Where is the rush, says Tendulkar on retirement

September 4, 2013

Tendulkar_on_retirement

New Delhi, Sep 4: As speculation is rife that Sachin Tendulkar may quit the game after playing his 200th Test, the senior India batsman today said he was in no rush to announce his retirement from international cricket.

"I don't think at this stage I need to do that," said Tendulkar when asked about his retirement.

"Where is the rush," he further added in an interview to Zee News today.

"I have this formula, don't jump forward, this is how I have approached my career."

As BCCI arranged a home Test series against the West Indies before the South Africa tour, it raised speculations that it has been done to give Tendulkar a chance to reach the milestone at home and give him a grand farewell.

In an incredible 24-year international career, Tendulkar became the highest run getter (15837 runs at an average of 53.86) with a record 51 centuries in world cricket.

He had announced his retirement from ODIs late last year, having played 463 games, amassing a record 18,426 runs, including 49 centuries at an average of 44.83.

One of the finest exponents of the game, Tendulkar is revered by billions of fans as "God of cricket" but the Mumbaikar said he is just a cricketer who "make mistakes" unlike the almighty.

"Mein Bhagwan nahi hoon, I just play cricket, ooper wale ki blessings hain, ab tak jo bhi meri life mein aaya uska shukriya. We all make mistakes, agar mein mistakes na karta toh kabhi out hi nahi hota. I just play my game," Tendulkar said.

Asked how he prepares ahead of a match, Tendulkar said, "I prepare a bit before my match, in general life mental preparation is required.

Asked how he managed to hold people's trust for so long, when the game is mired in so many controversies, Tendulkar said he has kept his life simple.

"Since my school, we had simple celebrations, whenever I achieved anything, Mithai was offered to God, my brother always said let people talk about the match and you move forward. I have a balanced lifestyle," he said.

Tendulkar went through a tough phase when his father Ramesh suddenly passed away in 1999 when he was playing in the World Cup in England.

But Tendulkar hardly got any time to mourn the loss as he flew back and cracked 140 against Kenya to inspire India to a victory, just three days later.

"I do miss my father, I lost my father in 1999, it's been long time now, so many things have happened since then and I miss him. But I have some wonderful moments and I cherish. There are times when I rewind, I remember him but some things can't be changed," he said.

Asked about his dream car, Tendulkar said, "When I was young my dream car was a Maruti 800 at that time."

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Agencies
February 7,2020

New Delhi, Feb 7: It was on February 7, 1999, that Anil Kumble became just the second bowler in the history of cricket to take all ten wickets in an innings of a Test match.

He achieved the feat against Pakistan at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, now known as Arun Jaitley cricket stadium in Delhi during the second Test of the two-match series.

India had set Pakistan a target of 420 runs in the match and the visitors got off to a steady start as openers Shahid Afridi and Saeed Anwar put on 101 runs for the first wicket.

It was then Kumble who came into the attack and wreaked havoc on the Pakistani batting line-up.

The spinner, also known as 'Jumbo' first dismissed Afridi (41) in the 25th over. After the right-handed batter's dismissal, India kept on taking wickets through Kumble and Pakistan was reduced to 128/6 in no time.

Kumble then kept on taking wickets at regular intervals and he got his tenth scalp in the 61st over after dismissing Wasim Akram.

This effort enabled India to register a win by 212 runs, and Kumble became the second bowler after England's Jim Laker to take all ten wickets in a single Test inning.

Kumble finished with the bowling figures of 10-74 from 26.3 overs.

Kumble announced his retirement from international cricket in 2008 and finished with 619 wickets in the longest format of the game.

He has the third-highest number of wickets in Tests, only behind Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Australia's Shane Warne (708).

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News Network
April 6,2020

London, Apr 6: As the coronavirus brings the international sports calendar to a grinding halt, news agency Sport looks at three long-standing habits which could change forever once competition resumes.

Saliva to take shine off swing bowling

It's been a tried and trusted friend to fast bowlers throughout the history of cricket. But the days of applying saliva to one side of the ball to encourage swing could be over in the aftermath of Covid19.

"As a bowler I think it would be pretty tough going if we couldn't shine the ball in a Test match," said Australia quick Pat Cummins.

"If it's at that stage and we're that worried about the spread, I'm not sure we'd be playing sport."

Towels in tennis - no touching

Tennis players throwing towels, dripping with sweat and blood and probably a tear or two, at ball boys and girls, has often left fans sympathising for the youngsters.

Moves by officials to tackle the issue took on greater urgency in March when the coronavirus was taking a global grip.

Behind closed doors in Miki, ball boys and girls on duty at the Davis Cup tie between Japan and Ecuador wore gloves.

Baskets, meanwhile, were made available for players to deposit their towels.

Back in 2018, the ATP introduced towel racks at some events on a trial basis, but not everyone was overjoyed.

"I think having the towel whenever you need it, it's very helpful. It's one thing less that you have to think about," said Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas when he was playing at the NextGen Finals in Milan.

"I think it's the job of the ball kids to provide towels and balls for the players."

Let's not shake on it

Pre-match handshakes were abandoned in top football leagues just before the sports shutdown.

Premier League leaders Liverpool also banned the use of mascots while Southampton warned against players signing autographs and stopped them posing for selfies.

Away from football, the NBA urged players to opt for the fist bump rather than the long-standing high-five.

"I ain't high-fiving nobody for the rest of my life after this," NBA superstar LeBron James told the "Road Trippin' Podcast".

"No more high-fiving. After this corona shit? Wait 'til you see me and my teammates’ handshakes after this shit."

Basketball stars were also told not to take items such as balls or teams shirts to autograph.

US women's football star Megan Rapinoe says edicts to ban handshakes or even high-fives may be counter-productive anyway.

"We're going to be sweating all over each other all game, so it sort of defeats the purpose of not doing a handshake," she said.

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News Network
May 30,2020

New Delhi, May 30: Former world chess champion Viswanathan Anand will be finally reaching India late on Saturday after being stuck in Germany for over three months due to the travel restrictions imposed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Yes.. Anand will be returning today," the chess maestro's wife Aruna told PTI on Saturday morning. Anand, who boarded an Air India flight (AI-120) from Frankfurt on Friday night will reach Bengaluru via Delhi.

He is expected to reach Bengaluru at 1.15 pm. The five-time world champion will undergo 14 days quarantine as per rules laid down by the Karnataka government.

"He will complete quarantine procedures and come to Chennai as per protocol," Aruna Anand said. The flights from Germany are only scheduled to land only in Delhi and Bengaluru.

The chess ace was in Germany to play in the Bundesliga chess league and was to return to India, but was forced to stay put after the COVID-19 outbreak disrupted sporting schedules across the globe, apart from restricting movement.

He was staying near Frankfurt and was doing online commentary for the Candidates tournament which was called off mid-way due to the pandemic and led the Indian team in the Online Nations Cup early this month.

Anand had been in touch with his family in Chennai on a regular basis via video calls and kept himself busy with chess-related work.

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