Tags:
Journalism of Courage
SYDNEY, May 10: Australia8217;s fascination with Sachin Tendulkar continues, with players, press and the public acknowledging his sheer genius.
While champion spinner Shane Warne has gone on record saying that he would be having nightmares about the big hitting Indian batsman, the Waugh brothers 8212; Steve and Mark 8212; have said Tendulkar is the best batsman in the game today, surpassing West Indian captain Brian Lara.
In the latest edition of the Inside Edge magazine, Mark Waugh wrote: quot;All I can say is that Tendulkar has the edge right now8230;. He8217;s got a great technique, all the shots, he hits the ball hard, he strikes a lot of fours and he compiles his runs quickly.quot;
Commenting on the Tendulkar versus Lara question, Mark Waugh said: quot;The advantage is definitely with Tendulkar,quot; adding quot;He doesn8217;t let anyone dominate him.quot;
quot;I believe, the Tendulkar technique is superior, and he8217;s not as flashy outside off stump as Lara tends to be. I think Lara is bit iffy8217; in that area. Tendulkar looks more solidand in control at the crease.quot;
Mark Waugh said he would rather see Tendulkar out for a duck every time to aid Australia8217;s cause, quot;but if anyone is going to score runs for India, you8217;d probably like to see him score them because of the way he bats.quot;
Meanwhile, having had a chance to watch glimpse of Tendulkar8217;s batting on television, Australian cricket fans are now keen to see him play Down Under, when India tours New Zealand later in the year.
quot;We, the paying public, must remain grateful that Tendulkar 25 is so young as this will enable us to eventually have a chance to see his talents with the naked eye in the near future,quot; wrote a Sydney Morning Herald reader.
The reader said: quot;What a shame it has been that India have not graced these shores since the season of 1991-92 when, as we all recall, the little maestro8217; took the sword to one young inexperienced leg-spin bowler called Warne. Surely it is time to see the return duel now that both have matured8217;.quot;
quot;It must be a poor reflection onthe ACB Australian Cricket Board that money comes before anything else. Hopefully now, the talents of the little maestro8217; will be sought by the ACB on the assumption of good ticket sales,quot; wrote David WS Lloyd of Wahroonga, in Sydney.
