|
Feature : Lara or
Sachin? |
By Sayak Roy,
Kolkata, published on Dec 21, 2005
 They
both are guaranteed to find a place in a dream
team. They both are god-gifted players. They
both have the capability to win matches single
handedly. Bowlers throughout the world fear them
both. They both are prized wickets of the
fielding team. They both love smashing the
cricket ball to the boundary.
No prizes for guessing who they are. But who’s
the best? Yes, who’s the best?
Is it Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar or Brian Charles
Lara? Is it the lad from Mumbai, or the guy from
Trinidad? Is it the heartthrob of India or the
prince of West Indies? Is it the dashing
right-hander or the flamboyant left-hander? Let
us try and find out who is the best.
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar or Brian Charles Lara?
This is an age-old debate, which has received a
sudden boost due to the outstanding performances
by both these players, but a convincing answer
is yet to be given. Is it the lad from Mumbai or
the prince of Trinidad, who’s the ultimate king
of international cricket?
The ultimate yardstick, of all sporting duels,
STATISTICS, also do not portray a clear image,
about concluding who is the best. Both are
numerous world record holders. If Lara holds the
record of the highest individual score in Test
cricket, Tendulkar is the owner of maximum
centuries in test cricket. If Lara is the
highest run getter in Test cricket, Sachin is
the highest run getter in one-day international
cricket.
Tendulkar broke apart into the cricketing scene
in 1989, and since then has been playing
continuous cricket for sixteen long years, and
will definitely continue for another two or
three years. The same is the case with Lara too.
As far as fitness is concerned that’s one area
where their teammates can’t complain against
these men. Dedication and love for cricket in
both these gentlemen are still immense, and is
comparable to a debutant of the game.
 They
both have played numerous memorable innings for
their team, which will always be remembered by
the cricket lovers. Lara’s scintillating
quadruple century, against a talented and
charged up English side is as memorable, as
Sachin’s glittering 143 not out, against
Australia at Sharjah. If Lara’s 375 against
England was an exhibition of the variety of
shots that can be played in cricket, then
Sachin’s 136 against Pakistan was a show of the
tremendous will power of Tendulkar. In that
innings Sachin ignored his back pain for his
country, but the saddest part of the story is
that all his efforts went in vain, as India
failed to win the game. If Lara’s recent double
hundred against Australia, was a huge boost for
the sagging morale of the West Indian side, then
Sachin’s 194 in Multan against Pakistan showed
why he is regarded one of the best in the
international arena. Both these little champions
have been the cause of worry for opponents,
because big players are always big match
players. Perhaps the only person comparable to
these two persons, or even be rated higher, is
Sir Don Bradman. But, then he is a totally
different man, a cricketer who belongs to a
different class, a different level !!
The problem begins when we try to conclude,
about who is the best. This is probably one the
toughest jobs, one could get hold of.
So it’s better not to conclude, anything from
this staggering statistics, because statistics
doesn’t portray the true picture always. They
both are cricketing geniuses, they both are
messengers of cricket, who are we to conclude,
who is the best?
We, can only sit back, and enjoy the glorious
shots they play on the cricket field, the
dazzling innings they play, the way they rip
apart their opponents, by their masterstrokes.
We the cricket lovers can only pray, to see them
play as long as we live !!
So go ahead Lara and Sachin, our best wishes are
with you.
Top of the Page
|
