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Yuvraj dilemma for selectors, Sachin still undecided
With the BCCI selection committee meeting in Mumbai on Saturday to pick the 15-member squad for the upcoming tri-series in Sri Lanka, Sachin Tendulkar’s return to the ODI fold seems all but certain.
But the main agenda for the selectors would be decide on Yuvraj Singh’s fate. The middle-order batsman was dropped from the side for the Asia Cup on poor form, scored a half-century in the first Test and missed the second Test in the ongoing Sri Lanka series due to fever. Even though skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni is keen on having the Chandigarh batsman in the side, the selectors are reluctant, preferring Mumbai’s Rohit Sharma for the middle-order spot. “The selectors are likely to be informed about Tendulkar’s availability ahead of the meeting. If he is available, Sachin will come in place of Saurabh Tiwary,” a selector told The Indian Express.
As for Zaheer Khan, the pacer still hasn’t recovered completely from the shoulder injury that kept him out of the Test series. In his absence, Ashish Nehra is likely to lead the pace attack along with Praveen Kumar.
Bengal medium pacer Ashok Dinda stands a good chance to retain his spot in the squad, with Abhimanyu Mithun and Munaf Patel likely to fight for the fourth pacer’s spot. “Dinda hasn’t done anything significant but he hasn’t done badly either. Our aim is to create a pool of young seamers with an eye on the World Cup and Dinda makes the list,” said the selector.
In the spin department, the selectors, woefully short of options, are likely to stick to Harbhajan Singh despite his ordinary form. Pragyan Ojha, Amit Mishra, R Ashwin and Piyush Chawla will fight for the other two slots in the spin department, with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja as backup. India play their first match at Dambulla on August 10.
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Friday, July 30, 2010
Sachin, the artist, deserves Bharat Ratna: Asha Bhonsle
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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 on Thursday.
Tendulkar on Thursday smashed his fifth Test double hundred and helped India chase a mammoth Sri Lankan total of 642/4 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 said.
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.
Tendulkar on Thursday smashed his fifth Test double hundred and helped India chase a mammoth Sri Lankan total of 642/4 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 said.
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.
post-match press conference on Thursday of micromax test series 2010
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At the post-match press conference on Thursday, Sachin Tendulkar was as fluent as he was on the field. Excerpts from the interaction:
On the start.
When you’re chasing 600-plus, it’s important to build partnerships as well as occupy the crease. And we could achieve both the targets. Now, we are in a good position. It was an important knock by Suresh Raina. He showed tremendous character.
On Raina’s knock.
I am very happy for him. Many guys doubted whether he was a good Test player . He has done well and I am very pleased. The way he batted was fantastic. All I told him was to enjoy the 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’.
On the wicket.
From a batsman’s point of view, it is the best in the world. It’s not result oriented. It’s a tough track to bowl on.
On UDRS.
I am not fully convinced. When we were here in 2008, I wasn’t convinced with many decisions. I would much rather go with ‘Hot Spot’ because that establishes the contact between bat and ball. It’s a better system. And if there is something else to go with that, then it would be better.
On not bettering his previous highest record?
People look at my records, not me. I would want to score as many runs as possible. Whenever it comes, it comes. It is never too late. I will keep trying, but that is not the end of the world to me. There are many more things to cricket and that is where the focus is.
On what keeps him going.
With age, you obviously change your thought process. You make decisions differently. I don’t think much has changed. You just get to know more about cricket. And learning process never stops. Everyday you learn. That is, if you are prepared to learn.
On threat to India’s No.1 rankings.
Who doesn’t want to be the No. 1 team in the world? But it’s not that we want to chase the ranking. We have had our goals earlier, discussed about it, and focussed on the process. We have to play good cricket, that’s what we need to focus on. Rankings will take care of themselves if you play good cricket
On the start.
When you’re chasing 600-plus, it’s important to build partnerships as well as occupy the crease. And we could achieve both the targets. Now, we are in a good position. It was an important knock by Suresh Raina. He showed tremendous character.
On Raina’s knock.
I am very happy for him. Many guys doubted whether he was a good Test player . He has done well and I am very pleased. The way he batted was fantastic. All I told him was to enjoy the 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’.
On the wicket.
From a batsman’s point of view, it is the best in the world. It’s not result oriented. It’s a tough track to bowl on.
On UDRS.
I am not fully convinced. When we were here in 2008, I wasn’t convinced with many decisions. I would much rather go with ‘Hot Spot’ because that establishes the contact between bat and ball. It’s a better system. And if there is something else to go with that, then it would be better.
On not bettering his previous highest record?
People look at my records, not me. I would want to score as many runs as possible. Whenever it comes, it comes. It is never too late. I will keep trying, but that is not the end of the world to me. There are many more things to cricket and that is where the focus is.
On what keeps him going.
With age, you obviously change your thought process. You make decisions differently. I don’t think much has changed. You just get to know more about cricket. And learning process never stops. Everyday you learn. That is, if you are prepared to learn.
On threat to India’s No.1 rankings.
Who doesn’t want to be the No. 1 team in the world? But it’s not that we want to chase the ranking. We have had our goals earlier, discussed about it, and focussed on the process. We have to play good cricket, that’s what we need to focus on. Rankings will take care of themselves if you play good cricket
People should stop talking about my age now: Tendulkar
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COLOMBO:
With a fifth Test double hundred under his belt at 37, Indian batting icon Sachin Tendulkar on Frisay 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 Test.
"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 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 raina 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.
With a fifth Test double hundred under his belt at 37, Indian batting icon Sachin Tendulkar on Frisay 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 Test.
"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 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 raina 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.
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