Fomer captains feel lucky to lead Tendulkar

New Delhi, Nov 14: Former captains Krishnamachari Srikkanth, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble felt they were the lucky few to have lead a team with Sachin Tendulkar in it.
On the eve of Tendulkar’s 20th year in international cricket, the four former captains went ga-ga over greatness of the 36-year-old batting maestro.

They feel that to last 20 years in international cricket is a fantastic achievement and for that one has to have special qualities. Tendulkar had everything that made him the best in the world.
For Ganguly, Tendulkar will always remain special. During his five-year tenure as the India captain, Tendulkar and Ganguly formed the most exciting opening pair in the One-day Internationals (ODI) and they tore apart the best of bowling attacks.

“Fortunately I have played nearly 300 ODIs with him. It is not easy to share all the great moments I had with him. I congratulate Sachin on the fantastic achievement of playing 20 years for the country,” Ganguly said.

Recalling his first interaction with Tendulkar, Ganguly said: “My first interaction with him was at the under-15 national camp in Indore. But before that I heard a lot about him because he was making news even then.”

Incidentally, Dravid, who was also in the same camp, said that Tendulkar was always a step ahead of others of his age.

“He was always special. The fact that he has lasted 20 years in international cricket is a big achievement in itself. He has fulfilled the expectations of a billion fans and has done it regularly for many years,” Dravid told IANS.

“He is very chatty in the dressing room and he is an outgoing person. He has contributed a lot to the game. Personally I feel privileged to be able to play for such a long time with him, a legend,” he said.

Kumble concurs with Dravid.
“It is amazing to see the way he has lived up to the expectations of the nation, how he has carried the burden of expectations of millions of people. He has managed to deliver almost every time he has been expected and that shows his consistency and commitment. He has also managed to maintain his image on and off the field and that is what youngsters should learn from him,” he said.

Srikkanth, Tendulkar’s first captain, recalled the turbulent times in which Tendulkar played in his debut series in Pakistan.

“The players and the cricket board were on a collision course over players’ contract. Before the Karachi Test a tense Sachin came to me to share his feelings. I assured him that he was too junior to get into any trouble and asked him to play freely. The rest is history,” he said.
What surpised Srikkanth was the ease with which Tendulkar handled leg-spinner Adbul Qadir, who then was the best in the world.

“Sachin stepped out twice and hit Qadir for two consecutive sixes. I was at the other end and asked him to be careful since Qadir was the best spinner then. Sachin just raised his hands and told me ‘boss just be relaxed. I am fine’.” he said. (IANS)

Sri Lanka eye win in landmark Tendulkar Test

AHMEDABAD, Nov 14: Sri Lanka will have to curb an inspired Sachin Tendulkar, on the threshold of another landmark, as they attempt to win a Test series in India for the first time.
Sri Lanka have not won any of the 14 matches they have played in India since their first Test visit in 1982, but skipper Kumar Sangakkara feels has the potential to pull off a surprise in the three-Test series.

Sri Lanka are second behind South Africa in the official Test rankings and are looking to extend their winning streak after defeating Pakistan and New Zealand at home by identical 2-0 margins in July and August.

To achieve this, however, they will have to contend with Tendulkar’s hot form and a strong home side that is rallying to give the record-breaking batsman a winning start to his 21st year in international cricket.

Tendulkar, 36, will join a list of 15 players whose international careers have spanned more than 20 years when he plays in the first Test starting at the Motera on Monday.

The Mumbai batsman holds the record for most Test runs (12,773), Test centuries (42), ODI runs (17,178) and ODI centuries (45) and hit a stirring 175 in the ODI series against Australia this month to underline his good form.

“I am enjoying my game and there is a lot of cricket left in me,” Tendulkar told reporters this week.

Tendulkar made his Test debut as a chubby, curly-haired 16-year-old against Pakistan in Karachi on November, 15 1989.

“You run out of superlatives for Sachin,” Sangakkara told a news conference on Sri Lanka’s arrival.

Sri Lanka are missing the express pace of Lasith Malinga and the tourists are banking on all-rounder Angelo Mathews to lend balance to an attack led by record-breaking spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.

Spinner Ajantha Mendis proved a handful for the Indians when they were beaten 2-1 in the Test series on their tour of Sri Lanka last year.

Only Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan in a strong batting line-up have Test experience in India although Thilan Samaraweera is in excellent form.

“(The) Sri Lankans are a better-prepared side now and can give the Indians (a) tough time during the series,” India batsman Vangipurappu Laxman said this week.

Dishan suffered a sprained ankle at practice on Wednesday but is expected to play in the first Test.

Sri Lanka go into the series without sufficient match practice after their tour opener against an Indian Board President’s XI was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rain. Sri Lanka lost 2-0 on their previous tour in 2005.

The hosts, who have been strengthened by the return of left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan from a lengthy injury layoff, suffered a one-day series defeat to Australia this month.
Sangakkara said the pressure was on India.

“We have a lot of work to do but we are here to do well and try and win and change all this never winning a Test match in India,” he said.

“Responsibility is on India to stop us from doing that.” (Agencies)