Sunrise industry: Speculating on Sachin’s sunset

His head has been analysed (how much has his confidence eroded?), his movements charted (why was he speaking to Gavaskar on Tuesday morning), his footwork investigated (is he moving too far across and does that explain the comparative increase in lbws/ bowled since the West Indies last year?), and possibly even a reading of tarot cards done (bad umpiring decision, unlucky dismissals, perhaps it is just fate?).

Everything about Tendulkar, whether in form or out, is overreaction. Fact is, after 15 years, some measure of decline is inevitable, some troughs in form must arrive, though yesterday he struck the ball with some of his old sweet authority.

After lunch he pushed a ball sweetly past the bowler, cover drove a boundary with some elan, and then produced a punishing square drive that had four inscribed on it as it left the bat. Then, as his jugalbandi with Dravid had spectators putting down their beers, he was gone, but at least caught behind going for shot, not caught in confused hesitation.

One stage of a slump is denial, a refusal to accept it even exists, but Tendulkar’s decision not to bat on Sunday evening confirms that is no longer the case. What calm or chaos careens around inside his skull we may never know, but he will not be idle: for Tendulkar cricket is the oxygen of his existence and he will be searching for his way back to excellence.

During the Adelaide Test one night, a hotel visitor heard a strange sound emanating from a room. Thump, thump, thump, it went on endlessly. Bewildered, he asked what this was, only to be told it was Tendulkar shadow-playing, hitting his bat on the floor as he relentlessly perfected his stroke. It was like a caged animal waiting to be unleashed.