I have maintained for over one and half years that Tendulkar is not past his best. I wrote a small article in December 2004(which I didn’t put on the blog simply because it didn’t exist then) -
It has been a shame people have expressed doubts over the great modern batsman Sachin Tendulkar. There have been news paper articles, television shows, common people on the street and even ardent cricket fans who have asked this question in the last year or so. Tendulkar has had a very strange 2004. It has been a year in which more questions have been asked of his batting than in any year since he made his international debut in 1989.
Why all this commotion? There has been a 241 and a 194 apart from some other big hundreds. But 50 percent of the innings Tendulkar has played have been below 10. This is no mean statistic for the most consistent batsman to have played the game in the last fifteen years. This is the only argument for the ‘critics’ to doubt Tendulkar.
Tendulkar has had a major injury this year too (the tennis elbow) because of which he has not been hundred percent before and after his injury rehabilitation. Being fit is very important in international cricket. When some part of your body is not upto its best, your performance is bound to go down.
Now about the big scores. The 159* Tendulkar has had via which he has emulated Sunil Gavaskar for 34 centuries not only helps him achieve this record but also makes him nmber two on the list of batsmen having a score of 150 plus (15) beating Lara (14). Surprised because Lara is the one who has had the reputation of the biger scores? This is one key aspect of the game Tendulkar has improved upon which every one has easily over looked.
Tendulkar wont remain the quick feeted fast race horse. But he will surely make bigger scores if you think that Tendulkar’s five biggest test scores have come in the last five years. Gavaskar was 37 when he made his last test century. Tendulkar is only 31. He has been pegged on by Gavaskar to not stop at 40 but go for 50 test centuries. He has made two candid revelations in an interview conducted by ESPN after he made the 34th century. He still has the shoulder pain and is not hundred percent fit. He felt a lot the pressure when every one reminded him of achieving this record of 34 centuries.
He hoped this is a new beginning for him. Knowing the fighter that Tendulkar is, he will achieve what he is destined for. People ask if Tendulkar is past his best. But is the best scoring fast centuries or the big centuries and yet remain consistent? That is what should be the question to be pondered over really. As time goes by, the people who question greatness will shut up for good. And Tendulkar will remain as one of the greats to grace the game along with Grace, Hobbs, Bradman, Sobers, the two Richards, Lara and the many other hallowed batsmen to have strode on the twenty two yards we call the cricket pitch.
The last 14 months or so have been worse for Tendulkar as far as media and fan reactions go. The nadir were statements like Endulkar made in leading newspapers in India.
Well hopefully the Tendulkar bashers can stand up now and admit they were wrong regarding Tendulkar. Still believe he is past his best? All I can say is that a lot more people will look silly in the coming few months.
Update - Outside Edge brings to focus some recent performances and a wonderful poem on Tendulkar.
