Sachin Tendulkar: A Tribute to the World's Greatest Batsman
Three Cheers! Sachin Tendulkar has won the Coopers and Lybrand Award for best Test cricketer of the Year (based on performances in the last 12 months), backed by an amazing 40% of votes as the best test cricketer in a survey conducted by CricInfo (the largest cricket site on the 'net).
At 25 years of Age, The World's best batsman has more international centuries than his age (32), is rated the no.1 batsman by Wisden and the Cooper and Lybrand's Ratings, has won many "Man of the Match" Awards, and still has a long, long way to go.............
The star of Indian Cricket, more like a GOD in India, Sachin Tendulkar, is the Best Batsman in the World Today, and perhaps the finest ever. He possesses all the strokes in the book, and is probably the best cutter and straight driver of the ball today. He is very deft on his feet, even to the best of pace bowlers, and the deceptive flight of Shane Warne and Saqlain Mushtaq. He was the leading run scorer in 1996 World Cup, scoring 2 cenuries, and 3 fifties, a record in itself. He has scored 15 centuries, in ODIs which happens to be the 2nd best in the history of the game, only 2nd Haynes. Only 24 yrs. of age, Tendulkar had the responsibility of being the captain of a team needing much improvement before being replaced by Azharuddin in December 1997. Ever since he was appointed captain in late 1996, his avg. had gone down from approx. 41 to 38.44, with an avg. of 28.55 in 1997. He has also got an impressive test record, scoring 16 centuries, at an avg. above 54. Now Tendulkar is back to the height of his form and his average has gone up to a whopping 40+.
Tendulkar is a batsman who does not like to be kept quiet, in tests or in one dayers. He always wants to dominate the bowlers, and he does an excellent job of it. But this is also the reason why he has not scored any big centuries in first class cricket. He always gets out trying to go over the top. His strike rate in One Dayers is over 85 per 100 balls, which is superb. He is an excellent hitter of the ball- he uses one of the heaviest bats- and he holds the record for most sixes by an Indian in a one dayer- 7 sixes !
His technique is impeccable, he packs trmendous power and strength into his short, stocky frame, and his ability to time the ball is exemplary, making him the most dreaded batsman in ODI cricket. He is also an effective slog over bowler. Tendulkar is also one of the best fielders in the world.
Standing as captain, he lead India to victory against RSA and Pakistan. After being sacked as captain Sachin is in excellent form and has made it to the number 1 spot in the prestigious Coopers and Lybrands Ratings. He has also climbed to the no.1 spot in the very important and prestigious Wisden Cricket ratings based in his test performances in the last two years, scoring at an average of above 57 in 26 tests. In 1998, he has scored 3 centuries in one dayers and 2 in tests.