Everything seems to be going right for Sachin Tendulkar on and off the field.  After being conferred with the honorary rank of "Group Captain" by Indian Air Force off the field in recognition of his exemplary achievements on the cricketfield, Sachin Tendulkar made it a grand double after being  chosen by the ICC as the ICC cricketer of the year. 

While it took Sachin Tendulkar seven years for his first ICC award Sachin Tendulkar would have not regrets for missing out on the awards year because he made it a memorable double by winning the inaugural Peoples Choice Award as well.  By winning the Peoples Choice award Sachin Tendulkar has reiterated the fact that ICC has not erred in awarding him with the Cricketer of the Year Award.  Sachin Tendulkars only regret though will be the fact that he has missed out by the narrowest of margins to Virender Sehwag and AB De Villiers who won the Test Palyer of the Year Award and ODI Player of the year award.

The period 24th August 2009 to 10th August 2010 was taken into account by ICC for naming the winners and Sachin Tendulkar was in brilliant form during this period scoring 1064 runs in Test Matches at an brilliant average of 81.84 and in the same period scored 914 runs in 17 one dayers at a average of 65.28 which included the first and only double century in the history of one dayers.  Sachin Tendulkar is yet to play a one dayer after that historic double century and his absence from one dayers from then onwards helped De Villiers win the ODI player of the year award.  While Sachin Tendulkar would have loved to have a clean sweep of the major words he can still be happy with the fact that he won two of the biggest awards.

Coming to onfield achievements Sachin Tendulkar seems to the best form of his life and that too in the 21st year of his career.  Yesterday on 10th October 2010 he became the first ever cricketer in the history of game to reach 14000 career runs in Test Matches.  Sachin Tendulkar's 13000th and 14000th run have come in this year as he has scored more than 1000 runs this year, the sixth time he has done it in a career and that in itself is a world record.  What is special about Sachin's 14000th run is the fact that he has taken only 12 innings to score the last 1000th run from 13000 to 14000 which is the least number of innings he has ever taken in his brilliant career.  Sachin Tendulkars brilliant run  post 2007 has widened the gap between him and Ricky Ponting as Sachin Tendulkar is 9 centuries and about 1800 runs ahead of Ponting. It would be a tough ask for the 35 year old Ponting who is just 69 days short of this 36thbirthday to get past Sachin Tendulkars career records.

While Sachin Tendulkar gave millions of fans reasons to rejoice for reaching his 14000thrun at Bangalore yesterday one must say that India has a tough task at hand.  With 478 runs in their first innings one must say Aussies have put on the board and the certainly that India are on the back foot physiologically in the absence of V V S Laxman who snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the first test at Mohali.  Aussies also know that Indians do not have a good record at Bangalore and the absence of semi experienced Gambhir only complicates matter for Indians.  Another thing which works in Aussies favour is the fact that India in all probability have to bat last in this match and the Bangalore pitch always had a reputation of favouring the fielding team in the fourth innings.

At the end of third day play with the score on 128 for 2 statistically India look in command but Aussies have a slight upper hand considering the fact that they got the dangerous Virender Sehwag and reliable Rahul Dravid but there is Sachin Tendulkar still at the crease and his mere presence is enough to worry the best of bowlers in business and best of captains.

• Written by N R SATISH.
• In category Cricket.
• 14 years ago.

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