Masters of the game...

Natarjan has a wonderful post about the recent controversy over doubts about Sachin Tendulkar's abilities...

Some excerpts...

Tendulkar went through a lean trot 2002-03 against New Zealand and Australia when a stretch of 12 innings yielded just 209 runs. But he silenced his critics with successive innings (of 44, 241*, 60* against Australia and 194* vs Pakistan at Multan). Then came another run-famine in which he could score just 136 from 10 innings. Tendulkar came out of that spell with an unbeaten double hundred against Bangladesh and followed it with consecutive scores of 94, 52, 52 and 41 against Pakistan. There’s absolutely no doubt that the old consistency and authority are missing, but there is no need for us to become prophets of doom. Is there anybody remotely close - even with his diminished abilities - to replace him? His highest Test average was 59.17 (in his 93rd match), it’s now 56.14 after 129 outings. His top average in ODIs was 45.35 (324th game); after 35 more ODIs, his average now stands at 44.19.

Let’s compare Tendulkar’s position with Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist. Hayden’s Test average had plummeted from 58.97 in 2004 to 51.31 by the end of the fourth Ashes Test at Trent Bridge last year. But Australia kept faith with Hayden for the final Test. The burly opener, who drew comparisons with Sir Don Bradman not long back, began another hot streak with scores of 138, 0*, 111, 77, 37, 118, 110, 46, 47, 87*. Gilchrist’s Test average plummeted from a 61.48 in 2004 to sub-50 last year. The Australian selectors, who do not hesitate in asking their greats to leave when they feel it’s time to leave, have persisted with Gilchrist. Players like Tendulkar, Hayden and Gilchrist are a class apart and deserve special treatment. Remember: Form is temporary, class is permanent.

The last line, though cliched, still rings true...especially when discussing someone of the calibre of Sachin Tendulkar...

Also, those of us that watched the recent game against Pakistan, had absolutely no doubt that the Sachin of old is back...after a sedate start - a maiden or two, tied down by Mohammed Asif, he decided to cut loose after Virender Sehwag had plundered a quick fifty. Then came the classic, over-the-top shots and the lazy drives and flicks of the pads and the wonderful murder that only Sachin can implement...seems like he had taken a nap for a short while and decided to wake up and continue where he left of before all these characters started baying for his blood...I am sure that the opposition, including Pakistan and England (who have made some noises of their own) would be getting extremely worried right now...and be wondering, as always has been the case for the last 16 years or so in international cricket, as to how one can handle Sachin Tendulkar...if such a concept exists !