Why Sachin Tendulkar’s 100th ‘international’ ton is not a milestone?
If there is one Indian who is under more pressure than our honourable Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, then it undoubtedly has to be a certain Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. With chants of “Saccchiiinnnnn….Sachhhhiiiinnnn……Sachhhhiiiiiinnnnnn” bringing the ground to a standstill everytime he takes guard be it during practice or in a match, the ever calm and composed legend has one more monkey which needs to be removed off his back. Yes, the impending 100th international century, so to speak.
Of late, no newspaper preview featuring Indian side has been complete without ringing in a mention of the landmark that awaits the great man. Tendulkar did come dangerously close to getting that magical century at the Wankhede Stadium last month before ‘India’s No.1 villain’ Ravi Rampaul brought an end to the fairytale.
Let me ask you something? Do you know how many wickets Shane Warne has taken internationally? Not many would know. Infact, most won’t.
For the so-called cricket afficianados who want to know, he has 1001 dismissals (293 in One-dayers and 708 in Tests). Now, that brings everyone to this important question. What makes this 100th international century for Sachin a no-meaner? Simple, you are arriving at that number by adding the centuries which Sachin has scored in Tests (51) and in ODIs (48).
What does this mean?
You are combining two different sets of yardsticks and achievements in order to signal a century which in my view is just not correct.
Does that mean Sachin’s debut Test century against England at the Old Trafford in 1990 equal to his debut ODI ton in the Singer Series in Colombo against Australia years later? No. It is not.
Here is why both can’t be compared. Scoring a Test century requires different sets of skillsets—-longer hours of concentration and higher levels of perseverance. Unlike in ODIs, the best in the bowling attack will be at you for hours in Tests, and can keep attacking you till they either get you or tire themselves out.
There are no powerplays in Tests where you can go bang-bang, and one has to be in the peak of his fitness in order to get to that three-figure mark, not in ODIs.
However, this in no way means that ODI hundreds are a cakewalk. But to be clubbing them both and coining a new name for them –international hundreds—is not something which should be done in the first place.
To top it all, writing endlessly about this so-called event is to show scant respect for the man who has toiled hard for the last 22 years in order to bring glory and victories for India. Sachin has brought joy to millions and continues to do so.
But, over the past few innings, Sachin seems to have been weighed down by the expectations, and the earlier he rings in the three-figure mark, the better it is for him and for the Indian team. Sachin at his sublimal best is a threat to the opposition ranks, and a treat to the thousands who would turn up to watch him at various grounds where India plays in Australia this summer.
well said and nice points
http://deepakkarthikspeaks.blogspot.com
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Thanks Deepak
I know India will win this series…all the very best to India
I know India will win this series…all the very best to India. my all the best wishes are with India cricket team…
Nice blog, keep it going!