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Tendulkar proved cricket can be a gentleman's sport

Sachin Tendulkar stamped himself into the world's consciousness in the 1996 World Cup. (AP Photo, File)
Expert
15th March, 2014
102
1840 Reads

No one can argue that Sachin Tendulkar is one of the all-time great batsmen. He holds most records in Tests and ODIs and was a delight to watch with his artistic stroke-play.

However, Tendulkar being voted ESPNcricinfo’s Cricketer of the Generation by a 50-member international jury of current and past cricketers and eminent journalists and commentators yesterday may raise a few eyebrows.

Mind you, he was voted not just Batsman of the Generation but cricketer of the generation!

Firstly the term generation has to be defined. It means the 20 years from 1993 to 2013, which rules out Garry Sobers, Vivian Richards, Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson, Imran Khan, Sunil Gavaskar, Allan Border, Richard Hadlee, David Gower, Ian Botham, Michael Holding, the list goes on.

But what about equally iconic Shane Warne, arguably the greatest spinner ever? Jacques Kallis, on par with the legendary Sobers in all-round excellence? Brian Lara the master batsman, the classy Ricky Ponting, Muttiah Muralitharan, Glenn McGrath, Kumar Sangakkara, Adam Gilchrist and few others of this generation?

If I was on the panel, I would have debated with myself for hours and would have given my vote to Tendulkar.

Next to Sir Donald Bradman, he has been the most worshipped cricketer in the world. In these days of sledging and bribery, he remains among the few to keep his head and set an example for others to follow.

Enough has been written on Sachin; more than a dozen biographies with more in the pipeline. He sold more newspapers in India than politicians, rock singers and movie stars put together.

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And that too without a scandal; one man, one wife despite his 100 international centuries.

His records at Test and ODI levels are known to most of his fans.

His farewell speech on 16 November last year after India won the Mumbai Test against the West Indies has become part of cricket folklore.

The purpose of this feature is not to regurgitate what knowledgeable readers of The Roar already know. Rather, it is to assess his legacy to cricket, starting with India.

In the past India was described as the “Dull dog of cricket” by the British press. That was the time when only Australia, South Africa and the West Indies were considered worthy opponents for England.

With batsmen Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar and GR Viswanath, all-rounder Kapil Dev and spinners Bishan Bedi, EAS Prasanna and BS Chandrasekhar dominating, India made her presence felt, especially after winning the 1983 World Cup in England.

From “dull dogs”, India became “promising also-rans” with the West Indians and Australia fighting for the best cricket team title.

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Then a Mumbai-born, curly-haired 16 year-old  batsman entered the Test scene in 1989 and changed India’s image overseas.

Tendulkar hit his maiden Test century at Manchester against England in August 1990, aged 17. England’s notable author David Frith headlined his story “Hail the Boy King” and added, “How could anyone so young be so good at the highest level?”

After he received Man of the Match Award in this Test, Richie Benaud commented on TV, “We’ll see a lot more centuries from his bat. I hope I’ll be around to see them.”

Indeed, he was around in many of Tendulkar’s 51 Test hundreds.

Then followed his tour of Australia in 1991-92 when he hit magnificent centuries in the Sydney and Perth Tests.

After his Sydney masterpiece, Neil Harvey eulogised, “He is the best player I’ve seen since ages. I love the way he places the ball past fieldsmen and his back foot technique is superb.”

On a bouncing WACA pitch in Perth, Tendulkar hit a captivating 114. This made Allan Border rave, “If he can play like this at 19, I shudder to think what he will be at 25.”

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Sir Donald Bradman was moved to tell his wife Jessie that Tendulkar batted more like him than any other batsmen he had watched.

Steve Waugh, not known to give an inch to his opponents, said: “You take Don Bradman away and Tendulkar is the next up, I reckon.”

When the legendary Dennis Lillee was asked as to how he would have bowled to Tendulkar, he replied tongue-in-cheek, “With a helmet on!”

No Indian, and not just an Indian cricketer, has received such acclaim down under. With Bradman, Sobers, Colin Cowdrey and Vic Trumper, he is the most adulated cricketer ever.

The boy prodigy became a living legend, lifting India on his shoulders, scoring more runs and centuries in Tests and ODIs than anyone in cricket history. Along with his advance as a batsman extraordinaire, he lifted India’s image in the cricket world.

The dull dogs became thoroughbreds, thanks mainly to Tendulkar’s presence.

I was lucky to see many of his centuries and double centuries, and also his cameo innings of 40s and 50s when India was on her knees. The way he attacked the great leg spinner Shane Warne was a master class in batsmanship.

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His innings included classical cover drives, straight drives, on drives, hooks and pulls. A nudge from his heavy bat and the ball would race to the ropes.

The hallmark of his batting has been his ability to improvise and unleash unorthodox shots like the paddle sweep. This helped him register tall scores consistently, despite wear and tear of the muscles with age and constant pressure-cooker situations that mark international cricket.

For 21 years from 1990 to 2011 he ruled supreme. How he coped with his fans’ expectations, the constant cheering of “Sachiiiin, Sachin” every time he touched the ball or came out to bat will remain a mystery to me.

They expected a century from him in every match. It was like the titan Atlas holding the celestial sphere on his shoulder.

Tendulkar hammered runs and tons in every country. His happiest memory is when India won the World Cup in 2011.

Although he contributed significantly to India reaching the near top internationally, one must not forget his teammates: batsmen Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, skipper-keeper MS Dhoni and spinners Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.

However, they were inspired by Tendulkar.

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It may be added that since the successful World Cup his form dipped, as he failed in England in 2011 and was not his masterly self in Australia in 2011-12.

However his 74 in his 200th and final Test appearance in Mumbai last November brought back memories of his heydays.

Gavaskar succinctly summed up Tendulkar’s contribution to the sport he has enriched: “It is hard to imagine any player in the history of the game combining classical technique with raw aggression like the little champion does.”

Add to it his modesty and subconscious charisma.

What about Sachin Tendulkar’s legacy to international cricket?

Major part of his tenure coincided with match-fixing, bribery and corruption by others ruining the game.

With his batsmanship, sportsmanship and demeanour home and away, he showed that cricket can be a gentleman’s sport.

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At times he received wrong decisions but did not argue with the umpires. I never saw him lose his cool.

Elegant, determined and dedicated, he has set an example for others to emulate.

To me this will remain his legacy to cricket. Raise your bat, Sachiiin, Sachin!

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