Chance for Sachin Tendulkar to break Sunil Gavaskar's domestic record

October 19, 2012
Sachin-Tendulkar


Lucknow, October 19: Sachin Tendulkar's decision to make a rare appearance in domestic cricket has sent the pulse of statistics-minded cricket fans racing in the hope that the master batsman may after all have a chance to overhaul two long-standing first-class records in India.

Tendulkar is just four centuries away from overtaking Sunil Gavaskar's Indian record of 81 first-class centuries and 1,383 runs from becoming the highest first-class run-getter in the country. But time is fast running out for Tendulkar.

Tendulkar holds almost all records in Tests and One-dayers, but he trails Gavaskar as far as records in first-class cricket are concerned. Gavaskar played 348 first class matches in which he aggregated 25,843 runs and collected 81 centuries, a record for an Indian batsman.

Tendulkar in 294 first-class games, which also includes 190 Test matches, has 24,452 runs and 78 centuries, second behind Gavaskar.


Tendulkar himself realises he doesn't have much cricket left in him, possibly a dozen or so Test matches. Probably, one would expect him to retire after he completes a double century of Test matches some time next year. Currently he stands at 190 and has eight Test matches lined up before he turns 40 next April.

In that limited time, will he be able to garner four more centuries and 1382 runs? That will enable him to retire as the highest century-maker and run-getter in first-class cricket in India, besides being the highest run-getter in Tests and ODIs in the world.

Of late, centuries are hard to come by for Tendulkar who has just one Test century in last two years and his last first-class ton came against Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy semifinal in January 2009. The subsequent final against Uttar Pradesh was his last domestic appearance in three years.

Tendulkar hardly plays first-class games other than Tests in the hope that he can preserve his body a bit longer. He has even semi-retired from the ODI format. The biggest question now in is: Will the impeding first-class record motivate him to step more often onto the dusty pitches on which domestic cricket is played? That, only time will tell.


The Legends In Numbers...

Tendulkar has 51 centuries in Tests and 27 centuries in other first-class cricket, and currently stands at 78, second behind Gavaskar in the Indian list.

Gavaskar finished with 34 Test centuries in 125 Tests and 47 centuries in 223 other first- class games for a grand tally of 81 centuries in 348 first class games, which also include Test matches.

Tendulkar has 51 centuries in 190 Tests and 27 tons in 104 other first class matches for a total of 78 centuries in 277 matches.

Gavaskar had only 35 international centuries: 34 in Tests and one in ODIs, to Tendulkar's 100, 51 in Tests and 49 in ODIs.

Gavaskar played only 108 ODIs for an aggregate of 3092 runs, Tendulkar has played a phenomenal 490 games and has 15550 runs to his credit.

Gavaskar has 13214 runs in 233 international games (125 tests and 108 ODIs) Tendulkar has 33959 runs in 63 international matches (190 tests and 463 ODIS)


Tendulkar's 78 centuries: 51 in Tests, 16 in Ranji Trophy, 1 for Mumbai in tour match against the Australians, 3 for West Zone in Duleep Trophy, 5 for Indians in overseas tour matches, 1 for Rest of India in Irani Cup and 1 for Yorkshire in county cricket.



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Agencies
August 7,2020

Islamabad, Aug 7: Former Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, known for his blistering deliveries on the cricket field, recently baffled many with a deadly off-field bouncer by claiming he is willing to eat grass if it enabled an increase in budget for his country's Army!

"If Allah ever gives me the authority, I will eat grass myself but I will increase the budget of the army," said Akhtar in an interview with ARY News.

The 'Rawalpindi Express', considered the fastest bowler in history said he does not understand why the civilian sector cannot work in collaboration with the Armed forces.

"I will ask my army chief to sit with me and make decisions. If the budget is 20 per cent, I will make it 60 per cent. If we insult each other, the loss is ours only," the once feared fast-bowler said.

Akthar had also claimed to ARY News interview that he was willing to take a bullet for his country and had turned down a county stint just because he wanted to fight the 1999 Kargil War.

Ties between India and Pakistan have been strained in the recent months over several issues, the latest being Pakistan's attempt to broach in the UNSC the issue of Kashmir on the first anniversary of the India's move to scrap the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and to split the erstwhile state into two union territories .

Pakistan also has not been in a good financial position and under prime minister Imran Khan, himself an all rounder cricketer, has added nearly USD 22 billion, that is 35 per cent to the nation's international debt pile in the last two years, according to an Asia Times report in July.

While Pakistan recently received USD 1.39 billion from the IMF to cushion the economic shocks caused due to COVID-19 outbreak, Akthar had a few months ago proposed that a joint cricket match be played between India and Pakistan to raise funds to fight the coronavirus. The suggestion that was put down by cricketers in India.

Meanwhile the 'Pindi boy' whose deadly pace and bounce was once dreaded by batsmen had recently taken to Twitter to deny former India cricketer Virender Sehwag's claim of sledging him.

Sehwag along with other Indian crickerters such as Harbhajan Singh and even Rahul Dravid had been at the receiving end of Akthar's sledging and antics during their playing days.

"Yes, totally self made story by him. Mujhe yeh bol k bach k jana kidhar tha us nay," Akthar tweeted to a report in which Sehwag claimed that he had sledged the 'Rawalpindi Express' by telling him that Sachin Tendulkar was his father.

During an awards ceremony Sehwag had recounted that fed up with Akthar's sledging and retaliated by telling him to say the same things to Tendulkar, who smashed the 'Pindi boy' for a six. Sehwag quipped that he told Akthar then that "Baap baap hota hai".

In the recent ARY interview, asked about the allegation made against him by former India cricketer Virendra Sehwag that he makes pro-India comments for greater following on social media channels, Akhtar said, "I cannot talk on the basis of hate." 

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News Network
June 29,2020

Jun 29: The West Indies cricketers will sport a 'Black Lives Matter' logo on the collars of their shirts during the upcoming three-Test series against England to protest against racism in sports.

Skipper Jason Holder, who has voiced his support to the cause that has once again come to the forefront after the killing of American George Floyd, said in a statement on Sunday: "We believe we have a duty to show solidarity and also to help raise awareness."

The ICC-approved logo, designed by Alisha Hosannah, will be the one which featured in the shirts of all 20 Premier League football clubs since the sport's resumption earlier this month.

"This is a pivotal moment in history for sports, for the game of cricket and for the West Indies cricket team," Holder was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

"We have come to England to retain the Wisden Trophy but we are very conscious of happenings around the world and the fight for justice and equality. "As a group of young men, we know of the rich and diverse history of West Indies cricket and we know we are guardians of the great game for a generation to come."

Holder, who wants racism to be treated at par with doping and corruption, said they arrived at the decision to wear the logo after much thought.

"We did not take our decision lightly. We know what it is for people to make judgments because of the colour of our skin, so we know what it feels like, this goes beyond the boundary. There must be equality and there must be unity. Until we get that as people, we cannot stop," he said.

"We have to find some way to have equal rights and people must not be viewed differently because of the colour of their skin or ethnic background."

The West Indies players are likely to wear the shirts for the first time in this week's four-day warm-up match at Emirates Old Trafford, starting on Monday.

The opening Test of the series, which will mark the resumption of international cricket after the coronavirus-forced hiatus, will get underway at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on July 8.

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News Network
January 10,2020

Srinagar, Jan 10: Real Kashmir FC made a strong comeback in the second half to play out a 1-1 draw against former champions Punjab FC in their home I-League match here on Friday.

The 'Snow Leopards' equalised in the 62nd minute through Gnohere Krizo in front of a partisan crowd of 8,500 spectators after Makan Chothe had given Punjab FC the lead in the 21st minute at the TRC ground.

After Thursday's draw, Punjab FC is placed third on the table with 10 points from seven games. Real Kashmir FC remained at eighth with six points from five matches. This was Real Kashmir's third home match on the trot.

The match was a story of two halves as the first belonged to the visitors who enjoyed a 62 per cent possession of the ball, whereas the second belonged to the home side.

Both the teams were looking to gain an early advantage and Punjab FC took the lead after 21 minutes.

Confusion inside the Real Kashmir box because of a long ball from Punjab opened up an opportunity for Chothe and he made no mistake as he smashed the ball at the back of the net.

As the fans cheered on, Real Kashmir created a flurry of chances, but none of the home side players could find the back of the net. Punjab was able to hold on to their slender lead heading into the tunnel.

The second half resumed with Real Kashmir pressing high up the field and pressurising Punjab.

In the 56th minute, Real Kashmir playmaker Kallum Higginbotham cut through two defenders on the left side of the box and the ball fell to Mason Robertson, whose shot was too weak to trouble the Punjab goalkeeper.

Soon after, it was Danish Farooq who tried a curler from a distance but his shot did not have enough bend to trouble the Punjab goalkeeper. The home team's effort finally paid off in the 62nd minute.

A miscalculated header by Danilo Augusto fell at the feet of Gnohere Krizo, who was one-on-one with the keeper. He made no mistake in striking the ball into the opponent's goal to score the equaliser.

Real Kashmir was in their groove now, and Kallum came in from the right with a beautiful low cross across the face of the goal but Mason could not get a touch as the chance went begging.

The duo of Kallum and Mason were proving difficult for Punjab to deal with. In the 82nd minute, a beautiful long ball by Kallum found the head of a towering Mason, but the effort went just over the crossbar.

Within a few moments, Punjab again had another nervous moment as Chesterpoul Lyngdoh's cross from the right side hit the arm of Thoiba Singh but the referee turned down an appeal for penalty.

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