No Tendulkar No Cricket : Sachin retires from ODI’s

Type Sachin Tendulkar in Google search and 42,600,000 results pop up in 0.19 seconds. It’s not just numbers but testimony to a following that neither any contemporary nor the old-time cricketers have enjoyed. So the response to the news of his ODI retirement is expectedly colossal and evokes a unanimous response thank you, Sachin. The curtains were pulled halfway down on Sunday on a career that began at a juvenile age of 16 in 1989 and partly ended on a Sunday afternoon in December 2012. “I have decided to retire from one-day format. I feel blessed to have fulfilled the dream of being part of a World Cup wining Indian team,” the statement took India by surprise. Such is the impact of this name on Indian cricket that even though the declaration was expected, it seemed a surprise. That shows how synonymous Sachin Tendulkar and cricket are to Indians. For some, no Tendulkar means no cricket. They started watching cricket for Tendulkar; they may stop it because of no Tendulkar.

A tiny figure, all of 16, walked onto the field for the first time in Pakistan against blood-thirsty Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. One ball roared and the kid was in a pool of blood. After a little patch work, he stood up, “I’ll bat.” Navjot Singh Sidhu’s jaw dropped right to the ground. The best of his ODI form was probably in the 1998 Sharjah series and the 2003 World Cup in South Africa. That Sharjah series came to be known as a ‘Sandstorm’, when following a desert storm, Tendulkar tore the Aussies apart. Packed to the rafters, the spectators enjoyed a lesson in attacking batting that took India to the final even though Australia won the match. Tendulkar faced the criticism of not being a finisher throughout his career. That notion was put to bed in the 2003 World Cup when India reached the final. It was probably that loss which added fuel to Tendulkar’s burning desire of winning World Cup for India. With 673 runs, including a century and 6 fifties, Tendulkar took India to the final where an assault by Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn took the match away. India were the co-hosts for the 2011 World Cup Tendulkar’s last on all counts and India’s best chance to win in some time with the team doing well under MS Dhoni. And in the semis against archrivals Pakistan, it was Tendulkar’s 85 that saved the day for India before that six from Dhoni in Mumbai won India another World Cup, which the team dedicated to Tendulkar. There wasn’t a void left now in a glittering career.As he hung his ODI boots on Sunday, the 39-year-old’s figures read 18,426 runs in 463 matches at an average of 44.83. And at a time when the clamour for his head grew, his ODI average of 45.93 since 2010 is only behind Virat Kohli (53.16) and MS Dhoni (45.93).His contribution with the ball, especially in his younger days, can’t be undermined Craig McMillan of South Africa can testify that. At times his 154 ODI wickets put him in spotlight as the elusive allrounder that India still haven’t found. To complete the numbers game, Tendulkar also took 140 catches in the ODIs. Tendulkar never lost his composure and remain dignified both on and off the field. He never questioned an umpire’s call but accepted it with grace. He never abused, never resorted to sledging. Only did what he knew the best, that is play cricket.That’s what makes him stand in elite company. That’s what makes him Sachin Tendulkar. Thank you, Sachin, for entertaining us. ODI cricket will find it difficult to fill the void created by your absence.

 

Yahoo’s top 10 searches

The U.S. presidential election became the most-searched item and Kim Kardashian was the most-searched person on Yahoo! in a year when online searches were dominated by big news stories and pop culture obsessions, the search engine company announced.The search term “election” topped the list of searches, led not only by extensive media coverage but also widening conversation on online social media platforms.The term “political polls” was No. 8 of the top 10 Yahoo! searches of the year.The 2012 elections dominated the online searches, which is amazing because if something is in the news.And the only two other news stories have topped the list in the past decade are those being the death of Michael Jackson in 2009 and the BP oil spill in 2010. iPhone 5″ came in at No. 2.Reality star Kim Kardashian was the most-searched person on the website, coming in at No. 3 and leading six famous women in the top 10. Kardashian’s “notoriety has kept her at the top,” citing her ongoing divorce saga with ex-husband Kris Humphries, her high-profile relationship with rapper Kanye West and her E! channel reality shows. Sports Illustrated cover model Kate Upton, British royal Kate Middleton, late singer Whitney Houston, troubled former child star Lindsay Lohan and pop star and former “American Idol” judge Jennifer Lopez all featured in the top 10 after being in the news prominently throughout the year. olympics came in at No. 7 on the list, as many turned to online media to watch and keep tabs on the global sporting event held in London during the summer.On Yahoo!’s separate list of top-searched obsessions, pop culture dominated this year, with “The Hunger Games,” reality star Honey Boo Boo, erotic novel “Fifty Shades of Grey,” British boy band One Direction, Carly Rae Jepsen’s hit song “Call Me Maybe” and Korean rapper Psy’s “Gangnam Style” featuring in the top 10.

 

 

 

 

Aston Martin DB6 auction @ USD642,000

A rare Aston Martin that was converted into a sports estate vehicle to carry golf clubs is expected to fetch almost USD 642,000, when it is sold at a auction here later this month. The 1967 Aston Martin DB6 dubbed as the ‘Gentleman’s Express’ is one of just two “shooting brake” models built and has been hidden away in storage for 17 years.It was initially used as a sleek sports coupe by Formula 1 ace Innes Ireland, who had it for two years before deciding he needed something more practical for his shooting gear and golf clubs. Instead of selling his beloved car and buying something larger, Ireland sent the DB6 to London coach builders FLM Panelcraft and ordered them to convert it into a ‘shooting brake’, an early 19th century British term for a vehicle used to carry shooting parties.The result was an elegant sports estate which offered performance and practicality – making it the perfect vehicle for the classic British gentleman. It is one of 11 Aston Martins being offered at RM Auctions’ London sale which takes place on October 31. The car was later restored by Aston Martin and then transported to Texas where it remained in a dehumidified storage space before being shipped back to the UK.

 

India takes out Pak by 8 wickets: World T20

Briefly, ever so briefly, it looked as if India were going down a rocky road against Pakistan in their must-win match against Pakistan in Colombo on Sunday evening. Seven wides, five of which flew down the leg side, a cracking boundary past backward point and a dropped catch by Virender Sehwag at slip was an ugly start for Zaheer Khan’s first over, and hinted at a tough night for a team that is not a convincing Twenty20 outfit.

Indian fans could have been forgiven for shaking their heads and gritting their teeth. But then came the opening in the second over, and with one foot in the door, India kicked it down. Irfan Pathan’s reaction on dismissing Imran Nazir was palpable, and the manner in which India’s bowlers tidied up their lengths thereafter was very impressive after the debacle against Australia. The bowlers hit the right areas, the fielders were sharp, the catches were held, and India had perhaps their easiest chance of a win over Pakistan in ICC tournaments, one that eventually took their record over the old foes in Twenty20s to 3-0. Before we go any further, it must be said that Pakistan were poor. Very poor. An amateur batting display, dropped catches galore, misfields, overthrows and the obligatory Kamran Akmal fluffing continued Pakistan’s quixotic tournament and gave India a lifeline. Defeat was laid with the bat, confirmed in the field. Against what can be termed a very ordinary bowling attack, Pakistan’s batsmen failed to apply themselves. A side that plays out 59 dot balls is going to struggle to win Twenty20 matches; a side that drops four catches in defense of a low total definitely won’t win anything.