Post 2011 - Part A

The approaching 2011 World Cup of Cricket is probably going to be a milestone...and for morose reasons that too.

It is more or less common knowledge that in the short window of time to follow after the 2011 World Cup, Cricket is all set to lose the services of magnificent batsmen such as Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Jaques Kallis, Ricky Ponting, Mahela Jayawardhane, VVS Laxman, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Mohammad Yousuf (if he manages to not get ousted till then by the fickle-minded PCB). The careers of all these fabulous stars hinge on the notional milestone of the 2011 world cup. (I realize that VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid  have long stopped starring in the One Day roster, but still the 2011 time-frame will likely be a wind-down trumpet call for their Test careers).

Mark Boucher, one of the best wicketkeepers of all time, will likely retire too in the same window, already having collected all possible wicketkeeping records under his belt. Daniel Vettori, New Zealand's lone Test superstar will have seriously begun considering taking the pension at  about the same time too.

I also realized that as of today, none of the top 15 Test wicket takers are in play. Harbhajan Singh with 357 Test wickets, stands 16th in the list of the all-time highest wicket takers, and all the 15 above him are no longer playing, which could be a unique occurrence in the bowling fraternity. The last 3 years of cricket have seen the demise of Murulidharan, Shane Warne, Anil Kumble, Glenn McGrath, Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini and Chaminda Vaas. One of the more genuine allrounders - Freddy Flintoff also hung his boots in that period. Technically there's nothing much by way of stature to lose in the next few years after this, in the bowling world

That's that for what was lost and what will be gone shortly. Part B coming up with things to look forward to in the next decade of Cricket.

Twilight zone

2 weeks in New York can be a trying experience, but I've survived.

I watched the Mumbai-boys Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar play against Glenn McGrath and Mohammad Asif at an overcast Brit Oval in London, in a brief dream at dawn today. That I remember it probably means it wasn't a dream, but the contest sounds fantastic even in fantasy terms.

Mohammad Asif is perhaps the best swing bowler in the world at the moment. Michael Holding, who is commentating at the Oval in the current England-Pakistan test match, has been caught on the mic several times saying "class bowler" to Asif. That should be enough certification for a bowler, and that may explain his presence in my dozy dream.

169

Still no respite from work, so yet again, stealing already published work from here and there and posting it here. This time, courtesy of  Rediff.com.

Sachin Tendulkar will play his 169th Test match tomorrow, and grab the record for the most Test appearances by a cricketer. Nothing unexpected, as has become a reflex when we think of Sachin. There is nothing that Sachin is not expected to do, such is the uniqueness and greatness of this 37 year old man.

Here are some rather interesting quotes on Sachin, by his friends, foes and admirers. Note how generous and candid the Australians, Sachin's most intense rivals, are in their praise for him. That's one reason why I hate the Australians and love them at the same time. They are the most bitter enemies inside the stadium, but are equally magnanimous in accepting an enemy's greatness outside of it.

Some of the quotes below may be pertinent to a particular innings or match, and not of Sachin's entire career, but they are amusing nonetheless

Here goes:

Ricky Ponting: The number of innings of his I have been able to sit back and watch, I think he is an amazing player. He has set benchmarks for guys like me to chase him and get as close as we can.

If I had to last 20 years, I would probably be batting in a wheelchair.

Shane Warne: I will be going to bed having nightmares of Sachin just running down the wicket and belting me back over the head for six. He was unstoppable. I don't think anyone, apart from Don Bradman, is in the same class as Sachin Tendulkar. He is just an amazing player.

Viv Richards: He is 99.5 per cent perfect. I would pay to see him.

Mathew Hayden: I have seen god, he bats at number four for India in Tests. His life seems to be stillness in a frantic world... 

Anil Kumble: I am fortunate that I have to bowl at him only in the nets.

Ravi Shastri: He is someone sent from up there to play cricket and go back.

I can't think of anybody who has batted more authoritatively in One-Day cricket for India, or even in the world except for Vivian Richards.

Geoffrey Boycott: Technically, you can't fault Sachin. Seam or spin, fast or slow -- nothing is a problem.

Brett Lee: You might pitch a ball on the off stump and think you have bowled a good ball and he walks across and hits it for two behind mid-wicket.

His bat looks so heavy but he just waves it around like it's a toothpick.

Greg Chappell: I would like to see him go out and bat one day with a stump. I tell you he would do okay.

Ian Healy: Tendulkar is the most complete batsman I have stood behind.

Glenn McGrath: I still think Tendulkar is the best batsman in the world ahead of Steve Waugh and Lara.

Allan Donald: In my several years of international cricket, Tendulkar remains the best batsman I have ever bowled to.

Wasim Akram: Cricketers like Sachin come once in a lifetime and I am privileged he played in my time.

Brian Lara: If cricket is a religion, then Sachin is the only god.

Steve Waugh: There is no shame being beaten by such a great player; Sachin is perhaps only next to the Don.

Barry Richards: Sachin is cricket's god.

Dennis Lillee: If I have to bowl to Sachin, I'll bowl with my helmet on. He hits the ball so hard.

Late umpire David Shepherd: If he isn't the best player in the world, I want to see the best player in the world.

Mike Kasprowicz has a superior story. During a Bangalore Test, frustrated, he went to Dennis Lillee and asked, "Mate, do you see any weaknesses?" Lillee replied, "No Michael, as long as you walk off with your pride that's all you can do" 

Peter Roebuck "On a train from Shimla to Delhi, there was a halt in one of the stations. The train stopped by for few minutes as usual. Sachin was nearing century, batting on 98. The passengers, railway officials, everyone on the train waited for Sachin to complete the century. This Genius can stop time in India!!"

Andy Flower "There are 2 kind of batsmen in the world. One Sachin Tendulkar. Two all the others."

Richie Benaud "He has defined cricket in his fabulous, impeccable manner. He is to batting what Shane Warne is to bowling".

BBC Sports, on Sachin Tendulkar: When he goes out to bat, people switch on their television sets and switch off their lives.

Andrew Symonds :"To Sachin, the man we all want to be"
What Symonds wrote on an aussie t-shirt he autographed specially for Sachin.

Till the next one....Go Sachin!