What's wrong with Tendulkar's batting?

[Tiger80]

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Addictions/entry/what-s-wrong-with-tendulkar-s-batting For the second innings in a row in the ongoing Test series against New Zealand, Sachin Tendulkar was clean bowled. On 17, the batting maestro went for a drive to an overpitched ball. His feet werenÃÕ exactly there. There was a huge gap between the bat and pad and the moving delivery sneaked in and crashed into the stumps. This time the 39-year-old didnÃÕ even pretend that the ball had kept low as he had in the previous Test at Hyderabad when he had got out on 19. Tendulkar didnÃÕ even look back at the damaged furniture. He simply walked. An hour later, when young guns Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina had set India back on the road to partial recovery, commentators Sunil Gavaskar and Sanjay Manjrekar got into an extremely interesting discussion about the dismissal. Gavaskar said that the dismissal was a ÅØorrying sign and that the batting maestroÃÔ feet had not moved as it should and his eyes did not pick up the ball as they should have. He also pointed out that there was a difference in a batsman getting out bowled and getting out in other ways. He also pointed out how Rahul Dravid, nicknamed The Wall for his impregnable defence, got bowled frequently towards the *** end of an illustrious career. It doesnÃÕ require a batting genius like Gavaskar to notice an obvious truth: that these days Tendulkar is nowhere close to what he was in his pomp. In his prime, he did things that most other batsmen could only dream of. Now, as I have written before, he is like a millionaire fallen on middle class days. There are sure signs of growing chinks in his armour. On his day, the Mumbai batter can still be very good but he has lost the ability to dominate a game. But as statistics suggest, such days are growing increasingly infrequent. In his last five Test innings, his scores are: 8, 25, 13, 19 and 17. And his last Test hundred was 25 innings ago, a masterly 146 against South Africa in Cape Town way back in Jan 2011 although he does have two 90s to show since then. It is his longest drought without a hundred in Test cricket. It isnÃÕ just Tendulkar. Of late, even Sehwag and Gambhir seem to have become lesser versions of themselves, especially in Test cricket. On Saturday, the batting conditions were more Bradford than Bengaluru. In conditions helpful to seamers, both looked out of sorts. Gambhir couldnÃÕ even benefit from a dropped chance. He has one half century in his last 10 Test innings. As for Sehwag, he looked plumb leg before in SoutheeÃÔ first over. Slow motion replays showed that the ball might or might not have hit the stumps but umpire Steve Davis wouldnÃÕ have seen that. Both umpire Gould and Davis have unhesitatingly raised their fingers on several occasions in favour of bowlers in the ongoing series. But strangely, every marginal decision has gone in IndiaÃÔ favour. And such decisions are too many for anybodyÃÔ comfort. Sehwag has scored 47 and 43 in this series. That seems healthy enough on the face of it. But the truth is that he has been extremely chancy and quite lucky to get those runs. His last Test ton came 30 innings ago a 173 against New Zealand in Nov 2010. More importantly, he hasnÃÕ crossed 75 runs in his last 25 innings. That is certainly surprising considering he has made 150 plus scores on 14 occasions. At the moment, as another commentator Sourav Ganguly pointed out, Virat Kohli is IndiaÃÔ No 1 player in all forms of the game. Kohli has a long way to go, especially in Test cricket. But there is no denying that he looked IndiaÃÔ most composed and compact batsman even on the difficult Australia tour. As evident once more on Saturday, he seems to flower in adversity. In the ongoing series, the young batsmen such as Pujara and Kohli have certainly outperformed the seniors so far. Is it because they are hungry to prove themselves in Tests? Or, is it because the seniors are not the players they used to be? The question will be answered in the coming months. As Pujara and Kohli have shown, there are major advantages of betting on the right youngsters. Despite his important 55 today, Suresh Raina doesnÃÕ really look a quality Test player yet. One doesnÃÕ know if he ever will. But important people seem to believe in him. Sadly, that is all that seems to matter these days.

[Spiderguy252]

Not a surprise, never heard of a 39-40 year old being successful. People are usually long out of the game by then.

[Desi Cartman]

Tbh I saw him bat for 5 mins and somehow knew he was going to get out bowled. I haven't seen how he got out but the scorecard suggests that he was out bowled.

[cowboysfan]

It doesnt help that he has no match practice at all and just has nets the previous days ,its going to be tough for anyone even if they are not 39.

[jf1gp_1]

the way he was shaking his head after he got out I think tommorow morning he might realize this is the end.

[Number]

Not a surprise' date=' never heard of a 39-40 year old being successful. People are usually long out of the game by then.[/quote'] 38 year old, highest run getter in the test calender. Scores first ODI double century of the history and didn't need a runner. 2nd highest run getter in the world cup. Its something other than age I feel.

[GautiMaan]

38 year old, highest run getter in the test calender. Scores first ODI double century of the history and didn't need a runner. 2nd highest run getter in the world cup. Its something other than age I feel.

It was the ****ing mahashatak hype In 2009-2011 Sachin was batting like a dream(in both tests and odis) then suffered a huge mental block,now he's gone into post tennis elbow accumulator mode,which aint working.

[gaurav92]

38 year old, highest run getter in the test calender. Scores first ODI double century of the history and didn't need a runner. 2nd highest run getter in the world cup. Its something other than age I feel.

:two_thumbs_up:

[rkt.india]

Now he does not have pressure of 100th 100.

[Sid]

Sunny and Ravi were spot on today,its the age.Reflexes have slowed down considerably.

[Spiderguy252]

The question is - will the new selection panel have the guts to drop him?

[rkt.india]

38 year old, highest run getter in the test calender. Scores first ODI double century of the history and didn't need a runner. 2nd highest run getter in the world cup. Its something other than age I feel.

After that World Cup, he is averaging 31 in ODIs and less than 35 in tests over 13 tests. It is 16 months now. This is no coincident that he is struggling against an average bowling attack which WI batsmen plundered in tougher conditions than these. He will still score runs here and there, will even look good some times, and then will got out and those runs will be far in between. Now, he has started showing the signs of Dravid and Laxman in Australia tour. People were saying he has pressure of 100th 100, now its over. Then people said he will play at his best now, but he is not.

[gaurav92]

Lst two years, he has averaged 49 in Tests and 40 in ODIS. ODIS Tests

[Sid]

And also the fact to straight away come into an intl game from a "family vacation" without any practice match or game makes it a tad more difficult.So a benefit of doubt there,he may get into the "groove" with more continues games.

[rkt.india]

And also the fact to straight away come into an intl game from a "family vacation" without any practice match or game makes it a tad more difficult.So a benefit of doubt there' date='he may get into the "groove" with more continues games.[/quote'] but there is no continuous games. next is now 2 months later.

[jairamesh]

I think Tendu just needs clarity off the field. He really needs to decide if he is going to play both ODIs and Tests. If he decides to play both, then he should be available for every series in both formats. I personally feel (like many at ICF) he needs to call it quits for ODIs and totally focus playing Tests along with Ranji cricket. He still has the game for Tests just needs to direct all his concentration into Test batting, right now he is just bouncing around in cloud nine taking paid vacations, choosing to play the odd ODI series, watching Roger Federer etc. Ricky Ponting in this regard is setting a good example playing Sheffield Shield and Tests only.

[rkt.india]

Lst two years, he has averaged 49 in Tests and 40 in ODIS. ODIS Tests

After world cup. Good time ended with World cup now he is just stretching it.

[Sid]

but there is no continuous games. next is now 2 months later.

I think this time he is playing CLT20 instead of cheerleading from dressing room,that will help him remain in the "groove" just before Pommies arrive.

[Spiderguy252]

Ricky Ponting in this regard is setting a good example playing Sheffield Shield and Tests only.

Australian selectors > Indian selectors. They chucked Punter outta the one-day side, no questions asked. In India they fear trodding on the deity and will therefore do nothing. Sad but true. I can't think of one good reason why the guy has to play the 50-over games.

[rkt.india]

I think this time he is playing CLT20 instead of cheerleading from dressing room' date='that will help him remain in the "groove" just before Pommies arrive.[/quote'] VVS Laxman too used to have such breaks. He was not even playing ODIs, but still did well. These are just excuses. It is not just this series. He struggling for last 16 months. He did not have any clue against Nathan Lyon in Australia at Adelaide.