Tendulkar not in favour of UDRS

Press Trust Of India

Jul 31, 2010 at 11:01

Colombo: The Umpire Decision Review System may have its share of supporters but Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar has given a thumbs down to UDRS, saying he was not fully convinced with the controversial referral system.

Tendulkar said instead of UDRS, he was more in favour of the usage of new 'Hot-Spot' technology, which is an infra-red imaging system used in cricket to determine whether the ball has struck the batsman, bat or pad.

"I am not fully convinced with the referral system (UDRS). When I was here last time I was not convinced with many decisions. I did not feel comfortable, it was an experiment which I felt," Tendulkar told reporters here after notching up his fifth double hundred in Tests.

"I would rather go with the Hot Spot because that establishes the contact between the bat and the bowl. That it is far better system according to me. The Hot Spot is much better," he said.

The UDRS has recently got some supporters in Australian captain Ricky Ponting, Sri Lankan spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan and former ICC umpire Rudi Koertzen, who called for the use of the system in every Test match.

Tendulkar guided India with a classy 203 and helped his side end day four of the second Test at 669 for nine in reply to Sri Lanka's first innings score of 642 for four declared at a placid Sinhalese Sports Club wicket.

"When I was in the middle, it was important to go for a partnership and I am happy the way we played well. I was tempted to play my shots but at that time the match was at a critical situation and we had to hang in there," said the champion batsman.

With over 1300 runs scored in four days at the loss of just 13 wickets, he said the SSC wicket was not an ideal pitch for Test cricket.

"From a batsmen's point of view the pitch is definitely the best in the world. It is a batting paradise but it is not result oriented. It is a tough track to bowl on," Tendulkar said.

Although he is 37, Tendulkar is still going strong and the right-hander said it is his love for the game that keeps him fresh and rejuvenated all the time.

"I am enjoying every bit of it. I don't count the number of runs that I scored. It is nice to score runs and I am enjoying as much being in the middle as it is being in the past. It is fantastic," he said.

"I don't think much has changed but with age obviously you change your thought process. It's not only in cricket, also in life. You make decisions differently. You just get to know more about cricket. The learning process never stops, everyday you learn," Tendulkar said.

Tendulkar said that he has no qualms of not scoring a triple hundred yet in his career because he never played cricket for record.

"People look at records but I don't. Whenever it (triple hundred) has to come, it will come. It is never too late. I will keep trying, but that is not the end of the world for me.

There are many more things in cricket and that is where the focus is. It's not on records," he said.

Tendulkar was full of praise for Suresh Raina, who made his maiden hundred on Thursday and became the 12th Indian cricketer to score a century on debut.

"I was very happy for him (Raina). Many guys doubted whether Suresh was a good Test player or not. He has done well, I am very pleased. The way he batted was fantastic," he said.

"All I told him was, enjoy this moment. You have earned something special. This will always be the highlight of your career. You will have many more hundreds, you will achieve many more things in your life, but this will always be something special.

"When playing with debutants it is important to make them comfortable and understand their mind set. Raina having played 98 matches before his Test debut debut helped a lot. I played with him and knew exactly what to expect from him also," he added.

Tendulkar was of the view that Sri Lanka possesses a decent bowling despite retired Muttiah Muralitharan, who quit Test cricket after the first match of the series against India at Galle with 800 Test wickets.

He also said that it would be unfair to compare any present day bowler with Muralitharan as it took the champion off-spinner years to achieve his 800 Test wicket mark

Stop talking about my age: Sachin

Stop talking about my age: Sachin

Press Trust Of India
Posted on Jul 30, 2010 at 17:20 | Updated Jul 30, 2010 at 17:31



Colombo: With a fifth Test double hundred under his belt at 37, Indian batting icon Sachin Tendulkar on Friday said he has proved that age has got nothing to do with performance and people should just stop linking the two in his case.

Tendulkar scored a match-saving 203-run knock as India and Sri Lanka settled for a high-scoring draw in the second cricket Test here.

"I think as long as you are mentally strong and prepared to go through the grind, age does not really matter. I think everyone should just stop talking about the age factor. If I can score a double hundred at 37, I don't think age really matters," he said after being named the most stylish player of the match at the post-match presentation.

The veteran right-hander has 48 Test hundreds against his name and though his knock played a crucial role in saving the match for India, he chose to praise the contributions of debutant Suresh Raina (120) and opener Virender Sehwag (99).

"Suresh built an important partnership with me and all credit to him. And the start that Sehwag gave us was also crucial," he said.

India are 0-1 down in the series after losing the series opener and Tendulkar said the team is desperate to latch on to the top spot in the ICC Test rankings which the visitors stand to lose if they go down 0-2.

"Being number one is important for us. We got here through a process and we hope to continue this process in the next match and win it," he said.

Sachin MINI Interview...1996

* Name : Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar

* DOB : 24th April 1973

http://static.cricketnext.com/pix/slideshow/07-2010/sri-lanka-vs/Tendulkar2907_550.jpg


* Birth Place : Mumbai

* Sunsign : Tauras

* Team : India,Mumbai,Yorkshire,World XI,Rest of India

* First Class Debut : 1988

* Test Debut : 1989

* Most Remebering Day in Cricket : When 1st time seleted for the Indian Team,and when selected for the 1st test again Pakistan

* Worst Day in Cricket : Loosing the world cup semi final against Srilanka in 1996

* Heroes in Cricket : Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Sandeep Patil, Viv Richards, Ian Botham

* Whose impact on you : My Brothers Ajit and Nitin, My sister Savita, most Mother-Father,Wife Anjali,My coach, Uncle and aunt Suresh and Mangla Tendulkar

* Favourite player from Today's era : Brain Lara, Wasim Akram, Walsh, Shane Warne and Anil Kumble

* Players for Future : Rahul Dravid, Vikram Rathore, Amol Majumdaar

* Your Aim in Cricket : To score lots of centuries and to play as many as test and one day

* Favourite cricket Ground : Sydney Cricket Ground and Eden Gardens

* Least Favourite : None

* Complaints With Cricket : We should play more tests

* What should be done to improve cricket : Should be played in more countries and its popularity

* Most funny moment in Cricket : In 1990 when Narendra Hirwani came to bat at Old Trafford. Azhar gave him a new bat. The 1st ball he played with that bat was from Cris Lweis and the bat breaks into two pieces.

* Most Embrassing Moment : Third match against Newzealand in 1994 at in Cricket Wellington.The situation was tense so I told Ankola not to bowl any no balls or wide balls. I took a very good catch of Danny Morrisson and in excitement I threw the ball in air with. Batsmen still ran 2 runs- actullay the Umpire declared that ball as No-ball which I didn't heard

* Hobbies & Intrests : Collecting Watches ,Perfumes, good clothes and CD's

* How you wanna u spend your spare time : With my family

* Which Other Sports you like : Tennis

* Which Other sports personalties you like : Maradona and John McEnroe

* Favourite Actress /Actor : Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Demi Moore

* Favourite Serial : None

* Favourite Movie : God must be crazy

* Favourite Music : Michael Learns to Rock, Eagles ,Michael Jackson

* What you hate? : Selfish and cunning people

* Cars : Mercedes Benz C-36, A.M.G Sports

* Favourite food : Anything made my mother

* Favourite drink : Cold Water

* Favourite place for holidays : Goa

* Favourite Hotel : Taj Hotel,Goa

* Favourite Restro. : Vintage and the Great Wall,Mumbai

* What type of cloth likes to wear : Jeans and T-Shirt & according to the occasion

* Newspaper : Mid-Day, Afternoon, Times Of India

* Favourite Author : I don't read much!!

* Favourite magzine : Sportstar

* After Cricket : Some bussiness related to Cricket

* Motto of Life : Be true to yourself


Source : Cricket Samarat september 1996 issue [hindi version]

Tendulkar deserves Bharat Ratna: Asha Bhonsle

New Delhi:When Sachin Tendulkar bats, it's like an artist playing a 'raga' and the true legend of the game deserves the Bharat Ratna, legendary singer Asha Bhonsle said on Thursday.




Tendulkar on Thursday smashed his fifth Test double hundred and led India's reply to a mammoth Sri Lankan total of 642 for 4 declared in the second match.

"Sachin should get Bharat Ratna. He deserves it. He has been bringing laurels for the country for such a long time.

He is not just a batsman but an artist. When he bats it looks as if somebody is playing a 'raga'," Bhonsle told PTI-Bhasha.

Former cricketers Ajit Wadekar, Kapil Dev and Dilip Vengsarkar have also demanded the honour for Tendulkar.

The veteran female singer said of all the legendary batsmen, Tendulkar stands apart due to his style and class.

"I have seen batting of Gary Sobers, Clive Llyod and Vivian Richards but no one is like Sachin. His is a different style and no one can match him," she said.

Bhonsle, who recorded an album with Australian speedster Brett Lee, has a long time wish to sing with Tendulkar but is not sure if it will ever get fulfilled.

"I want to sing with Sachin also. But I don't think it will ever happen as he is always busy. Let's see if this wait ends."

She said fact that Tendulkar was named after legendary composer and her father-in-law Sachin Dev Burman, connects her to the batting icon naturally.

"I feel good listening that."

75-year-old singer said Tendulkar should play well beyond the 2011 World Cup in sub-continent.

"Why only till World Cup, he can play as long as he wants.

He has passion to play cricket and this strong desire even inspire t me to continue singing at this age of 75," she said.

She also said that Tendulkar's never-say-die attitude is a source of inspiration for her also.

"I get inspiration from him to fight defeats and odd times. Sometime he gets out cheaply and sometime he gets big scores. He never fears criticism and the one who does not fear defeat becomes Sachin Tendukar," she said.

Sachin scores 5th Double ton in Tests

Colombo:

Rajneesh Gupta | Cricketnext.com

Posted on Jul 29, 2010 at 13:58

Ajantha Mendis got his third wicket of the innings when he dismissed Suresh Raina for 120, who along with Sachin Tendulkar put on 256 runs for the 5th wicket as the second cricket Test between India and Sri Lanka heads towards a tame draw.

Earlier Suresh Raina scored a century on debut and Sachin Tendulkar built on his 48th hundred as India averted the follow-on in the second cricket Test against Sri Lanka on Thursday.

India, replying to Sri Lanka's mammoth 642-4 declared, carried their overnight total of 382-4 to 477 without further loss by lunch on the fourth day at the Sinhalese Sports Club.

Tendulkar and Raina, who came together on Wednesday afternoon with India struggling at 241-4, have so far added 236 runs for the fifth wicket on a pitch still favouring stroke-making.

Left-hander Raina went to lunch unbeaten on 112, becoming the ninth Indian to score a century in his first Test, while Tendulkar was on a masterly 152 not out.

Tendulkar, the world's leading run-getter, equalled West Indian Brian Lara's record of 19 scores of 150 plus. Australian legend Don Bradman did it on 18 occasions. Raina, 23, already a veteran of 98 one-day internationals, was awarded his Test cap only after Yuvraj Singh reported sick on the opening day of the match.

He has so far hit two sixes and 11 boundaries, reaching the landmark with a fluent off-drive against seamer Dammika Prasad that raced to the fence.

Sri Lanka missed the wicket-taking abilities of the retired Muttiah Muralitharan and injured fast bowler Lasith Malinga as the young crop of bowlers failed to contain the Indians.

Debutant off-spinner Suraj Randiv and unorthodox slow bowler Ajantha Mendis, who dismissed two batsmen each on the third day, went wicketless on the fourth morning. Randiv has so far conceded 159 runs from 49 overs, while Mendis has given away 98 runs in 28 overs.

Muralitharan and Malinga claimed 15 of the 20 Indian wickets in the first Test in Galle last week, which Sri Lanka won by 10 wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

- frm Chin'$ Collection

India's debut Test centurions: when and where

Rajneesh Gupta
Posted on Jul 29, 2010 at 13:58

New Delhi: India's 86-year-old Test cricket history has been presented with 12 occasions when a debutant has announced his arrival by reaching the three-figure mark.

Suresh Raina on Thursday joined the list with a fantastic display against Sri Lanka on day four of the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo. He is also the third left-hander to have achieved this feat after Surendra Amarnath and Sourav Ganguly.

Here's a look at the 12 players who belong to the elite club:

Lala Amarnath: Nanik Amarnath Bhardwaj, commonly known as Lala Amarnath, was the first cricketer to score a Test century for India. Playing his debut match against England in 1933 on the Bombay Gymkhana Grounds, he scored a 118 in the second innings.

Deepak Shodhan: The second Indian batsman to score a hundred on Test debut, Shodhan achieved the feat batting at No. 8 against Pakistan at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. He scored 110 in the first innings of the game in 1952.

AG Kripal Singh: Amritsar Govindsingh Kripal Singh, who came from a well-known cricketing family and played Ranji Trophy for Tamil Nadu, scored his lone Test hundred on debut against New Zealand in Hyderabad in the 1955-56 series. His score, 100 not out in the first innings.

Abbas Ali Baig: The first Indian cricketer to hit a century on debut while touring, Baig hit 112 in the second innings of the Manchester Test against England in 1959.

Hanumant Singh: The grandnephew of Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji, Hanumant Singh scored 105 in the first innings of the Delhi Test against England in the 1963-64 season.

Gundappa Vishwanath: One of India's finest batsmen, Vishy had an elegant and wristly batting style. Making his debut against Australia in the Kanpur Test in 1969, Vishwanath was dismissed for a duck in the first innings, but set the records straight in the second scoring 137.

Surender Amarnath: Son of Lala Amarnath and brother of Mohinder Amarnath, Surender made his first-class debut as a 15-year-old. He made his Test debut against New Zealand in the Auckland Test in 1975 scoring 124 in the first innings.

Mohammad Azharuddin: Captain of the Indian team for much of the 1990s and known for the grace and fluidity of his wrist, Mohammad Azharuddin has the distinction of scoring a century in each of his first three Tests. His debut hundred (110) was scored against England at the Eden Gardens in 1984.

Pravin Amre: Current coach of the Mumbai cricket team, Pravin Amre scored a century on debut against South Africa that boasted of the likes of Allan Donald and Brian McMillan. His 103 came in the first innings of the Durban Test in the 1992-93 series.

Sourav Ganguly: Ranked by Wisden as the sixth greatest one-day international batsman of all time, Sourav Ganguly became only the third batsman to score a century on debut at the Lord's when he hit 131 in the first innings against England in 1996.

Virender Sehwag: The fastest triple centurion in the history of international cricket, Sehwag announced his arrival on the world stage with a cracking 105 against South Africa in the first innings of the Bloemfontein Test in 2001.

Suresh Raina: Having waited in the wings for a while, Raina made the most of the opportunity as he hit a brilliant 120 to become the 12th Indian to make a Test century on debut. His knock came in the first innings of the second Test against Sri Lanka being played at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo.

- Chin's Collection