendulkar), have been forthcoming with their inputs. Hopefully, it (the improvement) would show in the tri-series.”

Raina dwelt on Tendulkar’s inspirational qualities and his role in India’s ODI tri-series triumph here in 2007 where the maestro notched up a defining century in the first final in Sydney.

On skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Raina said, “He is always ready for a challenge. There is a lot of intensity in his cricket.”

Dhanush makes Kolaveri Di version on Sachin

2012-02-04T14:45:00.003+03:00

Kolaveri Di'-fame Tamil actor-singer, Dhanush, has now come up with another version of the song which salutes cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar.

It's a music video for an energy drink.

"I have always been a cricket fanatic and a Sachin fan. I have always looked up to him for his dedication to the game and it is amazing to see how it has kept him going," Dhanush said in a statement.

The video, shot at various locations in Hyderabad, is expected to go on air soon.

Sachin Tendulkar: Weight of a milestone

2012-01-17T10:11:00.000+03:00

Perth In early 2008, Sachin Tendulkar won India a triangular ODI series in Australia, scoring 117 not out and 91 in the two finals. The series had begun with transition talk, with the selectors dropping Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly.

Four years later, not far short of his 39th birthday, Tendulkar will take part in another triangular ODI series in Australia. When it begins, a week after the Adelaide Test, another transition may well have been set in motion. One or two of Tendulkar’s old pals may have announced their Test retirements.

Tendulkar last played an ODI on April 2 at the Wankhede. That match brought glorious culmination to the process sparked off by the 2008 tri-series victory. Tendulkar had been a vital cog in that process. With a World Cup finally in his kitbag, there was little left for him to achieve in the 50-over format.

The last time Tendulkar made himself available for an ODI assignment was in England last year. A toe injury ruled him out then. India had been whitewashed 4-0 in the Test series, and Tendulkar hadn’t scored a century. One Test still remains in the current series, but the circumstances are otherwise similar. India have lost all the Tests, and Tendulkar hasn’t made a hundred. The same hundred he didn’t make in England. The hundredth hundred.

Plenty of speculation

It’s hard to say what effect it’s had on the team. It’s not stopped the media, particularly the Australian one, from speculating endlessly, and asking the question to whoever turns up for a press conference, never mind if he’s already made a statement about it.

It’s hard to say what effect it’s had on Tendulkar’s game. In terms of form, that indefinable word, he’s never looked better. But the sequence of century-less Test innings has now reached 20. It’s the longest of his career.

The last time he went anywhere near as long was for 17 innings between December 2005 and May 2007. It was a different sort of drought then, since his form was distinctly worrying, with only two half-centuries in that period. While that puts some sort of perspective on his current situation, it can’t be denied that a Tendulkar century, at any point during this series, might have swung a session or two in India’s favour.

Consider the timing of his dismissals in his first three innings of the series. In the first innings at the MCG, Tendulkar was on 73, and had put on 117 with Dravid to take India to 214/2. Australia, batting first, had made 333. Three balls remained of Day Two. In the second MCG innings and the first at Sydney, India had sunk to dire situations. But he had crossed 30 both times, and MS Dhoni was 22 yards away. Post-Tendulkar, India folded without resistance.

In both Tests, Australia were willing to let Tendulkar drive, and he was ready to take the challenge on. The contest produced scintillating strokes but also, on each of those occasions, his eventual dismissal. Like most batsmen, Tendulkar was bound to have one failure in a long series like this. That happened at Perth. And so, after three Tests where he’s been in great form, he averages 41.50.

In a sense, Tendulkar on this tour has been the equivalent of Dravid on the England tour. His technique has thrived in conditions in which the majority of the lineup has appeared close to clueless. But Dravid made centuries. Tendulkar hasn’t, even if he might have wanted one a hell of a lot more — subconsciously, at any rate. In Tendulkar’s case, wanting that hundredth hundred, or just being affected by it, could have manifested itself in a million different ways.

Before Tendulkar approached the milestone, nobody even thought it made any kind of sense to add centuries from two vastly different formats. But now that the milestone has been deemed significant, it is. And once it assumed such proportions, no one could have remained impervious to the frenzy surrounding it.

Curtsey: ExpressIndia

Sachin back for ODIs

2012-01-17T10:08:00.001+03:00

Sachin Tendulkar is back to play ODIs after 10 months, so is Zaheer Khan, but no one seems bothered.

As chairman Krishnamachari Srikkanth stepped out of the national selection committee meeting on a lovely Pongal evening, he was bombarded with bitter queries over India's abject failure Down Under.

"Sitting in Chennai, it is difficult for me to pinpoint a particular reason behind the failure...The next (Test) series is in September. If Laxman decides to retire, I cannot say anything," a flustered Chika was clearly not his composed self.

He, of course, agreed that the batting has been a complete failure.

"We are totally devastated... Definitely our batting has failed consistently throughout the series," the chairman said, adding that he can take the blame on himself for the mauling, even though "it's a collective failure with six players with 8000-10,000 runs failing on a consistent basis".

And that meant that if he had harboured any hopes of trying any new combinations in the tri-series in Australia starting from Feb 5, it went out of the window.

Zaheer and Sachin - the bowling a batting pillars respectively - will have to shoulder the responsibility of ensuring that the team comes back in March after the tri-series with some pride intact.

With a string of ODIs at home after this, will this be the duo's last in limited-overs competition? The query was left unanswered for now, but something may come out in the course of the next one month.

The squad that was selected for the tri-series was on predictable lines, the only surprise was the inclusion of a 17th member in an ODI squad.

It was quite evident that the panel was in no mood to take any chances as they included three spinners (R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Rahul Sharma) for a series in Australia.

With Irfan Pathan, too, in, India will have the luxury of two bowling all-rounders (Jadeja being the first), and it's to be seen whether the under-pressure MS Dhoni can accommodate five bowlers in the playing XI.

On the batting front, with Yuvraj Singh opting out, Manoj Tiwary was rewarded for his excellent show against West Indies on a difficult Chepauk pitch while the rest of the unit consists of the tried-and-tested ones like Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Dhoni.

The acid test for Dhoni's captaincy, though, starts from here. It's his success in ODIs that has still allowed him to retain the captain's armband, but indications are that if India don't do well in the tri-series, the axe may come down pretty soon.

But for now, the selectors gave him the team he wanted, even with an out-of-form Parthiv Patel getting the nod as the second stumper.

The squad: MS Dhoni (Captain), Virender Sehwag (Vice-Captain), Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Praveen Kumar, Vinay Kumar, Manoj Tiwary, Rahul Sharma, Parthiv Patel, Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan.

Curtsey: Times of India

An Appeal to Indian Cricket Fans.

2012-01-11T12:41:00.000+03:00

Indian cricket team is not performing as good as their reputation since last few games. lost continually 6 games.Every one has started to criticize team india,but i am appealing Indian fans to keep patience and support team india in this tough time.When team perfome well they don't need support they need it when passing through bed period.It is part and parcel of the game some time you lose and some time you win.we must accept it and start to support during bad period too.Anyone required support when things doesn't go their way.

So Please Be with our team and support in this time.

Hope Indian Team come back strongly in 3rd Test at Perth.Best of Luck Team India.We are with you in any situation.Try your level best.

Show some pride, McGill urges India

2012-01-11T10:49:00.000+03:00

Former Australia spinner Stuart MacGill is surprised by India's poor batting so far and has called on them to show some pride in the remaining Tests.

India trail the series 0-2 after losing heavily in both Melbourne and Sydney. Barring Sachin Tendulkar, the touring batsmen have struggled, something that has stunned MacGill.

"We have bowled very well but I am very disappointed that India collapse very quickly," MacGill told 'News Limited Newspapers'.

"I think whether it is the middle-order or tail, you need to have some pride," he added.

The third Test is to be held at the pace-friendly WACA track here and MacGill feels Australia should not hesitate in going in with four fast bowlers and leave out spinner Nathan Lyon if it serves the purpose.

"I am reluctant to speak badly of Nathan Lyon as I think he has a great temperament and future. However, if Nathan is in the side and isn't bowling much and the conditions don't suit him, I don't think you are doing him any favours by keeping him in," said MacGill.

"Nathan has been quite an important part of that Australian side but people get hung up about being dropped. I was left out of the Test team a number of times and I think what defines you is to be there when it does suit," recalled MacGill."

"I would have no hesitation picking four or five quicks for a Test and no spin bowler if that was the way to go. I think in the Test environment you pick the best bowlers you consider most likely to take you 20 wickets. If those bowlers are all seamers, you have to pick them," the former Aussie Test spinner added.

Sachin Tendulkar's cool demeanour is an example for Ishant Sharma & Virat Kohli to emulate

2012-01-11T10:48:00.000+03:00

from Sachin Tendulkar © Getty Images

Ishant Sharma (C) and Virat Kohli (L) should learn to handle critical situations from Sachin Tendulkar © Getty Images

By Nishad Pai Vaidya

If the tour of England exposed India’s shortcomings on the field of play, the ongoing tour of Australia threatens to break the morale, patience and spirit of the entire unit. Virat Kohli and Ishant Sharma’s obscene gestures at fans, the priorities of the team management to go-karting when the players should be spending time at the nets, rumours of a rift within the team are byproducts of the disappointments and frustrations on the field of play.

Four years ago, Australia and India were engaged in a bitter controversy that threatened to ruin the relations between the two nations. The Indian team then headed to Perth as victims of poor umpiring decisions and disgraceful on-field behavior by the home team. Fast forward to the present, we face a contrasting setup as some of the Indians are responsible for poor behavior that doesn’t speak well of the team. Kohli and Ishant’s gestures are shameful, to say the least. It’s unbecoming of ambassadors who represent a billion people on the international stage.

As men who have the power to influence young and impressionable minds, they have set very poor examples with their reactions. This is not the first time sportspersons have encountered cheap and provocative public behavior, but by reacting in the way Kohli and Ishant did, they are only worsening matters. Now, spectators all over the world will try to rile them up knowing that they could lose control of themselves. There is a price to pay for fame and the sooner they learn the better it is for them and the team. Both players are keys to India’s future and the team can ill-afford to have men with brittle temperament who stoop to the level of the louts masquerading as fans.

When a team is having a bad time on the field, fans may become agitated and the opposition supporters may try to get under the skins of the frustrated players. Handling such situations is critical to success and the two young men need to look no further than team-mate Sachin Tendulkar.

Tendulkar has been on the international circuit since the age of 16. He would have unarguably encountered similar situations many, many times in his two decade-plus career. However, never have we heard of him losing his cool. He has never reacted to what the unruly mob may have thrown at him. Leaving all the runs aside, it is his demeanor that has won the hearts of millions. The standing ovations are not for the records alone but also for his exemplary conduct. The same people who may have made fun of him during his younger days now stand up and salute his genius.

Rumours of Dhoni-Sehwag rift – yet again

If the hammering on the field and Virat and Ishant’s mannerisms weren’t enough, rumors of a rift within the team rocked the Indian ship further. An Australian newspaper claimed that Virender Sehwag is behind the cracks within the Indian team. It’s said that a few members of the Indian team backed Sehwag as captain, ahead of Dhoni, creating disharmony. In fact, it quotes Australian pacer Ryan Harris who says that the Indians were “fighting amongst themselves.”

This isn’t the first time that rumours of a Mahendra Singh Dhoni-Sehwag rift have come to the fore. Prior to the ICC World T20 2009, there was widespread speculation in the press that the two men had a confrontation. It led to the whole Indian team attending a press conference and showing off their bond of unity to deny such murmurs.

The other time such stories did the rounds was during the Bangladesh tour of 2010. Dhoni had missed the first Test against Bangladesh due to injury and Sehwag had captained in his place. Amit Mishra performed well in that game but when Dhoni returned for the next encounter, Mishra was inexplicably excluded for Pragyan Ojha. Reports suggested that Dhoni and Sehwag had an argument regarding this choice. This too was denied.

Skeptics may say that there cannot be smoke without fire, though the team management will expectedly deny such incidents. The fact that these stories have done the rounds on more than an occasion strengthens their argument. If these alleged claims are true, one cannot expect the Indians to deliver and produce positive results. In such a case, feelings of ill-will and mistrust would brew to the detriment of their cause. Abraham Lincoln aptly said in one of his speeches, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

However, it may be another move played by the Australian media on the mind-games board. If there isn’t any factionalism within the team, the Aussies may be pulling yet another trick from their sleeve to disturb India’s progress (if one may use this word). It may be an attempt to revive a skeleton from India’s cupboard, if there is one that is.

The events in Australia clearly illustrate the fact that when things aren’t alright on the game front, most of the other aspects take a hit. It is a vicious cycle and the Indians have been engulfed by its force. The only way they can get out is by upping the ante and doing what is required. When they will start winning, no one will talk about infighting, nor will anyone care about a go-karting session and at last the forbidden fingers won’t spoil the party.

(Nishad Pai Vaidya, a 21-year-old law student, is a club and college-level cricketer. His teachers always complain, “He knows the stats and facts of cricket more than the subjects we teach him.")

Sachin Tendulkar's go-kart spins off the track just before the 100m mark!

2012-01-11T10:44:00.000+03:00

oment. And just after he had covered 94 meters, Sachin Tendulkar’s kart spun off the field, stunning the gathering into pin-drop silence – Photoshopped pix by Jyoti Desale

Spectators held their breath, aware that they were witnessing a historic moment. And just after he had covered 94 meters, Sachin Tendulkar’s kart spun off the field, stunning the gathering into pin-drop silence – Photoshopped pix by Jyoti Desale

After a torrid time in the first half of the ongoing India Australia Test series, Team India took a much-needed break from cricket and went go-karting to distract themselves from events on the field. The idea, suggested by captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and approved by coach Duncan Fletcher, seemed to be working really well to start with, as the boys were seen enjoying themselves and seemingly getting back into the groove – before disaster struck.

Virender Sehwag flew off the blocks, expertly steering his kart through the various turns and gaining several meters on the others within a couple of minutes. Trouble began when Sehwag spotted a pigeon flying right in the middle of the track a little in front of him. Determined to swat it away, the dashing opener chased it all along the straight stretch of road and drove his kart right off the track instead of making a turn at the end. Alas, it was the pigeon and not the Nawab of Najafgarh who got off to a flier, pouring cold water over the think-tank’s plans.

Almost a lap behind Sehwag, Rahul Dravid drove with poise and assurance, expertly maneuvering his vehicle and making turns with optimal velocity. He smartly swung out of the way of incoming vehicles, never taking his eyes off the steering wheel. The Indian team began to prepare for a lazy, much-needed, siesta, confident that Dravid would keep things tight.

“Looks like the Indians are in the driving seat here, but just get the feeling that this might go down to the wire, Chappelli,” said Ravi Shastri, even as Ian Chappell began to bite into his hat to preserve his sanity.

Suddenly, Dravid’s car encountered a fork in the track prompting him to drive down the wrong line and lose his steering wheel in the process.

Dravid’s exit paved way for Sachin Tendulkar. Almost everyone present around the track – kids of all ages, their parents and track officials – stood up to give a standing ovation as Tendulkar imperiously drove forward with exquisite timing, covering 80 meters within no time.

Suddenly, tension began to build up in the air. The raucous, carnival-like atmosphere, gave way to an eerie silence as Tendulkar proceeded gingerly towards the milestone, meter by meter.

Dhoni shooed away some pesky reporters, berating them for contributing to the pressure. Spectators held their breath, aware that they were witnessing a historic moment. And just after he had covered 94 meters, Tendulkar’s kart spun off the field, stunning the gathering into pin-drop silence.

The excitement in the field waned after Tendulkar’s exit, with those waiting for their turn growing increasingly restless. Things came to a boil when a couple of kids next in line to use the track asked Virat Kohli to ‘hurry up’. An enraged Kohli immediately showed the kids his middle finger, prompting officials to cut short the team’s go-karting exercise, much to the consternation of Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan and Ravichandran Ashwin who were patiently waiting for their turn.

A visibly disappointed Ashwin later told media persons that “there was nothing in the track for the bowlers.”

Coach Fletcher was just as despondent. “This is so annoying, man,” he groaned. “We came here to take our mind off cricket, and the boys end up repeating the stuff last week!”

(Reproduced with permission from http://www.theunrealtimes.com/. The UnReal Times is one of the top websites for satire, spoof, parody and humour in India)

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL THE READERS !!! MASTER BLASTER WITH MASTER ARJUN, ENJOY THIS PICTURE ON THE NEW YEAR OCASSION !!!

2012-01-02T12:15:00.002+03:00

Tendulkar greater than Bradman: Oz researcher

2011-12-23T08:00:00.000+03:00

An economics researcher claims to have found an answer to one of the biggest debates in international cricket by picking Indian icon Sachin Tendulkar as the greatest Test batsman ever over late Australian legend Sir Donald Bradman.

Who's greater?"Griffith University researcher Dr Nicholas Rohde has used economic theory to compare batsmen from different eras, and says India's Little Master, who will pad up against the Aussies at the MCG on Boxing Day, is history's premier willow wielder," reported The Australian.

The 38-year-old Tendulkar has a world-record 15,183 runs from 184 Tests at an average of 56.02 since making his debut in 1989. Bradman, on the other hand, played 52 Tests from 1928 to 1948, scoring 6996 runs at an astonishing average of 99.94. He died in 2001 aged 92.

Dr Rohde said a theoretical analysis puts Tendulkar above Bradman. "The rankings are designed to allow for meaningful comparisons of players with careers of different lengths," Dr Rohde said.

"It's an emotional issue and there will always be debate between followers of Test cricket about the relative career performances of various batsmen," he added. The rankings by the researcher have been created according to a player's career aggregate runs, minus the total number of runs that an average player of that era would accumulate over the same number of innings.

Allan Border (seven) and Steve Waugh (nine) are the other Australian batsmen in the top 10. Rahul Dravid (fourth) and Sunil Gavaskar (eighth) are the other Indians in the list. Dr Rohde's said it was possible that Tendulkar and Bradman could swap their places many times before the Indian retires as a dip in form would affect his standing.

Also see

Aishwarya Rai and Sachin Tendulkar Invited by Amitabh Bachchan for Polio Campaign

2011-12-16T13:35:00.001+03:00

Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai and cricket star Sachin Tendulkar are among those Amitabh Bachchan has invited to participate in his campaign against Polio in India. Rai is also Big B's daughter-in-law, who recently gave birth to his new baby granddaughter, Beti B.

A report from Pink Villa gives the news that Amitabh is quite pleased with how the number of cases has decreased. He reported on Twitter that since he took over as Polio UNICEF campaign's Ambassador, there are now zero cases in India. He goes on to say it was started in 2002 when there were "over 1,000 cases," yet today there is only one in West Bengal.

On Thursday, Amitabh Bachchan appeared in Mumbai for a special event to launch a new UNICEF campaign for polio. He let his Twitter followers know about the success of the campaign, as well as how the incurable disease can be prevented. Big B said on Twitter:

"May I also add here that polio is incurable, but it can be prevented provided the vaccine is taken in time... And yes, on some of the campaign videos I did invite Sachin (Tendulkar), Aishwarya, SRK (Shah Rukh Khan), and Jaya (Bachchan) to promote the cause... so thank you to all!!"

When it comes to major causes, it's always good to get major stars on board. Amitabh certainly has the respect of many in his country and elsewhere, so it shouldn't be tough to get the help of these individuals. Aishwarya Rai in particular is a close family member whom Amitabh seems to care for greatly. After all, she's married to his son, Abhishek. Now it will be up to other celebrities and individuals to get involved in the campaign to help decrease polio occurrences that much more. This is a great cause, so hopefully Amitabh gets the support he needs from others!

Sachin Tendulkar sparkles in India's tour opener

2011-12-16T13:32:00.001+03:00

SACHIN Tendulkar started what is likely to be his last tour of Australia with a typically classy 92 in India's drawn match against a Cricket Australia Chairman's XI in Canberra.

The two-day match ended today when rain intervened with the tourists 6-320 after 83.1 overs in reply to the home side's 6-398 on a very flat Manuka Oval pitch.

With the exception of opener Gautam Gambhir, who looked a little edgy in his knock of 35, India's available first-string batsmen looked in ominous touch ahead of the four-Test series against Australia.

Tendulkar was the star and, after going to lunch 13 not out, the 38-year-old unleashed in the second session in facing just 132 balls and smashing 15 boundaries.

The small but vocal crowd of around 2000 were disappointed when Tendulkar and VVS Laxman (57 not out) both retired at tea after combining for a 133-run stand.

However, they'd already seen Rahul Dravid - Tendulkar's only partner in the 13,000 club for Test runs - make 45 in a solid day for India's big three.

Dravid, who is India's captain for the first of two practice games against Chairman's selections, looked in good touch before he was out trying to clear the mid-off fieldsman off the bowling of leg-spinner Cameron Boyce (2-74).

Laxman, who has performed unbelievably well in Australia throughout his career, also looked in impressive nick. He took just 76 balls for his unbeaten stint at the crease and found the fence nine times.

Young opener Ajinkya Rahane (three), who is yet to make his Test debut, missed his opportunity and was out early to promising South Australian quick Jake Haberfield (1-54).

Rahane's partner Gautam Gambhir got himself set before hitting one to Chairman's XI captain Ryan Broad at short cover off the bowling of Victorian off-spinner Glenn Maxwell (1-84).

One-Test quick Peter George failed to make a breakthrough but was the most economical, going for just 38 runs from his 19 overs.

Middle-order batsman Virat Kholi was the only other to fail, out for one caught and bowled to Boyce, while Rohit Sharma (56no) and keeper Wriddhiman Saha (23no) were the unbeaten batsmen for India at the close of play.

Source : The Australian

Sachin Tendulkar, Dhyan Chand can now be given Bharat Ratna

2011-12-16T13:30:00.000+03:00

In a significant move clearing decks for Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar, legendary hockey player Dhyan Chand and others to get Bharat Ratna, the government has made a necessary change in eligibility criteria for a person getting the India's highest civilian honour.

The Bharat Ratna will now be awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order "in any field of human endeavour" - covering almost all the fields that had earlier remained out of the purview of this civilian award.

Earlier, it was restricted to areas like "Art, Literature, Science and Public Service", making it difficult for government to consider names of those, who contributed immensely to other fields, including sports.

"The change is made through notification by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on recommendation of the home and sports ministries," said a senior official.

Supporting sports ministry's demand to include 'sports' as a category for the award of Bharat Ratna, the home ministry had written to the PMO in July, asking it to take the call as the decision would help outstanding sportspersons to be considered for the highest civilian award.

As the clamour for awarding Bharat Ratna to Tendulkar and Dhyan Chand gets louder, sports minister Ajay Maken had earlier written to home minister P Chidambaram seeking inclusion of 'sports' as a category for the award of Bharat Ratna. Maken, however, did not plead for any specific sportsperson or sports.

Before the change which is made now, the Bharat Ratna was considered only for those, who excelled for "exceptional service towards advancement of Art, Literature and Science, and in recognition of public service of the highest order". The recommendations for the Bharat Ratna - that was instituted in 1954 - are made by Prime Minister himself to President.

Though names of persons as per the eligibility criteria can be recommended by different state\Union Territories governments, organizations and individuals to PMO for consideration, no "formal recommendation" for this is necessary. It is also not mandatory that Bharat Ratna is awarded every year. The number of awards is, however, restricted to a maximum of three in a year.

So far, 41 people have been conferred with Bharat Ratna. The first three Indians, who received the prestigious award, were Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, Chakravarti Rajagopalachari and Sarvapali Radhakrishnan in 1954. There is no written provision that Bharat Ratna should be awarded to Indian citizens only.

The award has been conferred to a naturalized Indian citizen Mother Teresa (1980) and to two non-Indians - Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Nelson Mandela (1990). Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was the last recipient of the award in 2009.

Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, Lata Mangeshkar, Ustad Bismillah Khan, Amartya Sen, Jayprakash Narayan, Pandit Ravi Shankar, M S Subbulakshmi, J R D Tata, A P J Abdul Kalam, Rajiv Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Morarji Desai and Bhimrao Ambedkar are among the other recipients of Bharat Ratna.

Source: Times of India

Sachin Tendulkar and Virendra Sehwag's common link

2011-12-10T12:57:00.001+03:00

What is common between the double hundreds scored by Sachin Tendulkar in Gwalior last year and Virender Sehwag here on Thursday?

While both the batsmen are Indians and the knocks have been scored in Madhya Pradesh, it also happens that both the innings have come on tracks prepared by the same man.

Curator of the Hoklar Stadium Samandar Singh Chauhan was a happy man on Thursday when Sehwag became the second man to score a double hundred in an ODI. He was also incharge of the wicket at the Roop Singh Stadium in Gwalior where Tendulkar breached the 200-run barrier.

Singh, who has been a curator for Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association for the last 17 years, said he enjoyed watching Sehwag score 219 against West Indies on a wicket prepared by him.

“Bada mazaa aagaya Sehwag ko dekhkar (It was fun watching Sehwag bat like this). I have always loved preparing batting tracks for the ODIs” he told DNA.

Singh said he had a feeling that Sehwag would be the person to repeat Tendulkar’s feat, but said he had no inkling that it would happen in his venue.

“I knew that Sehwag can do the unthinkable because of the way he bats and given his approach to the game. It is a proud feeling both the double hundreds have come on the pitches prepared by me,” added Singh.

Sachin Tendulkar has best chance for 100th ton in Australia: Gilchrist

2011-12-10T12:54:00.001+03:00

Australian cricketing legend Adam Gilchrist said that batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar has the best chance of scoring his 100th international century in the upcoming India-Australia series.

"Sachin has a very good chance of scoring his 100th ton in the series as he knows Australian conditions well. It is a matter of time he does that," he told reporters on Thursday.

"However, the Australian bowlers would be unhappy to give it away to the Indian master to get his 100th international ton," Gilchrist said.

Asked about calls for Ricky Ponting's retirement, Gilchrist said his last two innings were extremely encouraging and was playing with freedom and skill that the world knows about him.

"I am sure Ponting is feeling good about his game as he works hard on his batting. I think he is looking forward to India's tour to Australia," Gilchrist said.

On India's chances in Australia, Gilchrist said it would an exciting series and both teams were evenly matched.

"Whichever bowling attack dominates opponent batsmen will get gain advantage (of winning the series)," the legendary wicketkeeper-batsman said.

Gilchrist said Australia would miss its strike bowler Mitchell Johnson. "Definitely it is a loss for us as he has the ability to change the course of a Test match. But at times he is inconsistent," he added.

Gilchrist also said Pat Cummins has had an impressive debut against New Zealand, but how much his non-availability (against India) would be a cause of worry is difficult to say.

He also lavished praise on rookie Indian pacers Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav. "Varun and Umesh have impressed me in IPL. They have made a reasonable start to their international career," he said.

On Harbhajan Singh, who would be missed in Australia, Gilchrist said, "Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha have performed well to keep Singh out."

Tendulkar's lonely pitch

2011-12-10T12:53:00.001+03:00

AN MCG tour group stopped and listened to an informative briefing about the indoor cricket facilities without realising the small man having a private net session below was Sachin Tendulkar, and that was just how he wanted it.

The greatest batsman of his generation practised alone in the greatest cricket ground, away from the cameras (banned by Indian cricket board decree) and in quiet broken only by the crack of the ball on his bat.
Safe to say it will be the last time he will go unrecognised this summer.

The tour will not officially begin until next week when the full Indian squad and its entourage gathers in Canberra, but an advance party of seven, with champion batsmen Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and V. V. S. Laxman among them, touched down in Melbourne on Thursday night to get a head start. They vanished behind layers of security, into the team bus and to their hotel just in time to witness the outbreak of Sehwagology that took down one of Tendulkar's many world records.

But he has plenty more of those, and the celebration that followed Virender Sehwag's astonishing 219 in Indore, a delicious appetiser to the Border-Gavaskar series, will seem tame if Tendulkar scores his one-hundredth hundred on Boxing Day. Tendulkar seized the earliest start to his Australian preparation of all the Indian players in town, venturing to the MCG yesterday with two support staff while James Pattinson and Peter Siddle, his next opponents, scythed through New Zealand in Hobart.

The outdoor nets were under covers so he picked one of the indoor ones designed to replicate pace and bounce, and faced throw-downs for almost two hours.

You cannot get near the nets while the Indians are in town without special security clearance, but from behind a distant pillar he could be seen stretching forward with a straight bat to the fuller balls.

He was relaxed but serious, fetching his own balls at the end of a batch, and didn't flinch when one ball shot up and hit him on the side of the helmet.

No one except a couple of MCG caterers, who flipped out their camera phones, gave him a second glance. For a couple of quiet hours, Sachin Tendulkar was just a batsman batting.

All that will change 16 days from now when he begins his fifth Test series in Australia searching for his nation's first ever series win in these parts.

Already his presence has created a buzz. ''Tendulkar's in town,'' said the man on the No. 48 tram, and soon enough he will be the focus of the cricket world's gaze again.

'Sachin was cognizant of Yuvraj's tumour'

2011-11-28T10:58:00.001+03:00

Cricketer Yuvraj Singh had informed master blaster Sachin Tendulkar about his 'serious illness', said the ailing player's mother Shabnam Singh on Sunday.

According to Shabnam, on being informed about Yuvi's health, Sachin had told him, "Don't worry Yuvi, things will be all right."

She also said that only a few family members and friends of the cricket player had the knowledge about a tumour in his left lung.

Talking to Bhaskar team, Shabnam said her son shares things and seeks advices from Sachin on several matters. "When he informed Sachin about his tumour, both Sachin and his wife Anjali motivated him. They had asked Yuvraj not to panic saying "You don't have a serious disease. You will be fine after the treatment."

Shabnam also said that she felt nervous being a mother whenever she thought about the tumour, but everytime his son came and boosted her confidence.

Yuvraj has always been like a fighter. Recuperating from his illness, flamboyant Indian batsman said today that he is "absolutely fine" and would be returning to cricket very soon.

Lot of people are putting unnecessary pressure on Tendulkar: Kohli

2011-11-28T10:54:00.001+03:00

Middle-order batsman Virat Kohli on Friday said that star India batsman Sachin Tendulkar is being put under immense pressure of scoring his historic 100^th ton, but the Little Master can handle it successfully.

Kohli told reporters after the end of the fourth day’s play, “I think a lot of people have started putting unnecessary pressure [on him]. He has achieved so much. Like MS said, the milestone is going to happen; people are making such a fuss about it. I was still batting when he came back but he was pretty relaxed after that. It has happened to him a lot of times. Obviously he would be disappointed, but he is not one to be disappointed for too long and was pretty relaxed.”

Kohli said that it is a great pleasure to share the dressing room with the likes of Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid VVS Laxman and many more.

“It’s a privilege to be part of the same dressing room. I never thought I would even get to meet these people face to face; now I’m sharing the dressing room with them. It has been wonderful; you learn so many things from them, especially in practice sessions. And everyone has their own way of preparing before the match or on match days,” he said.

“In practice sessions you can learn a lot from them, the way they practice, their intensity, they will take a certain number of catches every day, they will hit a certain number of balls everyday. It is not something they are complacent about; it is more of a habit for them. That is what makes them great players,” Kohli added.

The right-handed Delhi batsman scored a fine 52, and was bit disappointed after missing out on maiden Test century.

“The way I was going, the way the situation was, I am not saying that I am guaranteeing I could get a hundred, but it was a perfect scenario for me to get a big score. I wanted to go with the turn, but did not get too much elevation; I middled the ball but it went it straight to the fielder. It was one of those days. Cricket is a game like that; if it had gone over the fielder, everyone would have been, ‘He went against the turn and got a six’. If it does not get executed, they say, ‘He could have waited’,” Kohli said.

Sachin's tips helped me improve my bowling: Ojha

2011-11-28T10:50:00.001+03:00

Fresh from a hugely successful Test series against the West Indies, India's new spin hero Pragyan Ojha today revealed that he gained heavily from the tips of Sachin Tendulkar who helped him out with some finer points. "Sachin always gives you that energy on the field. He advises me all

the finer points like how to deceive a batsman. How to deceive in flight... His tips have helped me in getting at least 10-15 Test wickets," Ojha who is considered as a Test specialist told PTI today.

"I remembered one sentence by Sachin Tendulkar who would tell me if you love the game, you don't need anything to motivate you. I always wanted to play and that kept me going," Ojha said. "It was a very important series and a great comeback for me. The important thing was I could contribute to the team's win and played a major role. I knew it would be a very important series for me in a crucial phase of my career," he said. Ojha along with senior statemate VVS Laxman will be playing for Hyderabad in a Plate League match starting from November 29 as he is not playing ODIs. "I did not play international cricket for about one year.

But I never had that negative feeling. I always stayed positive which resulted in this performance." He termed his county stint as something that changed him as a bowler. "Even when I was not with the team and played county in England, I would practice with the Indian team touring at that point of time. In fact, Anilbhai played a key role in me getting a chance to play for Surrey. They were looking for an Indian spinner and Alec Stewart had got in touch with Anilbhai who had recommended my name. I'm really thankful to him," he recalled how his association with Surrey started.

Tendulkar narrowly misses 100th international ton

2011-11-25T14:08:00.001+03:00

Sachin Tendulkar has fallen six runs short of becoming the first batsman to score 100 international centuries during the third and final Test against the West Indies.

Tendulkar, who resumed on 67 at his home ground of Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Friday, was dismissed for 94 when he slashed at a delivery from pace bowler Ravi Rampaul and was caught by Darren Sammy at second slip early on the fourth day.

Tendulkar strode confidently to the crease to start the morning and drove a boundary in the very first over off Rampaul with a stylish flick to the leg side.

The new ball, taken early in the morning, seemed to have no effect on Tendulkar as he straight drove Rampaul for a four and hit fellow paceman Fidel Edwards through the covers for his third four of the morning.

He then had the crowd up on its feet as he moved into the 90s with a slashed six to Edwards over third-man that took him from 87 to 93.

Tendulkar faced 20 deliveries in the morning session and smashed a total of eight fours and two sixes in a 153-ball knock. The 100th century has been tensely anticipated since he notched two 100s during this year's World Cup to reach a total of 99. He has scored 51 Test centuries and 48 in one-day internationals.

Tendulkar has another chance to score the landmark century in the five-match one day international series against the West Indies starting next week. If not, he will get the chance during the four test series against Australia starting in Melbourne on Boxing Day.

In contrast to the previous three days, when crowds were thin on the ground, supporters flocked to the Wankhede Stadium to see if the master batsman could achieve the unprecedented landmark.

As Tendulkar pushed on with confidence into the nineties with a string of stylish boundaries, late arrivals clutching tickets ran frantically towards the ground, desperate not to miss the occasion.

Others without tickets swarmed around the television cameras set up on the sweeping Marine Drive promenade, waving the saffron, white and green flag of India and listening to radio commentary on their mobile phones.

But as news emerged that Tendulkar had edged Ravi Rampaul to second slip, fans clutched their heads in disbelief. Instead of cheers there was only the sound of heavy rush-hour traffic.

"I didn't have a ticket but I came here on the off-chance of getting one," said Ramesh Chauhan, a 43-year-old civil servant from Mumbai. "I couldn't get one so I'm doubly disappointed."

Late-comers who had not heard news of Tendulkar's exit were still sprinting to make it to the venue on time. But they were stopped in their tracks by passers-by who shook their heads as they told them the news.

"I'm depressed actually," said Chinmay Kurve, a 24-year-old software industry worker, as he walked away from the stadium.

Mumbai had been in a state of expectation about the record, with Tendulkar one of the city's favourite sons as well as a sporting icon for millions of cricket fans across India.

The 38-year-old was born in the city and cut his cricketing teeth on Mumbai's packed public playing fields, before making his international debut at the precocious age of 16.

The downbeat mood outside the Wankhede Stadium was in sharp contrast to the jubilant scenes back in March, when India lifted the one-day international World Cup after beating South Asian rivals Sri Lanka.

Fans of Tendulkar were still confident he will achieve the feat either in the forthcoming one-day internationals against the West Indies or the next Test series in Australia.

"There's no doubt he can do it," said Chauhan.