Two hundred Tests excites Sachin

[zubinpepsi]

Two hundred Tests excites Sachin August 8, 2010, 9:30 pm by Rex Clementine Star batsman Sachin Tendulkar last week broke the world record for most Test appearances, going past former Australian captain Steve Waugh. The third Test against Sri Lanka at the P. Sara Oval was Tendulkar’s 169th. Not long ago, playing 100 Tests was considered the hallmark of a great player and confirmation of the player’s longevity, but Tendulkar, who has literally broken all batting records seems to be raising the bar beyond imagination. Even a landmark of 200 Test matches looks not beyond the 37-year-old’s reach and Tendulkar is keeping his fingers crossed. "I don’t know. Thirty one Tests more left, a lot of time left," he said speaking to ‘The Island’ after the final Test at the P. Sara Oval, responding to a question whether the 200 barrier was a possibility. "I never thought that I would be able to play 169 Tests. I just go out and enjoy my cricket. The number of matches has taken a lot of time, almost 21 years. I can only say that whatever cricket I am playing, I am enjoying it and hopefully it will be the same in the future. The task of counting the number of matches, I will leave it to the others," he added. Tendulkar scored a crucial half-century as India won the third Test on the final day to square the series 1-1, but his defining moment came when he scored a double hundred at SSC in the second Test the previous week after India required more than 400 runs to avoid the follow on. "I don’t think that it was only because of my double hundred things began to change. But yes, that double hundred was very handy because we could draw the Test. I had a very good partnership with Suresh Raina, which was crucial," Tendulkar said. India had struggled not too long ago chasing fourth innings totals and the trend seems to be changing of late. While they chased 257 runs successfully at the P. Sara on Saturday, two years ago, they chased 387 and won against England in Chennai when Tendulkar got a hundred and shared an unbroken 163 run stand with Yuvraj Singh for India to win by six wickets. "Somewhere it has to start, it can’t go on like that. We tried earlier also, you keep trying and that is how you succeed one day. And once you have tasted success, you know how it feels. And Chennai was obviously special but this one also, looking at the kind of surface and bowling attack, I thought we did really well." In two decades of Test cricket, Tendulkar has scored most runs in Tests apart from holding the record for most Test centuries. He also holds both those batting records in ODIs as well. He claimed that the pride of playing for India kept him motivated all these years. "The support and good wishes of people is very important. When you go out to bat, you know that so many people are backing you to do well, score runs and win games for the team. It’s a great feeling, I feel special. When I was a kid, I wanted to play for the country and I am living that dream now. What can be bigger than that? "Where India wins, I win and when India loses, I lose. Even if I don’t score and the team wins, the atmosphere in the dressing room makes me happy. We are playing for a larger cause; we all try to do different things as a group. As a team, we have set ourselves a target and we try to achieve that. Before every match, there is only one objective, which is to win it." Although off-spinner Suraj Randiv has done well in the two Tests he has played so far, since replacing Muttiah Muralitharan for the second Test at the SSC, the absence of Muralitharan has been felt with questions being raised whether the Sri Lankan attack is good enough to take 20 wickets. Tendulkar, nevertheless, provided support for the Sri Lankan bowlers when he said that they are capable of achieving greater things. "Murali has worked hard and similarly other guys playing for Sri Lanka will have to do that. It’s tough to achieve what Murali has achieved and if we are always going to compare the bowlers to Murali, it’s a wrong. You’ve got to respect the individual for what he has contributed to Sri Lankan cricket and also respect the other individuals who have their own identity. In time to come, who knows, one of these guys might end up getting 400-500 wickets. That’s when we will start appreciating them." ------------------- so can he make it??????

[Online]

nice to see the hunger, hope he plays on and on and on and on and on.

[mastana]

His fans are also excited. :woot:

[Rajan]

i am really very releived after reading this. i had this apprehension for quite some time- that is whether SRT will stop after world cup 2011. now that he is keen and is looking beyond 2011,that is the possibility of 31 more tests, which would be at least (2 Vs Aus + 3 Vs SA + 3 Vs NZ), 23 tests in possibly till 2013. going by his current form, he would be around even after Dravid retires and would be the guiding force for the next set of formidable indian batsmen like Kohli/Rohit/pujara/rahane/raina/vijay/Mukund/Nayar......

[b555]

cant say more

[saneindian]

India play about 25 tests till 2011. 2 vs Aus at home 3 vs NZ at home 3 vs SA in SA 4 vs WI in WI 4 vs Eng in Eng 3 vs WI at home 4 vs Aus in Aus If the BCCI can arraneg for a few more test series in between, it does look a disticnt possibility.

[Karan114]

4 vs WI in WI

Doubt it, the IPL is scheduled around the same time. SRT will miss the chance to add to his sole Test hundred in WI because of T20 tamasha :((

[saneindian]

Doubt it' date=' the IPL is scheduled around the same time. SRT will miss the chance to add to his sole Test hundred in WI because of T20 tamasha :(([/quote'] IPL starts in Mid March and ends in first week of May. From mid of May to around end of June, we have 45 days to play a series in WI before starting the England tour in July. Edit: WC starts on 19th feb and ends on 2nd April. IPl starts in 2nd week of April and runs for 51 days, ending in last week of May. Only hope for a series in WI is to play a 3 test series before commencing the Eng tour in July., hopefully BCCI will be proactive in cutting down the IPL 4 to around 40 days and will ensure that the WI series is played.

[mastana]

IPL starts in Mid March and ends in first week of May. From mid of May to around end of June, we have 45 days to play a series in WI before starting the England tour in July.

Who will play World Cup 2011? :finger:

[Karan114]

hopefully BCCI will be proactive in cutting down the IPL 4 to around 40 days and will ensure that the WI series is played.

:hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical:

[akshayxyz]

Boss wont retire, even Mayans knew it - the world is going to end in 2012. :)

[saneindian]

:hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical:

Didn't MAK Pataudi say something similar some months back?

[Karan114]

Didn't MAK Pataudi say something similar some months back?

I have no idea, but the thought of the BCCI cutting down the IPL to fit in more Test matches is just hilarious, I'm afraid :cantstop:

[DomainK]

His partnerships with Arjun Tendulkar will be great to watch.

[EnterTheVoid]

India play about 25 tests till 2011. 2 vs Aus at home 3 vs NZ at home 3 vs SA in SA 4 vs WI in WI 4 vs Eng in Eng 3 vs WI at home 4 vs Aus in Aus If the BCCI can arraneg for a few more test series in between, it does look a disticnt possibility.

These, I am looking forward to.