Sachin - Master Blaster or Master Actor

[coolhead]

Here is something for you guys to mull over. This is Sachin\'s record in the past 30 ODIs her has played.
Batting Avg - 67.
Batting Avg in deciding matches or finals - 20

[observer]

if azarruddin should have shown these ratings he should have been removed immediately.the difference is azar is from hyderabad and tendulKAR is from bombay.this is India my dear

[coolhead]

I doubt if it has anything to do with from where someone is. Its just that Sachin has become an institution and no one in the system seems to be ready to take him on.
A cousin of mine who\'s studying in the US asked me why Dravid was given the \'Man of the Match\' in the last test match. The problem is as far as they are concerned Sachin is the only played in India. Its high time Sachin either lived up to those expectations or he could begin using the line - \"India\'s best batsman in washed out matches\".

[masterblaster]

dear cool please suggest whom you considered to be best player trying to save the matches? atleast tell the player who is least selfish in indian cricket team

[V.]

For someone who hasnt seen Dravid\'s innings of 148 they are bound to ask that Q. So I forgive your cousin. Sachin scored much more, but Dravid scored it in more difficult situ.
Anyway, if not for the 60+ average in prelim matches tell me how does the team reach the finals??!
All this talk against Sachin is baseless and is bound to be there as this is a free speech country.

[coolhead]

Dear MasterBlaster, My vote would be split between Dravid and Laxman. These are the only two players who stand up and get counted with the chips are down. Its easy to hit a century when its not do or die. With regards to the comment by V on the \'fact\', notice I use the word \'fact\', that it is Sachin\'s 60+ average that gets us to the final. I agree with you. My only question is why does Sachin choke when the chips are down? Ask anybody to name a match winnings innings by Sachin, and they will name the innings against Australia at Sharjah. Now ask them to name another.

[V]

coolhead and others, I too get disappointed when Sachin doesn\'t deliver, whether it is a prelim match or a final. I am sure every other Indian cricket fan has similar feelings. Remember that numbers and statistics tell only part of the story about the greatness of a sportsman. Sachin\'s mind and talent and stats is far too strong to be called a choker. Give the man his due. Yes the media blows up things out of proportion. He is definitely not God, that I thought him to be (thanks to the media putting that in me!). He is of the stature of a Michael Jordan, but unfortunately our team lacks the supporting characters of the Bulls. I go on a high when I think what could have hapenned if Sachin was part of the Aussie team with McGrath, Gillespie, Gillu! (of course, they wouldnt have won in India

I appreciate the way he has carried the heavy weight of responsibility and expectation on his shoulder, and playing alongside and against a bunch of match fixers for a large part of his career.

At the same time nothing should be taken away from Dravid/Lachchi, who are making unforgettable contributions.

[MasterBhaskar]

but the truth is that Sachin\'s scores either in inconsequential matches or when he has to prove a point to critics(like the last one).He has let India down in crunch situations..one innnings that comes to mind is a test match at chennai against pak...India needs just about 15 runs to win...and sachin who has just made a century throws his wicket away...and India lose...I too beleive that he is one of the greatest bastman in the history of world cricket...but what is the use if he can\'t help India win more often?

[coolhead]

V - What irks me most is how the commentators go on and on about Sachin being a \'big match\' player. The records show that he is not a big match player. Add to that the fact that all this hype not only puts pressure on Sachin, it also puts a huge pressure on the rest of the team. If Sachin is given his due respect, which according to me should be nothing more or less than what Ganguly or Dravid gets, every time his wicket falls it would not send a sense of foreboding in the dressing room. The message is clear \'Sachin is not a God\'. Somebody needs to tell the WorldTel commentary team this little fact of life.

[Ravi]

Oh..Shastri/Gavaskar are the biggest Sachin chaperones since long...they defend his every wrong move, even rank poor shots, and if does so much as pick up a ball and throw it to the bowler they have praise for his dedication and 100% commitment!!! Sometimes i think they are on his payroll rather than WorldTel\'s!!!

[V.]

Cool and Ravi, you have brought up a good point about the commentators. I watched the recent test series fully after a very long time (I am in the land of cricket starvation- Usa) and the comms were apalling. Richie benaud, is getting cynical with his age. Who in their right minds made Dermott reeve a comm??! Atherton is ok- but did you read his comment on our natwest victory being only second to Gandhiji\'s salt satyagraha! That was rather stupid comparison. The bbc TMS comms are much much better- Harsha, Aggers, Jenkins, Blofeld. Inspite of the 2-ball lag betn internet audio and tv telecast, I loved to listen to bbc and watch tv. I think we will all do ourselves a big service by learning to not be prejudiced with the comms and press views. We will enjoy cricket much more.

[Ravi]

Hi \'V\', No one\'s getting prejudiced here. It\'s just that these particular commentators go on and on and on about the same old thing...they lick a*** man, if you\'ll pardon the expression...No one has to tell us how great a player Sachin is or how much he is committed to the game...we all know that..but because of this continous harping, viewers are fed up of Tendulkar and want the other guys to get their due recognition as well...

[V]

Ravi u say that u aren\'t prejudiced by the comms, u also say u are fed up with Sachin because of the useless comms. Decide whom u dislike more! I only suggested filtering info and enjoying the good things in cricket. The Aussie and firangi comms are the worst in terms of being partisan. I feel they are like the Nazis of cricket commentators- always having a \'we-are-better-than-you\' attitude. That way Harsha (also a fellow Hyderabadi), are so much better.

[cricketer]

somebody told me Harsha is from Maharashtra. which is his native place?

[Shaad-Aabaad]

Of course not. He is from Hyderabad. Studied at All Saints school with Azhar and Osmania University. He was even part of the OU cricket team! He later went to IIM Ahmedabad.

[V]

Harsha may be marathi speaking, I dont know. But very much a hyderabadi. He is the author of Azhar\'s autobiography... \'Mian, captain banoge\'- famous lines of Dungarpur to Azhar during Ranji match agains Goa. Thats all history now.