1st Test: India v West Indies at Kolkata Nov 6-10, 2013

[TheParraboy]

Mark Taylor was in wretched form until his career-saving 120 in the 1st Ashes test in 1997. I can't remember how many tests he went without a century/fifty but such was his form slump that the media made a huge deal of an innings of 38 he scored against South Africa. People were suggesting that he should've raised his bat.

My favourite Aussie Mike Hussey also had an extended lean patch before his match winning ton against Pakistan at the SCG in 2010. Kamran Akmal, who can claim the coveted title of worst keeper in history from Courtney Browne, played his part with four dropped catches and one missed stumping opportunity. Who can forget Yousuf Youhana/ Cat Steven/ Mohammad Yusuf's insipid captaincy that game either.

Back on the subject of Tendulkar, I've taken no pleasure in his inexorable decline. Although he has plundered hapless West Indian attacks over the years, at least he has done it with style! I've always admired his attacking instincts, his technique and his longevity. It's very sad to see a legend of the game reduced to a mere shadow of his former self even if his own stubbornness in not retiring earlier is to blame.

I was at that test match and (at the time) couldn't believe my eyes the way things unfolded and we ended up winning. That 5th day at the test was one of the proudest times to be an aussie, unbelievable scenes.

The dropped catches and lost stumping from Akmal didnt surprise me. His body language throughout the test was one of the worst ive seen from any wicket keeper in any grade. I told a mate of mine this at the time way before Husseys innings. This combined with Yousefs strange captaincy, it just didn't feel like they were wanting to put Australia to the sword after having a ludicrous hold on the game.

Later it was revealed game fixing reared its ugly head

 

[TheParraboy]

WI 9/159

Chanderpaul 27*

 

[AlwaysGreen]

I think it's quite fitting that Tendulkar is playing the West Indies in his last test match. When he first started playing they were still the dominant force in world cricket and countries such as England and Australia would clear their schedules to play them because they were the biggest money makers in the game.

24 years later and they are a pitiful mess to be perfectly honest, just ahead of Zim and Bangladesh in the pecking order whilst India are the team dictating terms (sorry Wally).

Tendulkar's career will be remembered as one which made India the global cricket power it is today. No cricketer apart from Bradman changed the game's power base as much as Tendulkar.

 

[lockyno1]

Tendulkar's career will be remembered as one which made India the global cricket power it is today. No cricketer apart from Bradman changed the game's power base as much as Tendulkar.

Hard to say, Gavaskar probably did just as much in that regard.

 

[aussies1st]

Shami carried his ODI form over I see, looks a good talent but I thought the same about Yadav and hes disappeared.

 

[hineyrulz]

Hard to say, Gavaskar probably did just as much in that regard.

Nah,not as much as Tendulkar. Sunny was a great player but an accumulator Tendulkar when the mood took him could murder an attack. He definitely played a couple of years to long but just ahead of Ponting and Lara as the best batsman i have seen. Viv in his prime was up there as well but he too played a couple of years to long. Still reckon Sachin could be a selfish merkin at times and batted for himself especially in one day games just to rack up the century.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Gavaskar and Shastri owe their post playing careers to Tendulkar. When he started playing the game in India was barely televised, people in India from all walks of life were desperate to see him play so TV stations started to cover the game. The rest is history.

 

[TheParraboy]

The Big Show will turn Australia into a super power base well before he retires..