Who is that???

The game of cricket has become more of a batsman oriented one, it is not because of lack of bowlers; It is because of the administrators, the supporters and obviously mind-boggling batsmen. The 90s and early 2000s has seen batsmen like Sachin, Lara, Ponting, Waugh, Inzamam, Kallis etc. But now the most debated topic is who is best Sachin or Lara, Ponting does not come into the league coz he has not played much cricket like these two and one more reason which makes it easy for Ponting to score is he does not have to face the most terrorizing attack in today's world Cricket.

Now for Lara and Tendulkar, who among them is the best? Me being just software professional and a scribbler (Don't think am good enough to be called a writer ;-)). I can't give a verdict on this but I seriously can make a study about these two greats to find the greatest of the greats. I am not going to restrict myself to batting lets see what these two legends are made up of.

Brian Charles Lara, the prince-of-port-of-Spain started with cricket at an early age of 6. After playing fist class cricket a Youth world ups he made his debut against Pakistan at the age of 21. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, the Little Master started his cricket at an age of eleven but his persistence and sheer brilliance brought him into the national squad at the age of 16.

Both Lara and Sachin have had their shares of great moments, injuries, victories, bad patches and losses. Though Sachin is the longest serving in international player, Lara is just a year behind him. Both these players average more than 50 (55 and 53 respectively) in Tests. Having played more than 125 matches, Lara has 34 centuries to his name compared to Sachin's 35.

If we look at how their careers have progressed Sachin had a solid start and was in an awesome form between his 51st to 100th tests. The progress has been deterred by injuries after that and the tests 126-132, is not a record the master might want to look at. Whereas Lara's was a good start followed by some dip in form but after his 75th test Lara's charts are just showing a rise. Lara his 34 centuries to his credit out of which 9 are over 200. He has been known for his ability to play long innings and has also been time and again accused selfish for the same. Sachin does not have these many doubles centuries to his credit. Lara made his first double in his 5th match but Sachin's came very late in his career. If a batsman is to be adjudged as the greatest only by the amount of huge scores made then Lara wins it hands down. But will just huge scores help us win matches. Nopes most of them just end in a draw.

Test matches are all about innings and if we compare them both based on their various innings averages, they play equally well in the 1st match innings, Lara plays it better in second match innings, Sachin is way ahead in 3rd match innings and better by a whisker in 4th. If the second innings which team plays is more important then Sachin is a better player (I am saying this coz time and again I have read arguments as Sachin does not play well in the second innings of his team). Also Lara has been a part of a losing team in 62 tests when compared to Sachin's 37, this is given the fact that Indian team is accused of being big time losses. Sachin holds averages over 50 in tests played at home and away, whereas Lara's away test average is much below his home average and Sachin's away average.

Okie now if people ask me, is it just averages which define a batsman's greatness. The answer is big NO. In today's cricketing world a batsman can be called great for his runs (of course), skills, technique and his contribution to team's cause. This just need not be winning but it could also be saving from a loss. Both of these have amassed a lot of runs, their skill talent and techniques are time-tested. Their contribution to team's cause, well the stats suggests Lara has been a part of a team which has won 32 tests and drawn 35 (61 & 68 averages) compared to Sachin's 41 (64 & 72). Sachin can also help by bowling.

With one day's ruling the contemporary era of cricket lets look their performances here too, before we can think of a conclusion. Sachin has played more ODIs than Lara (nearly a 100). He has 14,479 runs and 142 wkts to his credit against 9948 runs and 4 wkts of Lara's.

Sachin has 40 centuries to his name out of which 15 are at home. Out of Lara's 19, 6 are at home. 1993 was the only year when Lara scored more than 1000 runs in a year where as Sachin has done it in 1994,1996,1997,1998,2000,2003. Though Lara has lost 134 out of his 283 matches (165 out of 371 for Sachin) he has better comparative average in the matches won for his team and in matches won while chasing.

But when it comes to the biggest of all, the world cup, Lara's figures stand way below Sachin's. Even after being accused of unable to deliver in finals time and again, Sachin seems to have performed better than Lara there. It can also be noted that Sachin has played about 36 finals compared to Lara's 19. Is this criterion to question the ability of the prince to bring his team to finals? With the recognition part of Match, Sachin holds the world record with 52 awards to Lara's 30.In this entire span of career Sachin has been captain and played under various captains but his name has not been a part of a lot of controversies whereas Lara has had his date with it all.

Now all these are just numbers though they are huge, both these are master craftsmen, both their team struggles when they lose they get out but I should say Sachin has had more pressure on his shoulders. Tendulkar has been burdened with the traditional comparison with Bradman — an analogy made by the "The Knight" himself, who likened the diminutive Indian to himself in his younger days and he ahs carried the hopes of the Indian Crowd, the most emotional of the Cricketing crowds.

Now let us think of a conclusion (difficult part) who amongst these two will use call as the greatest batsmen, If it is ODIs Sachin wins it heads up, if it is tests there is a stiff competition but can still be called as 60-40 to Lara due to the sheer amount of runs and massive sores. If the argument is taken for the greatest cricketer then Lara doesn't stand anywhere near Sachin because Sachin is an all-rounder (At least when compared to Lara), a team man and the best cricketing personality around. (This is the Sophi touch :-))

Mother of All Matches...Best of all Innings!!

Long time back i was given a TAZ in my team...(For Non-Wiproites , TAZ means Thanks a Zillion), a voucher from landmark for 150 rupees. After too much of introspection and roaming about i decided on a CD. The CD of the India Vs Pak 2003 World Cup match. The match which saw a new face of Indian Cricket. I was in college during that WC and yeah we just enjoyed that Roller coaster ride of Indian team in that series. With Sachin being in prime form, we loved every match of it and every bit of it except the finals. Though all those matches can be written about and talked about as there was something special in each of them, like The Six in Caddick's ball by Sachin in the England match, the Straight drive which could have seriously hurt Aleem Dar in the Namibia match, this match is real real special and so a recap of it all.. Lots would be about Sachin and you have to bear it as you know you are reading the blogspot of Ms.Nitya!

The Build up:Okie, titled as the "Mother of all matches" , India met Arch-Rivals Pakistan in a group match on March 1st 2003. It was a Sunday and the whole of India was hooked on to the TV Set. The Indian line up for the match was Sourav(C),Dravid(VC),Sachin,Sehwag,Kaif,Yuvraj,Pathan,Zaheer,Nehra,Mongia and Kumble. Both the captains exchanged official ties before the start of the match. The toss was won by the Pak Captain Waqar Younis and they elected to bat.

Pak Innings:Pakistanis batted was pretty well i should say. Saeed Anwar(101) led the attack with a century.All the other batsmen played around him.taufeeq Umar(22),Youhana(25),Younis(32) all of them played their parts well.It was all down Rashid Latif and Wasim Akram in the last few overs and they literally stole runs at their pace. At the end of their 50 overs Pakis had scored 273 runs and looked all set to win against India for the first time in a World Cup match as India's highest successful WC run chase till then was 222.

Behind the Scenes: Once the Indian team went into their dressing room, Sachin did not speak to anyone. Was involved in any of the discussions about the chasing.He took a bowl of ice-cream, put his headphones on and went and sat in a corner.Got up from there and padded up just in time (This was shred by the master himself in the recent interview in NDTV). When Sachin and Sehwag started walking down the stairs, Sehwag told Sachin "Don't tell me anything other them Jao aur Lage Raho" and Sachin supposedly answered "I am going to take it to these guys".(Excerpt from John Wright's Indian Summers)

Indian Innings: The Pakistani players who weren't aware of all these, and who had a awesome bowling line up came into the field with all the confidence in the World. Sachin who generally prefers batting second faced the first ball. With Akram opening the bowling the first runs on the board came with Tendulkar flicking Akram to the on-side fence for a sweetly-timed boundary. The Second over is the one which set the tone for the match.Akthar came in at the speed of Rawalpindi Express (;-)) just to be hit all over the ground. The first hit was cut shot, inside out and over the top, sending the ball into the stands several rows back at point for a 6. This was followed by two boundaries in the same over. At the other end Sehwag joined the party very soon by playing a similar cut for 6 in the first ball of Waqar Younis.The Indians raced to the team 50 in 30 balls. When the score was 53, Sehwag got out playing a loose shot. The next ball up Sourav Ganguly was walking back to the pavilion.(One more reason for me to like this match!!! :-) )

Phase 2: Promoted up the order, Kaif started slowly playing around Sachin.The master ensured that the RR was no where affected. When he was in 32 , Razzaq dropped Sachin and by that probably the match. Akram was visibly vivid with Razzaq for that. There was no stopping from then on. Sachin presented a bouquet to shots to entertain the 20,000 + crowd there.India reached 100 in 12 overs. Sachin crossed 12,000 odi runs. With the huge pressure and heat Sachin started to cramp badly, he was given assistance between the overs. Mohd.Kaif got out when the score was 155, which brought Dravid to the crease.

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Finally:When Sachin was on 98, the pain increasing he got his clone as his runner.Shoaib who came in for his third spell bowled a brute of a delivery, rearing from a length that got the better of Tendulkar. The master fell just two runs short of a most deserving ton. Tendulkar departed on 98 (75 balls, 12 fours, 1 six) in the 28th over.At that juncture we needed only a further 97 runs for victory in more than 20 overs. Yuvraj Singh(50*) and Dravid (44*) played as sensibly as they can and took India to 274 with about 4 overs to spare. The smiles in the Indian dressing room said it all. After being bashed up and let down by the nation after they had lost to Aussies 10 days back,they were National heroes again. Sachin without any doubt was declared the man of the match yet again. This was a day when every cricket fan would been happy. Yet again, one man had played the game as well as it could be.

Indian Summers - A Review

John Wright's Indian Summers, for people who have not yet read it this books is something like an insight into John's memories. He has used a very simple language in his book and a very neat writing style. The best part being keeping to his topics, coz when you are talking about Indian Cricket its very easy that you dont stay with your topic at all. The book is racy and spicy at some points.The book gives details into the Wright and Ganguly led team which has Test wins overseas in less than five years than Indian cricket had achieved in the previous 70 while raising standards of fitness and professionalism within the team to unprecedented levels.

He has started the book with how life all of a sudden changed when he decided to quit cricket, some internals into his last series, then about working as a manager in a firm. Its after that John took up to coaching some of the local county teams and then how it all changed when he took his flight to India.It has its share of interesting anecdotes about various matches, places, and players. It also has some chapters, devoted to how team selection, the business of cricket and of how aspiring young cricketers in India are mercilessly winnowed down. These chapters are where Wright’s upright style and insider status is well utilized to give the fans an insight to the dressing room happenings.

The best thing about the book is the Wright’s obvious love for the game, for Indians and for Indian cricket, as well as his unpretentious honesty and his self-deprecatory humor. The thing that a serious fan of cricket and of the Indian team will find missing, almost painfully so, is the lack of any substantive information beyond a few platitudes here and there on what made the relationship between Ganguly and Wright so successful. It somehow looked as Wright is reluctant to reveal about his relationship with the then captain. Wright discusses a lot about his relationship with Leipus and Adrian Le Roux than his relationship with captain Ganguly or even vice captain Dravid for that matter. The one whole chapter has been dedicated for Jaggu, and that gives us some real insight to the Brains of the master tactitian.

Wright has also looked at himself critically ("I knew straight away that rather than ripping into Viru (Sehwag), I should have walked away, gone for a stroll around the ground or ducked into the nearest pub"), and admits to mistakes. Thankfully, he springs the odd "I told you so": more an acknowledgement that the joke was on him than any aspiration to righteousness. Also his notes on how he had to get it out of Sachin about where he wants to bat ( Sachin always replied as Wherever the team wants me to), what happened in SA following the loss to Aussies in the group match, the handling of the "HOT POTATO" problem during the Multan test ( Declaration when Sachin was on 194*).

On the whole this has come out as a neat autobiography style book but its only about 5 years of his life, when team India scaled real heights, but as far as my knowledge goes if at all Greg Chappel is going to come out with an Indian Winters, that might be even more interesting.