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Cricket World Hails Sachin

DUBAI — When India’s Sachin Tendulkar slammed the first-ever double century in One-day Internationals in Gwalior on Wednesday, it was not just another record. It was an apt reply to some of the cricket pundits, who doubted his ability to play the 50-over game at the age of 36.

They suggested that an ageing Tendulkar should concentrate more on Tests so that the Indian ODI squad could accommodate more youngsters before the World Cup next year.

The clamour for youth brigade intensified after the exit of former captains Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid from the ODI team. But every time there is criticism, Tendulkar preferred to let his bat do the talking. By setting the record on Wednesday, he once again showed that who is the real master blaster in ODIs.

Recently, he won the ESPNcricinfo award for best ODI batting for the last year, reiterating his credentials, if any was required, as the best ever ODI batsman. Tendulkar’s sterling 175 against Australia in Hyderabad last November was yet another indication that the Mumbai batsman was on the verge of scoring a double century. He did it in style, hammering 25 fours and three sixes in the 147-ball unbeaten knock against South Africa.

The players, fans and media acknowledged the opener’s wonderful feat and saluted him for serving the game in grand fashion. The Indian media was ecstatic in its celebration.

Glorious career

“The record has come late in Tendulkar’s career, a career in which India remained in the game far too often and for far too many stretches just by his very presence. For that reason, for the sense that Tendulkar now plays in a team that has to win without him, the record is timely,” Indian 
Express observed.

“After two decades of basking in the glory of his sporting pre-eminence on the world stage, India is now privileged to witness the second coming of the most complete and prolific batsman of this age,” said the Times of India.

‘200 Not Out’, headlined the Hindustan Times, adding “Tendulkar remains the flag bearer of the increasingly dwindling phenomenon of quantity matching quality.”

Former team-mate and legendary leg spinner Anil Kumble wrote in the same newspaper: “He’s shown and proved time and again that age is absolutely no criteria to judge a player, it’s what someone does on the field of play that matters.

“He’s been on some sort of golden run-getting spree, notching up the hundreds and more importantly, setting up wins and then winning matches for India.”

Another landmark

Kumble was also impressed by the way Tendulkar celebrated his landmark. “There was no running laps around the field, no aggressive gestures, nothing over-the-top. He did what he always does, raised both his arms, closed his eyes for a moment and quietly acknowledged that it had been done.”

Kumble also had a word of advice for the youth brigade. “If the youngsters in the team can take even 10 per cent of what he does, they’ll be better cricketers for it. It’s nice to see an Indian on top of the one-day performances, really nice.”

The spinner is also confident that Tendulkar would set a world record in Tests as well. “And at this point, the only thing left for Sachin really is Brian Lara’s mark. But I’m sure that 401* in Tests is not far around the corner. With Sachin, nothing really is impossible. Even now, at 37, his best is yet ahead.

Batting records

Sunil Gavaskar, the first batsman to score 10,000 Test runs, said: “There is a little boy in Tendulkar who wants to keep playing. That spirit keeps him going. It’s absolutely incredible how he keeps going. A lot of others with his record would have had called it enough. But I guess there is no word called enough in Tendulkar’s dictionary.”

Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad said: “I had (said) that one day he would go on to break all batting records and now you see him scoring runs and runs.”

Meanwhile, Australian middle-order batsman Michael Clarke was quoted as saying in the Sydney Morning Herald: “His record speaks for itself. I can’t say I’m surprised. He’s probably the greatest batsman I’ve ever seen play, live.”

Inspirational player

Pakistani hockey players, who are currently in India to participate in the Hockey World Cup, also praised Tendulkar’s acheivement.

“I saw the match since I had nothing to do after our practice session. We all clapped after he scored 200. Cricket has never seen a player like him and will never see,” Rehan Butt told The Daily Times.

“Even after playing for 20 years, his passion for the game is an inspiration for us,” drag-flicker Sohail Abbas, was quoted as saying.

Two-Tonner

‘Two-Tondulkar the genius’, was how the UK-based newspaper Mirror chose to describe the moment. Indian business daily Economic Times went for ‘Two-Tonner Tendulkar’.

“Tendulkar underlined his sensational class with a double century in Gwalior. To have reached such a landmark, with a single in the final over, only serves to underline his class and add to the legacy that already surrounds arguably the finest batsman to have played the game,” BBC 
Sports said.

Greatest batsman

Former England captain Nasser Hussain, meanwhile, is confident that Tendulkar is the greatest batsman the game has ever seen, better than even the iconic Don Bradman.

“I have never liked comparisons between great players, but after Wednesday’s incredible game it must be said — Sachin Tendulkar is the greatest batsman of all time,” Hussain wrote in his column for The Daily Mail.

“Better than Brian Lara and Ricky Ponting, the other two great players of my era. Better than Sir Viv Richards, Sunil Gavaskar and Allan Border. And I would even say better than Sir Don Bradman himself,” Hussain wrote.

“He has been playing international cricket for 20 years under the intense scrutiny being an Indian superstar brings, so it is remarkable he still loves holding a bat as much as ever.

“My admiration for him is total. To steal the nickname of a certain football coach who led Inter Milan against Chelsea on Wednesday, Sachin Tendulkar truly is The Special One,” Hussain said.

Cricket lovers also responded positively to a poll question on Guardian web site. “Is Sachin Tendulkar the best batsman ever?” Given his strength in all forms of the game, is it time we consider him the superior to Don Bradman, the paper asked. A majority of the voters said ‘Yes’.

After a remarkable achievement in ODIs, Sachin’s next focus would be on winning a World Cup and surpassing Brian Lara’s Test record of 400 runs.

pradeep@khaleejtimes.com