CRICKET IS OUR RELIGION AND SACHIN TENDULKAR IS OUR GOD

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

SACHIN TENDULKAR SET TO KICK HISTORY INTO TOUCH

SACHIN TENDULKAR'S every move has been tracked ahead of today’s World Cup semi-final against Pakistan.

The fact he intends to use a new bat was a lead item on one television channel’s website. The fact he practised in the nets against left-arm short-pitched bowling led another.

He will go out to bat with the hopes of the country resting on his shoulders as he seeks to make his 100th international century in the biggest match of this World Cup so far.

And he will do so with the words of his captain, MS Dhoni, to “ignore the hype” swirling around this match drowned out by a billion voices.

A game that has been billed here as ‘The Supermatch’ – one which has already gone beyond sport into politics, and one in which Tendulkar’s possible walk into history is a fascinating and compelling subplot – is evidently not just another day at the office.

But for all the hoopla swirling around the semi-final, there is logic in Dhoni’s comments. The moment his players believe they are battling for more than a World Cup final place, so he suggested, it will not be subplots lost but the main one.

“We know the kind of hype India-Pakistan matches generate,” said Dhoni. “But we are not getting involved in all this. We need to know what we are expected to do and focus on that.

“All this is part of cricket and of course we have to accept it. But the key is not to get involved. We are playing the semi-final but we must prepare the same way we have for previous games.”

India have travelled nicely enough through this tournament for all that qualification from the group stages was not guaranteed until the last round of matches. Since then they have ended Australia’s proud World Cup record in the quarter-finals in Ahmedabad and gathered some momentum.

That will be tested against Pakistan in a contest being viewed as India’s batting, led by Tendulkar, versus Pakistan’s bowling.

Umar Gul, the man who many see as the key to unpicking the locks, insisted he is targeting the top three Indian batsmen – Virendar Sehwag, Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir. “Those first three are crucial for us,” he said. “I am looking for these three.” The second of those sees things differently, though. Tendulkar will have a maximum of two chances to pass his milestone at this World Cup. And no one would begrudge him if it came on the grand stage in Mumbai on Saturday.

His record of 99 international centuries in all forms of cricket for India stands head and shoulders above anyone else. Ricky Ponting, next in the list, has 69 to his name.

Tendulkar’s practice session yesterday morning was dissected forensically. The new bat (he was knocking it in with a wooden hammer) has been in more papers than the other semi-final. Pakistan had requested a 4ft by 2ft slab of black granite to be brought over to the nets at the PCA Stadium on Tuesday in order to try to replicate batting against a skidding, low ball.

Yesterday, Tendulkar placed the slab short of a length and had a local left-armer hammer in balls to rise at his head and shoulders as he practised rocking back and lifting upper cuts over an imaginary slip cordon.

He then moved forward to play some square on both sides and then forward again to round off his session punching balls through the offside.

The session was to see how he coped against the possible deployment of Wahab Riaz. The slab, should he get his 100 today, will be worth a fortune by the end of the night.

Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi has indicated that paceman Shoaib Akhtar remains a fitness doubt.

Akhtar, who has announced he will retire after the World Cup, has been widely tipped to spearhead Pakistan’s attack.

Akhtar, 35, has not featured since the group-stage loss to New Zealand.

The last time India played Pakistan in Mohali, in November 2007, the match produced a cracker.

Tendulkar top scored for India in a total of 321 but was caught behind off Gul for 99. Pakistan chased them down for the loss of six wickets with Younis Khan making 117. They did it with one ball to spare.

India will be happy enough if Tendulkar is upstaged again, but only as long as he has another chance to reach his milestone on Saturday in Mumbai.

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India v Pakistan: Sachin Tendulkar is the best batsman ever to play cricke

It may be sacrilegious to say this, especially to Australians, but Sachin Tendulkar is the best batsman who ever took guard.

His versatility, longevity and productivity are so far ahead of his closest rival in the game. Just as Don Bradman’s Test average of 99.94 was more than 50 per cent better than anyone else, so Tendulkar’s tally of 99 international hundreds is similarly out of reach of his nearest competitor, Ricky Ponting, who has 69.

When you factor in Tendulkar’s prowess in all countries and all conditions – averaging around 50 in every major country apart from Pakistan- and the burden of expectation of a billion people, he must be regarded as the best ever.

Bradman was extraordinary, but he only ever played in Australia and England. Bradman watched Tendulkar bat, famously saying that the way he fashioned runs reminded him of himself. There are similarities – the short stature, the stillness at the crease, the compactness, the control, the total insatiability.

It was often said that Bradman seemed inherently to know where the bowler would direct the next delivery, and Tendulkar appears to have the same gift. Often he seems to be in position to play a shot earlier than his peers. Perhaps that is just because his reflexes are sharper.

Tendulkar is blessed with exceptional balance and timing. He never seems hurried at the crease: a 90mph Brett Lee delivery was calmly upper-cut almost for six in the quarter-final in Ahmedabad. He glides smoothly into position, his bat and body perfectly aligned, the bat apparently an extension of his arms. He strokes, or occasionally punches the ball, rarely assaults it. With deft wrist work, he angles or flicks the ball into space. He dissects bowling attacks rather than destroying them.

Quite apart from his talent, the other thing that sets him apart is the way he plans an innings. Every innings. He is meticulous in his assessment of bowlers and conditions. He is not intent on intimidating a bowler, but on calculating his best shot options. You can practically see him computing bowler type, pitch state and field settings, processing the information and unveiling the appropriate shot.

He decided, for instance, in a Test match on a dry Sydney pitch in 2004 that one of his favourite shots, the cover drive, was a risky stroke against the Australian spinners. He made 241 not out, with not one cover drive.

It has been fascinating to watch the way he has manipulated the bowlers in this World Cup. In the England match after playing and missing twice to James Anderson, he left the balls close to off stump, moved fractionally across to the off and glanced the ball fine on the leg side whenever Anderson strayed straighter.

Seeing Graeme Swann warming up during the drinks break, he changed his bat for a chunkier version. Whenever Swann tossed one up outside off, he stepped out and swung the ball away over the short midwicket boundary with the spin. But when the flatter, skiddier Michael Yardy was bowling, he was back on his stumps and using the pace of the ball to deflect for four to fine leg.

Despite scoring a superlative century of his own, Andrew Strauss said it had been a privilege to be on the field during that Tendulkar innings.

His silky hundred against the South Africans was a masterclass of timing, poise and neat placement. Despite the bat speed and intent of Virender Sehwag producing a flurry of boundaries, Tendulkar outscored his partner in much of their 132-run opening partnership.

Assiduous in his practice and preparation, there is an inevitability about a Tendulkar hundred – although he has never made even a fifty at Lord’s and his one appearance in a World Cup final, in Johannesburg in 2003, ended in failure, when he was caught and bowled by Glenn McGrath for just four.

His innings seem preordained, and who would bet against him achieving his century of centuries in the biggest game of cricket on earth, Wednesday's unique semi-final against Pakistan in Mohali.

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Century will add to Sachin's greatness: Afridi

Shahid Afridi has denied reports that said he would not allow Sachin Tendulkar to get his 100th international ton in the World Cup semi final against Pakistan in Mohali on Wednesday.

"How can I stop anybody from scoring a century against any team? I am a big fan of Tendulkar," Afridi, who has a Tendulkar shirt framed and hanging in the dressing room in his Karachi home, told MiD DAY on Monday.

A section of the media had quoted Afridi as saying that his team would make sure the Indian maestro didn't get his landmark century during this World Cup.

"He (Tendulkar) will have to wait until after the World Cup to reach the landmark. We will try and make sure no batsman plays a long innings," the Pakistan skipper reportedly said. However, Afridi denied the comments attributed to him.

"I didn't give any such interview. I never said anything like that. As an opposing captain, I want to get Sachin out as soon as possible but it is not in my hands to stop him from scoring a century," he said.

"Tendulkar is a great player. If he scores a century it will add to his greatness," Afridi added.
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Prayers, plays, paintings for an Indian win at Mohali

Pujas for divine intervention, street plays depicting a 'Tsunami' to cause destruction and portrayal of the men in blue as Indian mythological icons vanquishing rivals today reflected the country's hope for a win in the epic India-Pakistan World Cup cricket semifinal.

The fervent desire to savour an Indian victory in the blockbuster match was a common thread, as the cricket frenzy on the eve of tomorrow's tense showdown in Mohali reached a crescendo.

Normal life appeared to be on the verge of coming to a halt with millions of people preparing to watch the epic day-night encounter on television sets--one of cricket's most intense rivalries.

Several firms have declared a half-day holiday, while others have set up giant screens in their offices to allow employees to watch the match in the office.

To strengthen their hopes with the power of prayers, cricket enthusiasts in Mysore offered puja and performed rituals at Anjaneya Swamy Temple.

A painter in Jabalpur has painted master blaster Sachin Tendulkar as Lord Krishna and explosive batsman Virender Sehwag as Arjun.

"We have portrayed sachin as Krishna and Sehwag as Arjun. The way those two fought Mahabharat will be how these two will win us the world cup," he said.

InMathura, organisers of a puja ritual said 51Kg of milk, different variety of sandalwood paste, Kumkum and one mound of flowers were used to worship holy river Yamuna for the victory of Indian cricket team.

Such a ritual is common among contestants in this holy town fighting elections.

"We are sure that due to grace of Yamuna Ji India would win," said a senior member of a group calling itself Mathurastha Sarva Karma Panditya.

However, not everyone in India is hoping for a victory over Pakistan.

From Internet networking sites to social gatherings, a section of people in Kashmir valley openly acknowledge their support for the neighbouring country.

At the quarter-final stage, Pakistan's thrashing win over the West Indies was celebrated with fire crackers but India's win against Australia passed without a murmur.

In the Valley, the army has also set up a giant television screen in Taiyan, a village of 2,500.

Not wanting to miss the opportunity to watch the cricket encounter from the comfort of their homes, several people in the Information Technology(IT) industry have applied for leave forcing their bosses to work out staffing patterns in the 24x7 industry.

"Everything is lined up. I have got my set of friends. TV is ready, beer is ready, just got to chillout on a summer afternoon and watch the game. It is epic. It is India, Pakistan. It doesn't get bigger than that," one IT professional in Chennai said.

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