.Harsh Thakor writes
Watching Sachin come out to bat come out to bat was like seeing a Prince arriving to greet his subjects or an emperoradressing a procession.Sachin was simply a re-incarnation of Sir Don Bradman in the present era.He posessed unlimited talent, sound temperament, brillinat reflexes and hand-eye co-ordination, amazing imaginatin and creative prowess and above all radiated unlimited joy to the game.
SAchin Tendulkar started his career at 15 years in Pakistan and from his first test displayed his graet prowess , tackling Imran Khan and Wasim Akram with great skill and maturity.He launched some exquisite drives.THe next year he scored his first century against England at Old Trafford, amatch-saving effort .He later webnt on to bat superbly on his firts tours of South Africa and Australia , overshadowing great batsman like Mohammad Azharrudin , Sidhu, Ravi Shastri or Shrikanth.On bouncy tracks he displayed his great innovaive abilities and technical prowess and one of his 2 centurise against Australai at Perth was an alll-time classic.John Woodcock, thougt it was the closest batting to Don Bradman.He mastered a bouncy wicket and brilliantly withstod the ferocity of the bowling.He continued his graet form against England in 1993 at home, including abrilinat b165 at Madras, domiunating the bowling brilliantly.He went on to excel I ahome series versus WEst INdise in 1994-5, in the 1996 World Cup and on the 1996 England tour.(Averaged 85 runs with 2 hundreds)On that tour he made abrillinat hundredat Edgbaston tregarded as an-all time epic.To the English ceowds it was almost like seeing are-incarnation of Bradman such was his perferction.After apoor home series he excelled on a tour of South Africa scoring aclassical 169 at Johannesburg.He mastered great bowles like Allan Donald, displaying exemplaray footwork and timing. In 1998 ia home series against Australai he tore apart Shane Warne’s bolwing like atiger tearing his prey with a brillinat 155 not out at Madras and made another hundred at Ca Bangalore.Later in Sharjah he gave perhaps the graetset exhibition of domination of bolwing since Don Bradman against Austrlia in 2 one day games.(Including the final)The way he came down the wicket to slaughter Glen Mcgrath and Shane Warne was more like seeing cattle slaughtered.He truly batted like an emperor in command and the opposition looked like a depleted batallion.THe good balls were despatched for 6. He continued to excel on tours of Australia in 2000 and South Africa where he scored abrilliant 158.He aws again consistent in England and at Headingley surpassed Bradman’s 29 centuries landmark.His brilliance continued in ahome series against Australia in 2001-2 However after 2002 Rahul Dravid began to overshadow Sachin as well asV.V.S Laxman to an Extent.Sachin batting became more restrained which could be attributed to an injury in his elbow.His consistency continued but not with the same rhythmic flow.However I the 2003 Woed Cup he paled whar was possibly one of the 5 garetset one day inings ever in the World Cup against Pakistan.He destroyed Akram and Waqar like abomber destroying an airbase but with the skill of asurgeon.Althoungh inconsistent inAustralai in 2004 he scored 241 not out in the final test at Sydney and in Pakistan scored 196 not out at RawlPindi. Sadly in the last 3 yaeys due to injury and absence his career has been onadecline.It is like seeing Muhammad Ali limping after a bout.His touch seemed to have returned in the one day games in Pakistan last yaer but recently his form has suffered adversely.THe midas touch seem sto have gone.
Let us wish that Sachin makes a comeback like sportsman like Pele, Muhammad Ali, Lestor Piggot Etc or even agreat statesman.In Infdia he is an icon revered more tah anyone including Amitabh Bachan .There could be few gretaer sights than watching this dimunitive figure execute his classical strokes -like seeing a programmed machine.His straight drive is classical and within the arc he is the best batsman ever.He combines the precision of a surgeon peforming an operation with the devastating power of a bomber destroying an airbase. and the timing of a musical conductor.I full flow the makes the rest of the field look like cattle foddr.Don Bradman has named him in his all-time team ahead of Viv Richards.Sachin has scored 75 International Hundreds.something the Ricky Ponting’s, Rahul Dravid’s or Brian Laras will never dream of doing.True Rahul Dravid is better on bad wickets in acrisis but SAchin can change the complexion of a game to afar gretaer extent.Allan Donald, Glen Mcgrath and Wasim Akram the garetset fast bolwers of their day rate Sachin Tendulkatr the most difficult batsman to whom they bolwed to.Even Shane Warne agreed.Brian Lara gives achance outside the offstump while Sachin was almost flawless.SAchin has better technique and balance and his orthodox strokes are betterthan Brian Lara.Above all he has scored 75 Internatinal hundreds , 23 more than Lara.Today one Day Cricket is almost as important to the game and the adjustment is very difficult.Sachi has abetter average in Australia and against Australia ad overall a better one against Sout Africa.True SAchin hasnt won many games in tset matches but remember that Rahul Dravid and Viv Richards had much greater support.Overall I still rate him amongst the half -dozen best of all time.
By Harsh Thakor