Poll - Tendulkar Greatness

[goose]

Had Tendulkar curtailed his career and retired from the sport in 1999, or thereabouts, would history judge him to be a greater player than current perception?

[Predator_05]

Absolutely Tendulkar from 1989 'til 1999; 73 matches, 5841 runs @ 56.70 with 22 hundreds and 23 fifties.

[Lurker]

Not in 1999, but in 2003 yes. As a cricket fan who has seen 3 Indian greats break world records - Sunil Gavaskar crossing 10,000 runs(and becoming leading scorer), Kapil Dev taking 431 and becoming highest wicket taker..and SRT with 12,000 runs now - I can safely say the response to SRT's record has been the most lukeworm. Now one can attribute it to sheer number of records falling these days, or to number of people calling for SRT head. Regardless it is safe to say SRT doesnt have the same aura in 2008 as he had in 2003 and yes that would have made him a different player when it came to all time list.. My 2 paisa.

[msb1991]

1999 would have been a tad early, but 2003 and the answer is a resounding yes.

[Ram]

In cricket, Greatness often = Longevity. Tendulkar is admired not just by his fans, but also by his peers, not because he can score big 100s, or play silken straight drives or hit ODI 100s, but because he's been doing that for 20 years. Now, the 20 years is the important point here. Read any article written by a current of former cricketet written on Sachin and I can bet that they will never miss saying that what amazes them most about Sachin is how he's been so consistent for so long. In fact, this is what Kumar Sangakkara had to say about Sachin in his recent cricinfo article: 'I remember playing in a charity game in 2003 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Thousands of people turned out to watch the match and the familiar chant filled the ground as he walked out to take strike with Virender Sehwag. However, two overs later, Sachin's dismissal was followed by pin-drop silence. As he left the field, the only sound was the murmur of the dispersing crowd. For me, that kind of pressure every single day, and the lack of a truly private life, would, I believe, prove too much. But Sachin, somehow, has taken it in his stride for an incredible 20 years almost. To my mind that ranks as a higher achievement than the long lists of statistical records he has claimed. Playing for India is no easy task. The pressure to perform in every single outing, to win every single match, is tremendous. Magnify that a thousand-fold and that is what Sachin has to deal with.' Can other batsman score as many runs as Sachin typically scores in a year? Yes. Can other batsman win as many test matches for his team as he has? Yes. Can other batsman score as many runs in a calender year of tests as he has? Yes Can other batsman do these for 20 years? Not really and THIS is where the difference lies. The greatness of Sachin doesnt lie in the astronomical numbers he has managed to notch up; Over 27,000 international runs with more than 75 100s. The greatness lies in the fact that he's done it again and again, for 20 years. And that, Ladies and gentleman, is unparalled in post-WW 2 cricket history. So, addressing the OP, No, I strongly disagree that had Sachin retired in 1999, he would have been remembered in the annals of cricket as a better player. His legacy grows with every passing match, every passing 100. ---------- Link to full Sangakkara's article: http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/current/story/374341.html

[goose]

^ interesting viewpoint. Am i alone in thinking there was a groundswell of opinion forming in 1999, as blasphemous as it was, that should Tendulkar carry on in the same vein for a couple of more years, he'd rank alongside if not above Bradman. Media men and players alike could hardly fathom anyone, even Bradman, could actually bat better than what they were witnessing first-hand.

[Ram]

^ interesting viewpoint. Am i alone in thinking there was a groundswell of opinion forming in 1999, as blasphemous as it was, that should Tendulkar carry on in the same vein for a couple of more years, he'd rank alongside if not above Bradman. Media men and players alike could hardly fathom anyone, even Bradman, could actually bat better than what they were witnessing first-hand.

No, in 1999, he was the unequivocal no.1 batsman in the world. Now he is not. To me, thats the only difference. Then, a worldwide audience were simply vowed by a dimunitive child prodigy coming from a Eastern country playing all sorts of magical innings. But, I am 100% sure that if we had taken a poll among international cricketers in 99 ( forget the opinion of ordinary fans like us. Most of the times, our opinion is manipulated by the media) and now with the question 'Do you think Sachin is a great of the game?', the 2008 poll will have a higher % of respondents saying yes. I say this again, the most amazing aspect of Sachin's career has been his consistency, not just for 1,2 or 5 years. He’s been doing this for 20 freaking years. Of course, there have been batsman as gifted as him. People like Mark Waugh, Saeed Anwar, Aravinda De Silva are just a few to name from the 90’s era. But, why does Sachin tower over all above them? Coz his once contemporaries are all long gone, while he soldiers on manfully. And why is it so hard for cricketers to do what Sachin has done? Simple, coz we’re all human. People lose interest or motivation or both. They get caught up in controversies or their personal lives go into turmoil affecting their cricket. Or maybe, their body simply gives up. I see playing international cricket as no different from doing a day job. As much as it may seem glamorous and glitzy on the tele, in reality, it’s a tough life. Most of the time, you have to keep touring, spend time away from family and friends. Then there is the massive grind that you subject your body to on the field while playing and off it while training. Add to this the numerous times you have subject yourself to the surgeon’s knife to heal injuries. All this takes a massive toll on people, which is why, beyond a point, they simply raise their hands and say ‘I’ve had enough of this’ and walk away. And yet, Sachin has endured all this for 20 years and till today, his performance levels are as good as ever before. But Sachin has risen above all these mortal considerations and maintained his standards of excellence, for a duration that no other modern day cricketer has been able to match. Its not hard to be a wonderful batsman. Many have done it. Every year, we have new top scorer a new star on the block. What is hard is the fact of being able maintain those standards for 2 decades. Therein lies Sachin's true greatness!

[Online]

Can other batsman score as many runs as Sachin typically scores in a year? Yes. Can other batsman win as many test matches for his team as he has? Yes. Can other batsman score as many runs in a calender year of tests as he has? Yes Can other batsman do these for 20 years? Not really and THIS is where the difference lies.

Briliant stuff :two_thumbs_up: :hatsoff:

[goose]

can't agree. it's those very journalists that wheel out 'longevity' as his biggest asset that do Tendulkar a huge disservice. Cricket scribes the world over go by recent form and perception. In his pomp, his longevity meant nothing to me. What he did with the bat right there before my eyes, regardless of his numbers, is what wowed and mesmerised me. Most articles nowadays stink of chinese whispers. His career has been so long that his true skill level has been lost on many

[goose]

a interesting exchange between Ram and I.

[fineleg]

WC2011 was perfect time to retire from ODIs. That is NOT in hindsight. He should have done that. But its upto him, and he did not. However, in hindsight, WC2011 would have been a great time to retire from ODIs and Tests. (But we all thought he had more to offer in Tests so this one is a hindsight based one). Best timing (from Indian players) is prolly Sunny Gavaskar.

[Sidhoni]

WC2011 was perfect time to retire from ODIs. That is NOT in hindsight. He should have done that. But its upto him, and he did not. However, in hindsight, WC2011 would have been a great time to retire from ODIs and Tests. (But we all thought he had more to offer in Tests so this one is a hindsight based one). Best timing (from Indian players) is prolly Sunny Gavaskar.

Kumble as well. I think Dravid was also quick to realize after one bad series.

[Lord]

Kumble as well. I think Dravid was also quick to realize after one bad series.

Dravid retired too early imo.we needed him in England series

[Pagalpanti]

Tendulkar should've retired from ODI's after 2011, there was absolutely no point in him continuing since it was quite clear before World cup that he was preserving himself for this tournament. As far as test cricket is concerned I guess he's called it quits at the right time. We needed him on those away tours.

Dravid retired too early imo.we needed him in England series

We might've won the England series but Pujara wouldn't have settled his position in the team. So in a way that move proved to better for Indian test team in the long term.

[Lord]

We might've won the England series but Pujara wouldn't have settled his position in the team. So in a way that move proved to better for Indian test team in the long term.

Maybe Dravid could have played at 5-6?

[Trichromatic]

Tendulkar from 11 Feb 1993 to 2 Jan 2011 155 matches 13475 runs 59.36 average 47 hundreds

[Yoda-esque]

Tendulkar from 11 Feb 1993 to 2 Jan 2011 155 matches 13475 runs 59.36 average 47 hundreds

Amazing stat

[Trichromatic]

Amazing stat

Way better than entire career stat of any other batsman of his era.

[vamos_rafa]

I feel that everyone would realize Sachin's true greatness one his retirement has sunk in. He has been an integral part of our lives for so long that we don't realize his true contributions.

[Ibes]

I feel that everyone would realize Sachin's true greatness one his retirement has sunk in. He has been an integral part of our lives for so long that we don't realize his true contributions.

One just has to look at Sanga to appreciate what Sachin has done for us every single series.