"To watch Tendulkar bat during in a Test in India was to hear a nation draw - and hold - its breath."

The next two test matches in India---played against Shiv Chanderpaul and the West Indies---will be historic---they will be the most watched tests in history.

One billion plus Indians will have their eyes glued on their TVs.

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar who is deemed to be god-like in India will be playing his last 2 tests---he'll end his 24 year career with 200 tests.

Rev

HIS LANDMARKS:

15,837---MOST TEST RUNS

51--------MOST TEST TONS

18,426---MOST ODI RUNS

49--------MOST ODI HUNDREDS


=================

MISSING LANDMARKS:

* HIGHEST TEST SCORE----Lara 400*---Sachin 248*---never made a triple

* MOST RUNS IN A SERIES---Bradman 974---Sachin 493

* MOST RUNS IN A CALENDAR---Mohamed Yousuf(1788)----Sachin 1562

* A TON IN BOTH INNINGS OF A TEST---Sachin did not achieve this feat.

* MEMEMBERSHIP IN THE ICC 900 RATINGS CLUB----Sachin's highest 898.

===============

Oh well! Sachin has 2 tests to go----can he achieve any of those missing landmarks ?

Rev

HOW INDIANS FEEL ABOUT CRICKET

NOW THIS ABSOLUTELY CANNOT BE TRUE

But then again there are countless cricket fanatics out there---1 billion in India alone.

Rev

QUESTION:

How many of you on this forum are cricket fans ?

Any of you agree with Harold Pinter ?hahahaha

Rev

Count me in as a cricket fan. I stay up late a night to watch matches. Sachin is a god of cricket.

Rev, I am a SUPER Fan. Enjoyed the Game today. Over 400 Runs in 40 Overs. It is undoubtedly the GREATEST Game on earth.

Yuji:

I have been following cricket since I was 10 years old.

My favorite player of all time---Rohan Kanhai.

My favorite player today---Shiv Chanderpaul.

The Rev is prejudiced in favor of Guyanese players.

By the way, in the 2nd test in India---Sachin will be playing in his 200th and final test---and Shiv will be playing in his 150th test.

So I'll be rooting for both Sachin and Shiv to score hundreds.

Rev

PS. Check out cricket at Bhai Krishna's site:

http://www.westindiesforum.com/the-pitch/

Nehru bhai:

The Rev hopes you don't feel the same way as Harold Pinter:hahaha

Anyway, you are right! That was some match today--Yuvraj played a blinder---77 in 35 balls.

RE: THE 2 TESTS---WI VS INDIA

They will be the most watched tests in history.

Rev

WI is in the top 5 and they can get better. Shiv is playing in his 150th, will he call it a day as well? Maybe he will retire at Providence. 

Shiv is in no retirement mode. From 20/20 maybe, but not test.

I use to be a die hard cricket fan, but I have lost the thrill of watching a game now. I find the game now is all about money and greed. I guess the same can be said for most sports today. There are lots of talented players out there, but they have been caught up in the system now of dollars.

I thought it was GNI coming to an end!

Amral, every thing has short attention span now, even cricket. I think test matches will die out in the future.  Cricket is now fast lane. You notice those cheer leaders?

After Tendulkar retires, Shiv will be the most experienced cricketer playing International cricket---he has been playing since March 1994---19 years and counting.

RE: SHIV RETIRING

* Shiv is currently the #2 ranked test batsman in the world.

* Since Lara retired(end of 2006), Shiv has averaged 70.58 in 47 tests

Shiv still has some goals to achieve---- he still has to score 1124 runs to become the highest runs scorer in West Indies history.

11,953---Brian Lara(1)

10,830---Shiv Chanderpaul(2)

Rev

When the Rev's hero Rohan Kanhai played cricket---back in those days players made around $500 a test match.

Today, some players make a million dollars playing a month in the IPL.

I think it's great cricketers are making money these days.

RE: LOSING THE THRILL WATCHING CRICKET

You may need to have your testosterone levels checked amral---men lose the thrill for a lot of things when they enter their 40s and 50s.hahaha

Rev

If something as precious as life can come to an end, then surely GNI will one day come to an end.

THEN A NEW DOOR WILL OPEN.

Rev

T20 Cricket is the BEST Game in the World. I came to Merika and see men playing FOOTBALL with their Hands. Laad Ah Mercy

The reverend will now make a murti a la tendular and start up a clap hand temple.  

The tycoon is probably funding these sites.   

Nehru:

When I first came to America and looked at American football---I said to myself---that is a stupid game---all I saw was 11 guys crashing into each other.

THEN I LEARNED THE RULES!

And have been hooked on American football the past 3 decades.

NY GIANTS ARE NOW 0-6

Thank goodness Rev has numerous other hobbies.

T20 is exciting---but football is more captivating.

Rev

Rev

Shiv Chanderpaul is a Guyanese Icon.

I always root for him. Bishoo was dropped by the WI, he is such a good young talent. Any reasons why the WI is not grooming him ?

Bishoo was given a chance---he played 11 tests and took 40 wickets.

But in his last 6 test innings---these were Bishoo's bowling figures:

1/56, 1/154, 1/106, 2/65, 1/125, 0/44

Bishoo didn't deliver the goods---and deserved to be dropped.

Sunil Narine has been outstanding in onedayers and T20s while Shillingford has been doing well in tests.

RE: CHANDERPAUL

He currently has 89 scores over 50(28 100s and 61 50s)

ONLY 3 BATSMEN IN HISTORY HAVE HAD 100+ SCORES OVER 50

Tendulkar(118), Ponting(103) and Kallis(102).

Hopefully Shiv(89) will be #4.

Rev