Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar is indisputably one of the best consistent player in cricket.Once Don Bradman said that “he reminds of myself”.So there is no doubt he is one of the best international cricket player in the history with most centuries in both ODI as well as test cricket.But Sachin’s contribution to winning matches takes a beating compared to Inzamam-ul- Haq and Ricky Ponting.

Inzamam-ul-Haq

Inzamam’s total number of centuries in the test cricket is 25 of which 17 centuries have helped Pakistan to win tests and the winning percentage is 68.When the Australian skipper Ricky Ponting taking into account, from his 38 test centuries, 24 have converted to test match-winning knocks and the percentage amounts to 63.But Sachin Tendulkar scored 42 test centuries of which 16 have helped India in winning tests and the percentage amounts to only 38.

Ricky Ponting cuts to the point

The most important comparison is the number of centuries in the second innings.Out of 6 centuries of Ricky Ponting, 5 have helped Australia in winning tests and the percentage is 83.Inzamam had 4 match-winning centuries out of 6 centuries.That is 66%.But Tendulkar have scored 10 centuries of which only 3 have helped India in winning matches and the percentage amounts only to 30.

As far as aggressiveness is considered Sachin,Inzamam and Ponting is almost similar.It may be India’s load of expectations that agitates his mental toughness or is he unable to manage pressure in the middle.Sachin Tendulkar always enjoyed more, batting in the first innings than in the second innings.

According to Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar was more comfortable when he accumulates more runs.But in cricket when you change your approach you are inviting trouble.And hopefully sachin will devise a new strategy that help him to increase his winning percentage.

players who hit six sixes in an over in cricket

Thushara bowled a dream spell, giving away just 12 runs in eight overs and picking two wickets

The Galle test was the most exciting test in the recent days.The Pakistan batsmen collapsed in front of the Sri Lankan bowlers.They started the day requiring only 97 runs with eight wickets in hand.

Salman Butt and Mohammed Yousuf resumed the day but they were all tumbled in front of the left arm bowlers, Thilan Thushara and Rangana Herath despite Muralitharan is not playing due to injury.

Pakistan lost their last eight wickets for just 46 runs.Herath strikes early in the day by taking the wickets of Salman Butt and Mohammed Yousuf.Rangana Herath took 4 wickets and Thilan Thushara took 2 wickets.Actually Pakistan have two days to bat but the game ended up in the 4th day.

Scorecard of the 1st test of Sri Lanka vs Pakistan

Shasthri and Smith went for Sachin Tendulkar at no.4 while Bishop went for the promising all-rounder of South Africa A B Devilliers.Kevin Pietersen was unanimously selected at no.5 and the only English player chosen by the selectors.Mahela Jayawardene of Srilanka was the strong contender to this position but he was rejected since he didn’t had a good time outside Sri Lanka.

The run machine Shivnarine Chandrapaul was the another unanimous selection since he averaged 101 runs in the year 2008.Mahendra Singh Dhoni was the unanimous selection as the wicket keeper and no.7 and Shasthri and Bishop also voted him for the captain of the team.Harbhajan Singh was the Shasthri’s choice for taking 63 wickets in 2008.

Mitchell Johnson selected as no.9 since he took 11 wickets against South Africa in the Perth test but Ravi Shasthri’s choice was Brett Lee for his excellent come back as an outstanding bowler.Dale Steyn was an unanimous selection.Ravi Shasthri selected Zaheer Khan as the third fast bowler of the team but Smith went for Ryan Sidebottom of England and Bishop preferred Ishanth Sharma.

THE WISDEN TEST XI OF 2008

The honour is for Virender Sehwag since he was selected as the leading cricketer of 2008 by wisden.

M S Dhoni holding the Ind vs NZ test series trophy

India won a test series in New Zealand after a long 41 years.The last time they won a test series in New Zealand in the year 1968.The three test match series between India and New Zealand ended up with 1-0 in which India won one match and the other two test matches ended in a draw.

The third test at wellington was interrupted due to rain which at last ended in a draw.Gautham Gambir was selected as the player of the series for scoring most runs in the series of about 445 runs.Sachin Tendulkar scored a total of 344 runs in the series.Gautham Gambir also did a remarkable job in saving the second test against New Zealand.

Sachin Tendulakar told to the media that all the team members especially Gautham Gambir,Rahul Dravid,Harbhajan Singh,V V S Laxman and M S Dhoni had done done an excellent job for the country and he also added that everythin went good for us both in batting and bowling.

Harbhajan Singh took 16 wickets in this series and Rahul Dravid also masde history in this series who is now the world record holder for taking the most number of catches in test cricket.

The Board President Mr. Shashank Manohar has declared a bonus of Rs.15 lakhs to each player who participated in the Test and One-Day series while, the Support-Staff will receive a bonus of Rs.10 lakhs each.

Rahul Dravid's world record Catch

Rahul Dravid,the present world record holder for the most number of catches in the test cricket has got all the qualities of a good slip fielder.He had got good anticipation,swift movement,perfect timing,soft hands and better reaction time (reflex action).

Rahul Dravid took the 182nd catch of Tim McIntosh of New Zealand which is bowled by Zaheer Khan on the fourth day of the final test in wellington against New Zealand in which he became the world record holder for most number of catches in test cricket.He surpassed Mark Waugh of Australiawho took 181 catches.

Sanath Jayasuriya's 340 runs in test cricket against India in 1997 is his best individual score

Sri Lanka is the top in this category since they scored 952 runs against India in the year 1997.It is an unbeaten test match record for the last 12 years.It took place in the sri lankan home ground in Colombo.

Sanath Jayasuriya is the hero of this match in which he scored 340 odd runs,his highest individual best ever.He also became the first Sri Lankan cricketer to score a triple century.This test is his first test against India and this is the highest individual score ever by a sri Lankan player.In this test Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama made a second-wicket partnership of 576 runs which is the first 500+ partnership in the history of test cricket.