Einstein of Cricket Sachin Tendulkar

Daily DNA Indian - Einstein of cricket In an era when greatness is adulterated by figures, there is concern that the cliché 'records are made to be broken' may not hold. It is possible that whoever finishes with the most number of centuries and the highest aggregate in Test cricket will keep those records until the sun burns itself out, writes Suresh Menon Suresh Menon Around the year 1900, it was believed that physics had reached the end of the road and that everything had been discovered. Only minor details needed to be filled in, the science was complete. Almost on cue, quantum physics, a whole new branch emerged; then, along came Mr Einstein with his relativity theories to shake up the foundations. Sporting records are a bit like that. Pundits decide things can't get better, and they do. When Bob Beamon leaped to his magical 8.90 metres in the rarefied atmosphere of Mexico, it was believed that the record would stand forever. It didn't last a quarter of a century. Of all cricketing records, two have always had the stamp of permanence upon them. Don Bradman's career average of 99.94 and Jim Laker's match figures of 19 for 90. Recently, a third was added — Muttiah Muralitharan's 800 Test wickets. Now, a fourth has joined that group — Sachin Tendulkar's 100 international centuries. There is a touch of mountaineering after Everest about that achievement. You only have to look at the second-best to see this. The best after Tendulkar's century of centuries is Ricky Ponting's 71 — that's figuratively, a whole Don Bradman behind. And only the other day, the Indian and Australian were neck and neck in the century business. The best after Tendulkar's 51 Test centuries is Jacques Kallis's 42; after his 49 one-day centuries is Ponting's 30. Not in the same ball park, not in the same city, country or planet. When Tendulkar began his career as a 16-year-old, satisfaction meant 35 Test centuries, perhaps another 25 in one-dayers for a grand total of 60 international centuries. His ambitions were never his own, but decided by fawning fans. After each achievement, he was issued with new targets. In an era when greatness is adulterated by figures, there is concern that the cliche 'records are made to be broken' may not hold. It is possible that whoever finishes with the most number of centuries and the highest aggregate in Test cricket will keep those records until the sun burns itself out. This is partly due to the apprehensions over the future of Tests and the possible reduction in the number of matches played. Batsmen, like detectives in a murder mystery, look for means, motives and opportunities. It has to be all three — any two will not do. Then, there is the vexed question of age. The spirit may be willing, but if the flesh is close to 40, the future may be behind you. It is easy to see why a career average of over 99.94 is out of reach. The next best after Bradman (among those who have played over 50 Tests) is Herbert Sutcliffe's 60.73. As for Laker, a bowler has to take only one wicket in the match or a fielder affect a single run out, and his record is safe. To take ten wickets twice in a match is as close to an impossibility in sport as you can get. The best after Laker's 19 is nearly a century old: Sid Barnes's 17 for 159. Tendulkar is a modest man, and unlikely to say, like Alexander the Great that he has no more worlds to conquer. But for someone to score a hundred centuries he would need to begin his career early and play through two decades averaging five international centuries per year. That's as tall as orders get. Indian cricket is based on passion, on easily-stirred emotions; players are worshipped for what they do, romance trumps realism, sentiment pushes out logic and reason. Performances are often taken out of context and enjoyed without any thought to their frame of reference. A Tendulkar ton in defeat is feted more heartily than a 40 in victory. That is why few are concerned that only 53 of Tendulkar's first 99 international centuries were in winning causes. Yet, today, it is somehow different. To adapt Hemingway, if you are lucky enough to have followed Tendulkar's career, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, he stays with you. For, Tendulkar is a moveable feast. Visit for more>>> http://cute-pix.blogspot.com/