Sachin always flops when he is near any big milestone

[Brainfade]

OP: Sachin always flops when he is near any big milestone If that were the case, how does he even reach those milestones? Something ain't jellin.

[zep1706]

His body language man. When ganguly says sachin was nervous abt the record' date=' we should believe it right? he should be passionate abt india's score, not his.[/quote'] This. I am a big fan of SRT but he definitely values individual records a lot more than he should. It is quite apparent from the way he plays in the 90s. Even after scoring 99 international hundreds, his game changes a lot whenever he reaches 90+, he looks vulnerable all of a sudden, he just cannot continue his natural game. But then no one is perfect.

[akshayxyz]

His body language man. When ganguly says sachin was nervous abt the record' date=' we should believe it right? he should be passionate abt india's score, not his.[/quote'] For every player, there are anxious moments early on - regardless of milestones. And in this series there are many more things that can cloud the mind than just a thought of 100th 100.

[CrazyCric]

I think Sachin might play 2015 WC even

[Blue Panther]

For every player, there are anxious moments early on - regardless of milestones. And in this series there are many more things that can cloud the mind than just a thought of 100th 100.

Look, i am a big sachin fan, But sometimes i feel like he should just play his natural game and forget abt all the records. He looked at his best when he was getting on his front foot in the last match. He should try to do it more often. I am sure sachin is due for a big score in this series. I have never seen him failing to score big in a test series, if he fails this time in this series, then i am sure we all know the reason behind it.

[akshayxyz]

I think Sachin might play 2015 WC even

If he can repeat WC2011 performance, then why not. But I would rather have him focus on tests only, and slowly give up ODI and T20s (immediately) for good. With his level of experience, skill set and work ethics, it would be treat to watch him in tests - if he is completely free from T20s/ODIs.

[akshayxyz]

Look, i am a big sachin fan, But sometimes i feel like he should just play his natural game and forget abt all the records. He looked at his best when he was getting on his front foot in the last match. He should try to do it more often. I am sure sachin is due for a big score in this series. I have never seen him failing to score big in a test series, if he fails this time in this series, then i am sure we all know the reason behind it.

fair enough. But I would need more evidence than random body-language reads to agree that it is due to mental pressure of 100th 100. I would rather attribute it to lack of match practice and added pressure due to many other factors that have went wrong in this series and very importantly good play by England. There can always be a good opponent on the otherside (whether then_in_form, or overall good)..attributing every win to our good play, and every loss to our bad play is not fair. We had our share of bad luck (injuries, pressure, lack of practice....), but England has grabbed the opportunity with both hands by playing very well.

[zep1706]

Look, i am a big sachin fan, But sometimes i feel like he should just play his natural game and forget abt all the records. He looked at his best when he was getting on his front foot in the last match. He should try to do it more often. I am sure sachin is due for a big score in this series. I have never seen him failing to score big in a test series, if he fails this time in this series, then i am sure we all know the reason behind it.

I agree with you on the main issue but I don't think it's just the thought of 100th 100 that's causing all the errors. It happens, he definitely looks tentative, but I wouldn't say it's just because of that reason. He's lost his form,as simple as that,overall the pressure on the team and his importance in this tour may have got into his head. Also he should not have missed the test series in WI. He would have got enough rest by not playing the pajama series there. I hope he finds his form soon.

[Blue Panther]

fair enough. But I would need more evidence than random body-language reads to agree that it is due to mental pressure of 100th 100. I would rather attribute it to lack of match practice and added pressure due to many other factors that have went wrong in this series and very importantly good play by England. There can always be a good opponent on the otherside (whether then_in_form, or overall good)..attributing every win to our good play, and every loss to our bad play is not fair. We had our share of bad luck (injuries, pressure, lack of practice....), but England has grabbed the opportunity with both hands by playing very well.

Thats what sourav was saying in the post match analysis after the first innings. He asked him to get on to the front foot and start driving. I won't buy that lack of match practice is one the reason for his failure. Because he skipped the practice match few days back. England did bowled very well but the south african attack was way better when he scored his 50th century in sa. We still have 3 innings to go and he might score a century and prove me wrong. I will be very happy if he proves me wrong. :--D

[Blue Panther]

I agree with you on the main issue but I don't think it's just the thought of 100th 100 that's causing all the errors. It happens' date=' he definitely looks tentative, but I wouldn't say it's just because of that reason. [b']He's lost his form,as simple as that,overall the pressure on the team and his importance in this tour may have got into his head. Also he should not have missed the test series in WI. He would have got enough rest by not playing the pajama series there. I hope he finds his form soon.

Yeah he looks out of form. I agree with u.

[akshayxyz]

Remember 2010 NZ series - at home - coming after spectacular performance against OZ, just few weeks earlier..Everyone was counting #of tons he would score against NZ.... Ranking was at stake at that time too (esp NZ being low ranked), he failed...but someone else stood up and made it count...we won, and individual 'failures' were spared.....what more, Bhajji was one of the 'key batsman' against NZ at home!!! This time, nothing has gone our way. That is why people are reading too much into individual performances.. and SRT in particular. About milestones getting into his head... in WC too, there were many things - last world cup, 50th ODI 100.. some or some number - hyped by public.. but yet he performed.

[yoshi]

i think he played really well to get in the 2nd ininings against a quality attack that all wanted his scalp esp anderson. I think he should have played last week in the 2 day match. Having mukund bat was a complete waste of time and shows how unorganised we are. Kirsten would have not allowed that. Thinking back to 2007 sachin played against england A as well as the south africa games. I think he felt he had a lot to prove after the world cup. To be honest all the english bowlers go after him early as once he gets to 25-30 his muscle memory kicks in and hes impossible to get out. Still he is still the most talented batsmen of either team

[WC2011INDIA]

Pepsi Co. must be extremely pissed. They already have spent billions on special Sachin 100th ton pepsi cans, but are waiting.........I don't think Sachin will get his 100th ton in England.

[tapish]

Yes i feel the same, he gets nervous and one can make out from his face that hes gonna give his wicket away. i remember his wicket on 98 when he got out to marcus north in mohali last year when he missed a straight ball, how can a player whos on 98 miss a straight ball ? Nervousness is the only answer. And a player who has played for 22 years shouldn't be getting nervous nearing milestones coz he shouldn't be bothered by them. he must play for the team and what he does he play for records.

[tapish]

Pepsi Co. must be extremely pissed. They already have spent billions on special Sachin 100th ton pepsi cans' date=' but are waiting.........I don't think Sachin will get his 100th ton in England.[/quote'] True but thats coke and not pepsi. He wont get his 100th 100 even in the odi series mark it down.

[pinkfreud]

My issue with Sachin as of now is not so much about him not reaching his milestone as it is about him simply not stepping up to the plate. When it comes to batting, we were cursed right from the start of the series thanks to our openers (Sehwag and Gambo) suffering from some injury or the other. Sehwag came back for the 3rd Test, but you can't expect him to go ahead and bombard England immediately after his return, that too without having any practice whatsoever. Mukund is a newbie, so we can't expect him to keep performing in all games. Gambo has also been lacklustre, but he's been having that elbow niggle for a while now. Dravid has been our most consistent batsman so far, and though VVS hasn't been able to convert his starts into huge scores, he has made valuable contributions. What has Sachin done so far in this series? He's just been an epic fail- epic, because as a #4 batsman, you're expected to stay there for a while and not get so hassled due to the seriousness of the situation (top order collapse) to the point where you allow the opposition to dictate terms instead of the other way around. He's been uneasy throughout, and I've yet to see him break free from those mental shackles and play like his usual self. This is all the more a matter of concern when you note that he's been in prime form of late, and that he'd gone to England way before the team arrived there. Whatever happened to him getting prepared and accustomed to English conditions? Add to that him not playing that practice match, which he should have given his shoddy performance in the Tests. Dravid didn't play against the Northants either, but at least he's proved his mettle in the earlier games. ...that's not to say that all the other guys can be excused though. The likes of Raina and Dhoni have only magnified their weaknesses when they're playing Tests outside India- but my main concern is the middle order, of which Sachin is such a crucial part. One doesn't expect him to be so meek after so many years of playing Test cricket. Will the real Sachin please stand up?