02 April 2011

Tendulkar: The ball boy who became the god of cricket

Tendulkar: The ball boy who became the god of cricket




SACHIN
Tendulkar walks with Man of the Match trophy after the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 semi-final match between India and Pakistan. (AFP)
 
 
MUMBAI: "Who writes your scripts," former England opener and captain Graham Gooch asked his legendary teammate and all-rounder, Ian Botham after the latter dismissed Kiwi opener Bruce Edgar off the first ball he bowled at The Oval in 1986.

(Click here for full coverage of India- Sri Lanka World Cup final)

Botham was playing his first Test following a year's ban for using marijuana. Edgar's scalp earned Botham his 355th Test wicket and put him on par with Aussie great Dennis Lillee's record tally of 355 wickets. Hence the inquiry from Gooch.

Some of the current Indian team members can ask Sachin Tendulkar the same question. Like Botham, who always loved a stage, the Indian legend too enjoys putting on a show when the entire world trains its eyes on him. And they will be on Tendulkar when India take on Sri Lanka in the World Cup final at the Wankhede Stadium, in the Master's hometown, Mumbai, on Saturday.

Many feel it's a travesty that Tendulkar's massive talent and impeccable conduct off the field haven't yet culminated in him being in a world champion side. What better way and stage or venue for him to win cricket's ultimate prize than in front of his numerous and passionate fans, and in the process, bring up a century of international centuries.

If it happens, Tendulkar will complete a full circle as he was a ball boy when India played against England at this very venue in the semifinal of the 1987 World Cup . He must have picked up numerous balls from the boundary line as England opener Graham Gooch simply swept the hosts and tournament favourites out of the contest. Watching India crash out of the semis, albeit from the sidelines, must have been heartbreaking for the then 14-year-old, like it was for the rest of the country.

Eight years later, he suffered the heartbreak of seeing India crash out of the semis again as they lost to Sri Lanka by default in Kolkata. This time though Tendulkar didn't watch from the sidelines. He scored a fine 65 off 88 balls on a turning pitch at the Eden Gardens and, in fact, it was his wicket that started the Indian slide.

India have busted the semis hoodoo while playing on home soil in the 2011 edition. If a Tendulkar ton can help MS Dhoni hold aloft the World Cup, the journey from a ball boy to a World Champion will have been a fruitful and emotional one. Now to the million dollar question: Who writes Tendulkar's scripts? Want a clue? Here it is: He opens in ODIs and bats at No. 4 in Tests.

10 things to learn from Japan

10 things to learn from Japan

 

1. THE CALM

Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been elevated.

2. THE DIGNITY

Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture.

3. THE ABILITY

The incredible architects, for instance. Buildings swayed but didn’t fall.

4. THE GRACE

People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.


5. THE ORDER

No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads. Just understanding.


6. THE SACRIFICE

Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water in the N-reactors. How will they ever be repaid?


7. THE TENDERNESS

Restaurants cut prices. An unguarded ATM is left alone. The strong cared for the weak.


8. THE TRAINING

The old and the children, everyone knew exactly what to do. And they did just that.

9. THE MEDIA

They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No silly reporters. Only calm reportage.

10. THE CONSCIENCE

When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly!
 
(This was good to read and i have taken from a group Posting, this is just reposted so other can read & learn)