Archives

NEW DELHI, Thursday (AFP) - If life really does begin at 30 for Test batsmen, then bowlers around the world ought to be worried - because Sachin Tendulkar is hungrier than ever.

The Indian maestro, widely regarded as the finest batsman now playing cricket, celebrated his 30th birthday on Thursday with the message that he plans to go on and on. Tendulkar is the top run-getter in one-dayers with 12,219 in 314 matches and a record 34 tons in an international career that has already spanned an incredible 14 years.

And he is just three Tests centuries short of equalling compatriot Sunil Gavaskar's world mark of 34. He has already amassed 8,811 in 105 Tests.

"The hunger for winning is always there," Tendulkar told a website. "All I want to do is to go on and on. It's hard to imagine life without cricket."

Tendulkar's insatiable appetite for runs was seen in the recent World Cup in South Africa where he hammered 673 in 11 matches to emerge the highest scorer in the tournament's history.

Accolades had begun to pour in from every part of the world much before his amazing Cup feat.

Australian opener Matthew Hayden remarked during his team's 2001 tour to this country that Tendulkar was like God in India.

Legendary former Australian captain Don Bradman and West Indian batting great Viv Richards said Tendulkar's batting reminded them of their own.

Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne, however, did not wish to be reminded of Tendulkar's batting, saying the Indian continued to haunt him in his dreams after he had found himself at the receiving end during the 1997-98 tour.

Tendulkar unfurled his magic in South Africa, demoralising bowlers and fielders with his uncanny ability to smash even a good delivery to the boundary and find gaps where none appeared to exist.

He looked the same old Tendulkar after having regained his opener's slot, reminding rival captains that 11 fielders were just not enough to stem the flow of runs from his bat. Tendulkar said everything changed once it was decided that he would bat at the top.

"That was a challenge, so I wanted to prove myself and the World Cup was a great occasion," said Tendulkar, who had been batting and struggling in the middle order for more than a year in the shorter version of the game.

Observers, however, believe that Tendulkar does not have to prove his credential after having excelled in international cricket for 14 years because he has now reached a stage where he can compete only with himself.

They say if he maintains his devastating form, there is no doubt he will end up making a mockery of an oft-repeated cliche that "records are meant to be broken".

Tendulkar's hallmark is that he has not lost his focus and enthusiasm for the game despite earning millions of dollars through endorsements.

"I can't let my mind be disturbed by anything. My job is to go out and score runs for India," said Tendulkar, renowned for taking batting as seriously in the nets as in the middle.

Yet, the runs count little for him if his team do not win.

"Cricket is my first love," said Tendulkar. "I hate losing. Once I enter the ground, it's a different zone altogether and that hunger for winning is always there."

www.crescat.com

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager