Over the past decade Indian cricket fans have been absolutely and utterly spoilt by the exploits of the team. True we have suffered some big setbacks (the World Cup this year) but by and large since 2000 we have been the second best team in the World. It is a fact that some meaningless one-day performances in between have removed the shine off what has been a fantastic seven years. Our performances in Australia, Pakistan, England, South Africa and even West Indies would have been hailed as brilliant in any other decade, but thanks to the incredible benchmark set by Australia we have not enjoyed our successes. All Indian fans want is for us to compete with Australia and if possible just knock them over. Very small expectations indeed.

After the Melbourne defeat I felt that we would have a tough time avoiding a three nil spanking (a draw in Adelaide of course!) and watching Symonds and Hogg tear apart our bowling attack didn’t make things any brighter.

And then Mr. Very Very Special Laxman got into the picture. Laxman showed us exactly why many believe that he has underperformed at the international level despite a test average of nearly 45. In his innings of 109, Laxman played every shot in the book and left men like Richie Benaud mumbling “extraordinary talent”. The cover drive, the pull, the little push that goes all the way to the long on boundary and of course the little flick of those rubber wrists- we saw them all. And he absolutely tore into Michael Johnson (who must have been thinking that test cricket was a piece of cake till then). Backed by a gritty Rahul Dravid at the other end (the pair brilliantly titled as Will and Grace by Sid V), Laxman turned the clock back and reminded us why exactly the Australians treat him with so much reverence. 167 in 1999, 178 in 2004 and now a 109 in 2008. How Laxman must wish the next two tests were played at Sydney too.

You can the video of Laxman’s innings here

Turn back the clock: You can also watch the videos of the 178 and the 167

Four years back, Sachin produced one of the greatest displays of grit and determination when he scored that fabulous innings of 241 at the same ground. In doing so, he almost stole the show from the real hero of that test match- Steve Waugh. Just last week I was left wondering whether he would even score another test century and as ever he went and did just that. A fantastic 154 gave the fans at the Sydney Cricket Ground full paisa vasool. And also led to what will go down as one of the most memorable banners ever- “Commit all your crimes when Sachin is bating. They will go unnoticed because even the Lord is watching”. He was superbly assisted by Harbhajan Singh and Ishant Sharma who showed Yuvraj and Dhoni that Lee and co. can be conquered.

Watching Sachin and Laxman bat (and Ganguly to a certain extent), I was left wondering how things could have been different in the first test if only these guys could have gotten more match practice before Melbourne. And also watching them left me a bit depressed cause I know that they aren’t going to be around the next time India travels to Australia to conquer the final frontier.

Watch Sachin’s video here

Watch Sachin’s 148 ( in 1991 ! against McDermott and co.) and his epic 241. 

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Sanjay Manjrekar in a recent newspaper article, criticised Sachin’s approach to the game and seemed to cast doubts and raised questions on the timing of his injuries:

“…There was another moment too: Tendulkar deciding to give the 2005 Super Series Test a miss. I thought that was a great opportunity not to be missed at any cost for someone like him. What a great stage that was to show off your individual brilliance. Tendulkar said he had not fully recovered from the elbow injury. But just eight days later he was running down the pitch hitting Murali out of the ground in that knock of 93 against Sri Lanka in the ODI at Nagpur.

That Super Series actually was another evidence of how the two great men think. There was Lara, in Australia, hopelessly short of match practice, yet looking at every chance as an opportunity to play another memorable innings. Working on the principle that the more chances you give yourself, the more the chances of success. Tendulkar is not willing to take that chance. The Tendulkar of today gives me the impression that his main focus is not to fail!…”

These are strong words from a player whose admiration for Sachin is obvious to all who have heard him talk about the little master. Nobody questions Sachin’s commitment to the team or the game but with age, it is true that the Sachin of the old is slowly fading away and it is hard for many to accept this.

Many of the measured(?)(hehe) responses to this article:

“…”It is a grave mistake by Manjrekar. We all know Tendulkar’s passion for cricket and I have no doubt in my mind that Sachin would never purposely avoid tours. It is a far-fetched suggestion.” Former off-spinner Shivlal Yadav termed the comments as nothing but a publicity seeking stunt by Manjrekar. …”

“… Former selector Pranab Roy vouched for Tendulkar’s commitment. “During my stint with the selection committee, I never found Sachin Tendulkar wanting in commitment. I do not agree with Manjrekar. No one should raise such questions about a great player like Tendulkar. …”
“… Another former selector Sambran Banerjee said: “I think this is not at all a valid point. It is a very bad comment. Sachin is beyond such things. …”

Beyond such things… hmmm … why I wonder?

Sachin’s response to this article seems to indicate that he is quite ticked off:

“I don’t want to comment much but I feel sorry that an ex-India player has made statements without checking the facts and without talking to the people concerned. I also find it surprising that he has made the statements without being in the dressing room and knowing the true situation”

I have been getting the feeling that Sachin is overly sensitive to journalists’ comments these days.

Watch this space for Sachin’s response with the bat when the tour to Sri Lanka begins!

- Prof

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Update

Quite a few readers have asked me why I have offered no opinions on the issue.While the post was not initially written to offer an opinion, I have decided to add my two cents to this.

Manjrekar is entitled to his opinion and honestly, he knows and understands Sachin better than most of us and the critics of his piece. While I wouldn’t dream of questioning Tendulkar’s commitment to the team, in recent years, he seems to have become more sensitive to the criticisms  that come from various quarters: is this because he has been beyond all that for so many years now?

Sachin must remember that when fans and viewers give him so much, it is only natural that they will expect things in return and results not to their liking, people are bound to criticize.

Fans and critics must also remember that Sachin of the old has slowly eveolved in a more mature fifity overs kind of player. There is still a lot he can and does contribute to the team and the game. But, he will never be the player of old again. No player will be after seventeen years at this level playing day in and day out.

The more important question of whether Sachin should play only when he deems himself fit. I think Sachin understands the context of a match, a series both to his legacy as a player and to the team’s growth. Hence, if Sachin declares himself fit to play or unfit to, he should be given the freedom: as long as he continues to deliver which I am sure he will.

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