Sachin, not the farmer

[coffee_rules]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/south-africa-v-india-2010/content/current/story/493570.html

Tendulkar didn't farm the strike. He exposed Sreesanth and, after his dismissal, Jaidev Unadkat to the fiery quicks, Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. Sreesanth fell when he was given three balls to face from Morkel, and Unadkat when he had to deal with an entire over from Steyn.

Smith and Co are accusing him of not farming the strike enough on D5. Didnt see it, but is that a valid argument? May be, like Waugh, he believes, farming the strike and protecting a tailender is not to be done. IMO, given the match conditions, it was not possible to force a win, so there was no need to farm the strike and take risks for the next test. We are still in T1, T2 could be won by India.

[saneindian]

Smith's cockiness and arrogance (mocked India by saying We have heard a lot about India, talked about our batters dont do well away from home etc) could come back to bite him hard.

[Sid]

Well thread's title is deceptive :D

[Andy]

Am loving this, I wish something like Sydney Gate Happens. They are digging their own hole.

[CSK Fan]

So South Africans are having a go at out best bat and biggest threat on the tour? I think they are in for a surprise when we make a comeback in the next test

[gs]

An innings defeat might have been avoided had Sachin farmed the strike a bit. It's of pointless symbolic significance only since a defeat is a defeat, but might have been good for Indian morale.

[Sachin=GOD]

The Saffers are digging their own grave.

[Shehezaada]

I don't understand Tendulkar's approach on Day 5.....I would have loved for him to try to farm the strike, not give in so easily. Or launch a fierce counter attack. Either way some signal to the South Africans that we are gonna fight till the last drop.

[Serani]

Was a hopeless cause so cant really blame him playing for the not out.

[Shehezaada]

Was a hopeless cause so cant really blame him playing for the not out.

see the thing is, amazing things in life often happen to those people who truly believe it to happen. Look at the best comeback in sports history, and look at some of the circumstances. Richards century comes to mind when he batted with the #11. Even look at our own comebacks, the Eden Gardens test against Australia. Sure the situation was almost impossible, but not totally impossible. I didn't expect him to bat out the 90 overs in company of Sree and Unadkat, but I did expect a better fight from someone who's fought for us for over 21 years. Someone who ALWAYS fought when the chips were down, and even did in this match. I'm just a little puzzled at his approach on Day 5.

[Ram]

The Saffies are going all out with their verbal tactics. They obviously sense that India are on the backfoot and want to drive home the advantage. Thats probably the only the reason Smith talked about Sachin not farming the strike in response to a totally unrelated question. But, why Sachin wouldnt want to have as much as the strike as possible, I am not quite sure. I guess they had already resigned themselves to the inevitability of the defeat and so didnt really try too hard, which is understandable, coz this game was long gone. But in general terms, I'd love to hear the what the proponents of the 'trust-your-tailender' strategy have to say about this. Lets say India were 150 runs ahead going into the final day with two wickets in hand, would they have still supported Sachin's tactics of handing guys like Sreesanth and Unadkat the challenge of facing two of the more deadly quick bowlers of world cricket?

[King Tendulkar]

SA making masisve mistake just like aussies have done over years. And that is making snide comments and verbaly slamming us in public. Indian teams in general is very easy going and frankly casual at times, all they are doing is winding us up and effectivley giving dhoni and kirsten their team talk. Our boys will be fired up and pumped now, saffies gonna face the wrath of a pumped up indian team, which is rare. All we need is some jelly beans and smith and co might as well not turn up for durban!

[Serani]

see the thing is, amazing things in life often happen to those people who truly believe it to happen. Look at the best comeback in sports history, and look at some of the circumstances. Richards century comes to mind when he batted with the #11. Even look at our own comebacks, the Eden Gardens test against Australia. Sure the situation was almost impossible, but not totally impossible. I didn't expect him to bat out the 90 overs in company of Sree and Unadkat, but I did expect a better fight from someone who's fought for us for over 21 years. Someone who ALWAYS fought when the chips were down, and even did in this match. I'm just a little puzzled at his approach on Day 5.

Maybe he was tring to get a lead and the he would farm the strike and play some shots? Who knows, all I know is that Unadkat would not last long against steyn and morkel. SO pretty much a hopeless situation

[Ravi.]

Lol if any SA would have done what Tendulkar did today then same ICF users would have called him selfish. Lol always different parameters to. judge Tendulkar.

[Sachin=GOD]

Lol if any SA would have done what Tendulkar did today then same ICF users would have called him selfish. Lol always different parameters to. judge Tendulkar.

Lol. if any other batsman would have made this century, it would have been "one that nearly saved the match for his team" but it was Goddy, so this innings is "one that failed to win the match for India". Lol always different parameters to judge Goddy.

[Online]

see the thing is, amazing things in life often happen to those people who truly believe it to happen.

:two_thumbs_up:

[gs]

In hindsight, it was a poor decision by SRT but that shouldn't take away the credit from his fantastic knock. It wouldn't have impacted the outcome of the game in any way, so let's give him some slack and move on.

[vvvslaxman]

I disagree. I personally think Tendulkar should have done a better job with tail. I remember how Alan Border protected Gilbert during 1985 tour. They added 77 for last wicket. In the end rain came promptly and saved the match for Australia. But for that brilliant partnership India would have won it. Atleast for first 10 or 15 overs where they were going to be fast and furious Sachin should have farmed the strike better. Even if there was 1% chance Sachin should have taken it. It was not good of Sachin to expose inexperienced tail to such hostile bowling. Steyn could have hurt either of them.

[jhakati]

good example why many consider tendulkar a good batsman but one who plays for records and cracks under pressure. allowing sreesanth and unadkat to face the SA bowling was unreal, unbelievable.

[Laaloo]

I disagree. I personally think Tendulkar should have done a better job with tail. I remember how Alan Border protected Gilbert during 1985 tour. They added 77 for last wicket. In the end rain came promptly and saved the match for Australia. But for that brilliant partnership India would have won it. Atleast for first 10 or 15 overs where they were going to be fast and furious Sachin should have farmed the strike better. Even if there was 1% chance Sachin should have taken it. It was not good of Sachin to expose inexperienced tail to such hostile bowling. Steyn could have hurt either of them.

I agree. I too wanted to see Sachin face Morkel and Steyn for majority of the time. There was rain predicted later in the day. And accepting defeat before the day even began was just not on. It would have been better had Sachin made Steyn and company bowled a few more overs. Cricket is a funny game after all. :headshake: