Now this was some innings!

Every body says that his time to quit is here. Someone says that he should start considering retirement, some say he should simply be ousted from the team. But Sachin Tendulkar, the demigod of Indian Cricket has proved’em wrong time and again.

The beautiful display of strokes that we saw in the match against the Lankans continued today in the first final of the CB Series against the world-champion Aussies at the SCG. Such was the grace and power of the innings of Sachin that it overshadowed every thing else on the ground. When he finally got to the three figure mark, he erased a lean record in ODIs in Australia as this became his first ODI century in Australia ever. Incidentally this was his first century in a tri series final after the one against Zimbabwe in 1998-99.

The strength that Sachin showed was simply tremedous. He suffered from cramps midway into his innings but didn’t opt for a runner. This didn’t even slow his running down a bit rather he was still eager for quick singles and doubles. Moreover his strokeplay and footwork were dazzling too. The Brett Lee beamer that hit him sqaure on the shoulder must have hurt bad but the great man didn’t show any indication that he was in any sort of pain.

One more thing that India gained today was the superb batting from Rohit Sharma whose gritty 67 helped to steady the Indian Innings as he along with Tendulkar created a big partnership of more than a 100 runs. The bowling of India was fine too. Pathan being the exception, each and every bowler bowled his heart out and Praveen Kumar and Ishant Sharma again impressed everybody with their gritty bowling.

Now looking forward to an Indian victory in the next final and hope that India seal the series there only!

Too Light eh???

The world can only just admire it from a distance, and dream of what gems it produced. One man got to be with it, touch it, feel it, swing it for a whole hour.

As many would have guessed the ‘it’ here is the legendary bat of Sir Donald Bradman and the man here is Sachin Tendulkar in whom The Don used to see his very own reflection. Its only six months now to the 100th anniversary of Sir Don’s and so Channel 9 decided to commemorate the event by interviewing Sachin about the Don and also letting him have a feel of the bat that The Don used to ‘swing‘. And guess what Sachin said about the bat – “I can’t play with it. Its very light in weight. I am used to heavier bats.” Huh??

He got to be with the legendary article in the world of cricket for one full hour and guess what he’s the only cricketer alive to do so! That’s some honour isn’t it??