Thursday, October 14, 2010
This is Sachin's best performance!
Of all the 49 matches where Sachin has scored a century,I'll consider his performance in this match as his best by me.
Well,let me give my reasons:
1.There have been only 7 occasions when Sachin has scored both a Fifty and a Hundred in the same Match.Although Sachin Tendulkar has 20 Match-winning Hundreds to his credit;on almost all occasions-he either played well in 1st Innings and faltered in 2nd Innings,or didn't fare well in the first and made up for it in the 2nd Innings(Like 155* in Chepauk or 103* in Chennai chasing 384)
And there were some instances when he didn't have the need to bat again.This is the only instance where Sachin scored a Double Century and a 53 in the same match in a winning cause.
2.I know that Sachin Tendulkar scored a superb 116 and 52 against Australia in Melbourne,battling against a much powerful attack of Shane Warne,Glenn McGrath,Brett Lee et al and a stoic 241*&60* in Sydney(2004).But,the former was in a hopelessly lost cause,as the rest of the batsmen just threw their wicket cheaply;while in the Latter-India just had to contend with a Draw.
3.For 5 of his other Famous Match-winning knocks;Sachin had the advantage of a good start provided by the openers(165,155*,193,103*,160);on the other hand in this match,when India was down 39-2;it was his knock of 214 and the partnership he built with Murali Vijay,which helped India gain a slender lead of 17.
Murali Vijay's 100+ knock was possible only because of his presence and guidance;I doubt whether he might have crossed even 40 without Sachin.
4.And then,he didn't fail in the 4th Innings.While Pujara built a good platform for the chase,by quickly scoring 72,it was Sachin's 'Watchful start and then all guns ablaze' kinda knock which took us safely to the finishing line.
5.I was happy that he played a completely Important role in the match,doing the leading Act in the 2nd Innings and a supporting role in the 4 th.
6.Not to forget the way he batted with great freedom during the 3rd day,he hit sixes off the same bowler(Nathan Hauritz) to reach his Century.Now,this is Style.And then he 2 successive boundaries to reach his 50 in the 4th Innings.
P.S.:To those who argue that these knocks are not special as they were scored against the worst Australian bowling attack seen in 20 years,let me tell that the Indian bowling attack looked no less good on paper;rather they took advantage of the slight help they found in the picth during the 4th day on both occasions;one has got to accept that Sachin,Laxman and Pujara fared better while facing the bowlers on the last day;than the Australian Batsmen;under trying conditions.
Being a professional,it;s your duty to try your best to win for the Team against every Team you're asked to face,you can't say "I won't score a ton,as the weak Opposition doesn't excite me".Anyway,the current Australian team is not as worse as Zimbabwe or Bangladesh,they're just in a 'Rebuilding' mode,still powerful at home in Tests and no.1 in ODIs.
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