VRIGHTPATH PATH

Islamabad, Dec 21 (PTI) Limiting Sachin Tendulkar's feat of scoring 50 Test centuries to just the game of cricket would be unfair to the Indian batsman and his latest achievement needs to be seen as something which has pushed the frontiers of human excellence, stated an editorial in a leading Pakistan daily 'Dawn'. Tendulkar on Sunday, became the first batsman in the history to score 50 Test centuries after his unbeaten 111-run knock against South Africa at the Supersport park in Centurion. Hailing Tendulkar's class and longevity in the game, an editorial in newspaper said the Indian cricketer's achievements should not been seen from a mere cricketing perspective. "Putting Sachin Tendulkar's latest feat in a strictly cricketing context would not be fair to the sportsman. His achievements in the world of cricket need to be seen on a par with efforts in any other field - science, art, literature, etc - to push the frontiers of human excellence,...

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar on Sunday became the first man to make 50 centuries in the history of Test cricket during his innings against South Africa at the Super Sport Park, Centurion. The Master Blaster achieved the milestone in his 175th Test. His 170-run partnership with captain M S Dhoni helped India to reduce the deficit, giving the team hopes of making the South Africans bat again. Tendulkar holds almost every batting conceivable record in game, and has 47 one-day international centuries to his name. He is also the first man to make a double century in the shorter version of the game. His 22-year long career has won him adulation to the point of worship from his millions of fans not just in India, but across the globe.

Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar has added another feather in his cap. The master blaster's epic double hundred knock in the ODI against South Africa has featured in the Time magazine's top 10 special sports moments of the year. “Certain sports milestones seem simply unreachable: In cricket, it’s the one-day double-hundred: no man had ever produced 200 runs for his team during a one-day international match,” ‘Time’ said. “In February, however, India’s Sachin Tendulkar, the greatest run scorer of all-time, hit the magic milestone against a powerful South African squad. “Tendulkar smacked three ‘sixes’ - the cricket equivalent of a home run — during his epic performance, and the build up to 200 was exhilarating. “When he reached 199, the home crowd in Gwalior waved Indian flags, and roared, knowing they were about to witness history. The diminutive Tendulkar, dubbed ‘The Little Master,’ slapped a single past the South African fielders. The world’s 1.5 billion c...

DUBAI: Saluting the longevity of Sachin Tendulkar , West Indies great Brian Lara has described the Indian batting legend as the 'Don Bradman' of modern era but refused to the compare the icons of different eras. Lara, himself a legendary left-handed batsman from the Caribbean, said what astonishes him the most about Tendulkar is his longevity. "I don't think there is any race. Both are great players. Tendulkar has shown the world what he is capable of and his longevity in the game is something to be really appreciated," Lara said. "The time he will spend in the game, records are going to tumble. The fact that someone can be there from the age of 16 and still at the age of 37 perform brilliantly is something that I cherish more than anything else," he said. The West Indies player is of the opinion that Australian great Don Bradman , who ended his career with an incredible Test average of 99.96, and Tendulkar should not be compared as they played and ...

The stats would have you believe that this is the best Sachin Tendulkar has ever batted. And for once, the stats may well be right. On Monday, Sachin posted Test century no. 49. It was his sixth in the calendar year, the most by any Indian ever. And it took his aggregate for the year so far to 1194 runs at an average of - hold your breath - 99.5. Indeed, the only word to describe his form is Bradmanesque (the Don, remember, had a career average of 99.94). And India will play at least five more Tests in 2010. On Monday, Sachin finished at 191 not out. And if Dhoni and the tail hang around, who's to say 300 is out of reach? On Sunday, he had passed 14,000 Test runs, taking just 12 innings to race there - the fastest he has ever gone from one 1,000-run mark to the next. But the stats, staggering though they undoubtedly are, don't tell the full tale. They fa...

The first bowler to take a hat-trick was 'The Demon' Spofforth for Australia against England at Melbourne on January 2, 1879 in only the third Test match played. Spofforth was also the first bowler to take 10 wickets in a match when he returned the figures of 13 for 110 in the same Test. The first bowler to take all ten wickets in a Test innings was England's Jim Laker, who took 10 for 53 in Australia's second innings after taking 9 for 37 in the first innings in July 1956. Laker also achieved the distinction of becoming the first bowler to dismiss all 11 batsmen in the match. The first batsman to aggregate 1,000 runs in a calendar year was Australia's Clem Hill in 1902. The first player to make 100 wicketkeeping dismissals was Australia's Bert Oldfield when he stumped England's Hedley Verity off Clarrie Grimmett at Lord's on June 23, 1934. The first keeper to make 200 dismissals was Godfrey Evans when he caught 'Collie' Smith in West I...

India's diminutive opening batsman Sunil Gavaskar was the first to score both 9000 and 10000 runs in Tests. He reached the 9000-mark during his undefeated 166 against Australia at Adelaide on 17 December 1985. He became the first to notch five figures shortly after tea on 7 March 1987, against Pakistan at Ahmedabad's Gujarat Stadium and playing his penultimate Test. A jubilant crowd invasion halted play for more than 20 minutes. Australia's Allan Border became the first batsman to score 11000 runs in Test cricket. He achieved this feat during his innings of 84 against South Africa at Adelaide on 29 January 1994 in his 150th consecutive Test, his 90th in succession as captain and his final international match on home soil. West Indies' Brian Lara surpassed Border's tally but he ended his Test career 47 short of 12000-mark. India's Sachin Tendulkar became the first batsman to reach both 12000 (against Australia at Mohali on 17 October 2008) and 13000 runs (aga...

The first batsman to score a hundred in Test cricket was Australia's Charles Bannerman who on 15 and 16 March 1877 in the very first innings in Test cricket, scored 165 not out (retired hurt) out of Australia's total of 245. The first batsman to score a hundred in each innings of a Test match was Warren Bardsley when he scored 136 and 130 for Australia at The Oval in August 1909. The first batsman to score a double hundred in Test cricket was Australia's Billy Murdoch who scored 211 for Australia against England at The Oval in August 1884. The first batsman to score a triple hundred in Test cricket was England's Andy Sandham when he scored 325 against West Indies at Kingston in April 1930. Sandham's record score was surpassed by Don Bradman (334 in 1930), Wally Hammond (336 not out in 1932-33), Len Hutton (364 in 1938). West Indian Gary Sobers then scored 365 not out against Pakistan at Kingston in 1957-58) and it remained a record until another West Indian Br...

38 years old Muttiah Muralitharan became the first bowler to take 800 wickets in Test cricket when he dismissed Pragyan Ojha caught in the slip by Mahela Jayawardene on July 22, 2010 in the Test match against India at Galle . Here is a chronology of first player to reach every important milestone in Test cricket: The first bowler to take 100 wickets in Test matches was the England left-arm slow bowler, Johnny Briggs. He reached the landmark just before tea on the first day of the Fourth Test against Australia at Sydney on 1 February 1895 in his 25th match. The first bowler to take 200 wickets was Australia's New Zealand-born leg-break bowler, Clarrie Grimmett. He reached that total on 17 February 1936 at the Old Wanderers, Johannesburg, in the penultimate Test of his career. Fred Trueman was the first bowler to take 300 wickets in Test cricket. He reached that total at The Oval in his 65th Test on 15 August 1964 when he had Neil Hawke of Australia caught at slip by Colin Cow...

India finally manages to break the jinx of Final to lift the Asia Cup title with the help of collective batting and bowling effort from the players. The under-fire seam attack came good when it mattered to bowl out the Sri Lankans for just 187 in 44.4 overs to give India a comprehensive 81 runs win in the Asia Cup Final. With this win a 1 5-year-old title drought came to an end. This is the fifth time India manage to win Asia Cup title, last time India have won in 1995 under the captaincy of Md. Azharuddin after beating Sri Lanka by eight wickets in Sharjah. After electing to bat first India posted a competitive 268/6 in their 50 overs, with fine half-century by late comer Dinesh Karthik (66 runs off 84 balls). He got good support from G.Gambhir (15 runs off 16 balls), V.Kohli (28 runs off 34 balls), M.S.Dhoni (38 runs off 50 balls) and R.Sharma (41 runs off 52 balls). At 146/3 in the 28th over India were cruising and looking well on course to reach close to 300 run mark but some needl...

Positive planetary and numerology combination indicates that Indian Cricket team may do well and might win the 2010 Asia Cup Final to be played in Dambulla, on Thursday June 24, 2010. June 24 adds up to number 6 (2+4+6+20+10=15) which is India's fate number and hence indicates good news for the country. Transiting Moon in Scorpio will be well aspected by Jupiter, Saturn and Mars which further boosts the confidance of the team. However, the team sould be careful of the injury and over agression. I hope they make the most of it. I wish Dhoni & the team all the best!

S achin Tendulkar became the first batsman to score a double century in One-Day Internationals, the first ever double century in the history of ODI cricket lead India to a crushing 153-run victory over South Africa The master batsman, who holds the record for most runs and centuries in Test (13,447) and one-day (17,398) cricket, was at his vintage best as he blazed his way to 200 from a mere 147 deliveries, inclusive of 25 boundaries and three sixes. In carrying his bat through the innings he propelled India to a mammoth 401 for three in 50 overs. The 37-year-old batsman underlined his reputation as the greatest player in the history of cricket by breaching the 200-run mark, the first instance since the 50-over format was introduced in 1971. His previous best was an unbeaten 186 against New Zealand , at Hyderabad, in 1999. Tendulkar, who registered his 46th ODI century in the process, got to 200 with a single off Charl Langeveldt in the final over of the game, having earli...

India thwarted stubborn resistance from South Africa 's Hashim Amla and the tailenders to clinch a series-leveling innings and 57 runs victory in the second Test at Kolkata. Playing a role of match winner, Harbhajan Singh (five wickets for 59 runs) and Amit Mishra (three for 78) claimed eight wickets as India beat South Africa by an innings and 57 runs on a thrilling final day in the second Test to level the two-match series 1-1 and remain the number one Test team in the world. South Africa was bowled out for 290 despite a fighting 123 not out by Hashim Amla. The home team was in serious danger of losing the top spot after SA won the Nagpur Test last week and then bad weather on Wednesday allowed only 31 overs of play. The victory ensured M S Dhoni's men retain the ICC Championships mace, which they won after beating Sri Lanka 2-0 in the home series in December last year.

VVS Laxman and Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit centuries in a record partnership before India declared their first innings on 643 for six, on Day 3 of the second and final Test against South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Tuesday. The total is India's highest against South Africa, beating the 627 they scored at Chennai in 2007-08, and gave them a huge lead of 347 runs. In their second innings, South Africa faced just five deliveries, scoring six for no loss, before play was called off early due to bad light. In their first essay, they were dismissed for 296. Laxman continued his love affair with the Eden Gardens, bringing up his fourth century in his ninth match at the historic venue. He was unbeaten on 143 off 260 deliveries, inclusive of 16 boundaries. Dhoni registered his first Test century in Kolkata, scoring 132 from 187 deliveries, inclusive of 12 boundaries and three sixes. The duo were involved in an unbroken stand of 259 runs, a new record partnership for the seventh wi...

Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar hit their second successive centuries before South Africa staged a late fightback on day two of the second and final Test, at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Monday. At close, India were 342 for five in 76 overs, a lead of 46 runs, after South Africa were bowled out for 296 in their first innings in the morning. Sehwag benefitted from two lifelines to score 165 from 174 deliveries, inclusive of 23 boundaries and two sixes, before falling to part-timer J P Duminy. He was involved in a huge partnership of 249 runs off 348 deliveries for the third wicket with Tendulkar, who scored his fourth century on the trot. Tendulkar continued his good run with the bat, scoring 106 from 206 deliveries, inclusive of 12 boundaries, before he was caught at first slip off Paul Harris. South Africa staged a late comeback, claiming three wickets for five runs, including those of Tendulkar, Sehwag and S Badrinath, to regain a bit of the initiative the hosts had. Earlier, ...

P lanets alignment during Ind & SA last test match (Feb 14 -18, 2010) at Kolkatta are in a favorable position. Team India may put an impressive performance during the first three days. Retrograde Saturn's may impact the match too negatively on 17 & 18th Feb 2010, so i hope India takes enough advantage during first three days of the match and may be able to level the series :)

While India crashed to a humiliating innings and six runs defeat against South Africa in the first Test in Nagpur on Tuesday, Sachin Tendulkar's managed to score a (100) defiant ton. Tendulkar's 46th century, his fourth against the South Africans and first at home against the Proteas, was the lone significant knock in the entire Indian innings. Tendulkar was lucky to see his glide off Parnell grassed by Jacques Kallis in the slip cordon, when he was on 45. Tendulkar subsequently was watchful but at the same time walloped the bad deliveries. He and Dhoni rekindled India's hopes with a steady 70-run partnership and the sparse crowd at the VCA Stadium roared in appreciation after Tendulkar reached his 46th Test century. Following on, India resumed on 66 for two this morning, but folded for 319 in their second essay to allow South Africa to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. It was South Africa's fifth Test win in India in 11 attempts. More importantly, it was India...

It is a difficult to do the explanation on a day when nothing has gone in your team's favour. Team India's plight on Monday no different. Having witnessed South Africa post a mammoth 558 for six (declared) in their first innings in the first two days, the hosts' response was disappointing to say the least. They could muster only 233 in their first innings, after being 221 for four at one stage. To make matters worse, they lost both their openers before stumps (66-2) on day three to have the ignominy of an innings defeat staring at their face. Explaining the collapse was a tough ask. And the person sent to do that was the one who impressed the most in an otherwise vapid batting display. And to his credit Virender Sehwag did put up a brave face, trying to remain positive ahead of the impending negative result. "We'll try hard. And hopefully we can draw the match," he said, when asked if it was possible now for India to get something out o this match. ...

T he First test between India and South Africa at Nagupr may end on a positive note for India as per India's fate number 6 (Feb 6), the Venusian number indicates a good start to the match for India. Interestingly, the number on last day of the match is also 6 (10+2+2010= 6) which again indicates India may have an upper hand in the match on the last day-given all -is- well in between. However, planets indicate team India may be in trouble on the 2nd ( (Sachin may do well :)) and 3rd day as moon is not favorable. 3rd day numbers are a combination of 8 & 4 (8.2.2010 =13) ruled by Saturn and Rahu respectively, indicating a difficult day with lots of ups and downs over all. 4th day numbers are 9 & 5 (9+2+2010=14) indicate aggression and injuries. You may have no clue which way match will turn. Over all this test will have lots of troubles in store for India!

Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid on Monday registered the world record for most 100-plus run partnerships by any pair in the history of Test match cricket on the second day of the second and final Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur. Tendulkar and Darvid have now 17 100-plus partnerships, one more than the Australian pair of Mathew Hayden and Ricky Ponting and West Indians Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes, who have shared 16 such stands. The Indian duo's world record of most number of 100-plus partnerships came after the drinks break in the post-lunch session when Tendulkar also reached his 55th Test fifty in his 164th match when he drove past extra cover for a four. Tendulkar and Dravid's 100-run partnership for the third wicket came from 25.3 overs and included 10 boundaries. Dravid and Tendulkar were involved in an unbroken stand of 222 runs for the third wicket before the former had to withdraw with injury. Dravid made a solid 111 from 188 deliveries in his 29th ton, incl...

India inflicted a 113-run defeat on Bangladesh in the first Test, with a session of play left on the fifth and final day, at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium in Chittagong on Thursday. The victory gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series. Sachin Tendulkar was declared the man of the match for his masterclass effort (105 not out) in the first innings. Chasing 415 to win, the hosts -- resuming at 67 for two overnight -- were dismissed for 301 in two sessions of play on day five, their best second innings total against the visitors. Stumper Mushfiqur Rahim scored a valiant 101, an almost run-a-ball knock that comprised of 17 hits to the fence and one over it, in a late charge that helped Bangladesh reduce the margin considerably. But it wasn't enough to help them save the match. For India, Amit Mishra and Ishant Sharma impressed with the ball, taking four and three wickets respectively. Zaheer Khan helped himself to a couple. The win ensured India's unbeaten run e...

The second test match at Mirpur Between India and Bangladesh beings on Sunday Jan 24, 2010. Jan 24 numbers add to 6 & 1 (24+1+2010=10) Indicate India may do quite well on the first day in this match, however, Moon will be transiting in the unfavorable zone indicates we may loose the toss. Second day numbers indicate match will keep you on your toes following sudden turns and positive surprises. Third Day numbers (8&3) indicates day may be a bit difficulty for India... Fourth & Fifth Day Planets Indicates unfavorable situation for India. We may have to pray for India's win.

India inflicted a 113-run defeat on Bangladesh in the first Test, with a session of play left on the fifth and final day, at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium in Chittagong on Thursday Jan 21,2010. Sachin Tendulkar was declared the man of the match for his masterclass effort (105 not out) in the first innings. Chasing 415 to win, the hosts -- resuming at 67 for two overnight -- were dismissed for 301 in two sessions of play on day five, their best second innings total against the visitors. Stumper Mushfiqur Rahim scored a valiant 101, an almost run-a-ball knock that comprised of 17 hits to the fence and one over it, in a late charge that helped Bangladesh reduce the margin considerably. But it wasn't enough to help them save the match. For India, Amit Mishra and Ishant Sharma impressed with the ball, taking four and three wickets respectively. Zaheer Khan helped himself to a couple. The win ensured India's unbeaten run extended to 13 Tests -- seven wins and six draws -- their ...