Tendulkar retires from ODIs

Updated December 23, 2012 22:08:00

Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar has announced his retirement from international one-day cricket after scoring a record-breaking 49 centuries in the 50-over format.

The 39-year-old is the world's top run-getter in one-day cricket, with 18,426 runs from 463 matches at an average of 44.83.

"I have decided to retire from the one-day format of the game," he said in a statement.

"I feel blessed to have fulfilled the dream of being part of a World Cup-winning Indian team (in 2011).

"I am eternally grateful to all my well-wishers for their unconditional support and love over the years."

Tendulkar, who is also the highest scorer in Tests, said that he was quitting to allow the Indian selectors to build a team for the 2015 World Cup which is being held in Australia and New Zealand.

"The preparatory process to defend the World Cup in 2015 should begin early... I would like to wish the team all the very best for the future," he said.

Tendulkar, who has been dubbed the "Little Master", made his one-day debut aged 16 in Gujranwala on a tour of Pakistan in 1989.

He lasted just two deliveries before being dismissed by Waqar Younis without scoring.

But in what turned out to be his last two one-day innings, during the Asia Cup in Dhaka in March, he made 114 against Bangladesh to record his 100th international century and then scored 52 against Pakistan.

He played in six World Cups since 1992 and finally found success in his last appearance in the tournament when India defeated Sri Lanka in the final in Tendulkar's home city of Mumbai on April 2, 2011.

He was carried off the pitch at the end of the game on the shoulders of his team-mates.

Tendulkar was two months away from his 37th birthday when he smashed the first-ever double century in the history of one-day internationals, making an unbeaten 200 against South Africa in Gwalior in February, 2010.

It was unclear if he will continue to play Test cricket, where he has scored a record 15,645 runs in 194 matches at an average of 54.32 with 51 centuries.

Former India skipper Krishnamachari Srikkanth said Tendulkar's records can never be matched.

"I am surprised by his move but he is leaving ODI cricket on a high. I am sure he will want to leave on a high in Test cricket also. He will be looking forward to a good Test series against Australia," he said.

"His records cannot be surpassed."

Former captain Sourav Ganguly said: "I felt that he might have played on, but it is his decision and I think it is right.

"There was a doubt on whether he would play ODI cricket or not. But I am not surprised by his decision. He has done what he thought was right."

India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh also paid tribute to the record-breaking batsman.

"Master. 463 matches, 23 yrs, 18426 runs !!!! These numbers no body else will be able to come close to. salute salute salute to sachin," he tweeted.

Tendulkar was part of a famed Indian middle order which included Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Venkatsai Laxman - all of whom have now retired from all levels of the game.

His announcement on Sunday comes only weeks after Ricky Ponting, second only to Tendulkar in the list of highest run scorers in Test cricket, played his last match for Australia.

Tendulkar is also the star batsman for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL), a domestic Twenty20 tournament.

AFP

Tags: onedayseries, cricket, sport, india

First posted December 23, 2012 17:33:09

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Indian cricket star Tendulkar awarded AM

By South Asia correspondent Michael Edwards, staff

Updated October 16, 2012 20:11:38

Indian cricket great Sachin Tendulkar is to receive an Order of Australia (AM) for his contribution to the sport.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard made the announcement during a visit to a Delhi cricket clinic.

"I'm also very pleased we're going to confer on Sachin Tendulkar membership of the Order of Australia, an AM," she told reporters.

"This is a very special honour, very rarely awarded to someone who is not an Australian citizen or an Australian national.

"He is away playing cricket - surprise, surprise - but the award will be conferred on him by Minister [Simon] Crean when [he] visits India.

"So a very special honour and a very special recognition of such a great batsman."

Ms Gillard is in India on a three-day visit, during which she will meet prime minister Manmohan Singh and other senior ministers to trade and cultural ties and the likely opening up of uranium sales.

In the sporting arena, however, she could not be persuaded to pick up a cricket bat.

"I wasn't tempted to showcase my skills. Number one, because I don't really have cricketing skills. So that would be a problem," she said.

"Number two, whilst I didn't agree with prime minister [John] Howard's policies in many respects, I watched and learned from his prime ministership and a key lesson is never to pick up a bat in India in front of our friends from the media."

There was no immediate comment from Tendulkar, who is in South Africa representing the Mumbai Indians team in the Twenty20 Champions League.

Tendulkar has scored a world record Test (15,553) and one-day (18,426) runs and has also compiled an unprecedented 100 international centuries.

West Indies batting great Brian Lara was honoured with the membership of the Order of Australia in 2009.

Former attorney-general Soli Sorabjee is the only other Indian to have received the award.

Tendulkar's popularity in Australia was cemented when legendary cricketer Don Bradman said he was reminded of his own batting after watching the Indian play.

Part of Ms Gillard's mission to Delhi is to improve Australia's image in India after a spate of attacks on Indian students.

ABC South Asia correspondent Michael Edwards has spoken on PM about how much of this might play into the decision to give an award to a famous cricketer.

Tags: awards-and-prizes, federal-government, cricket, australia, india

First posted October 16, 2012 15:19:24

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Tendulkar sworn in as MP

Updated June 05, 2012 20:17:37

Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar vowed to put his on-field performance before any political activity as he was sworn in as a member of India's upper house.

Tendulkar, worshipped by millions of cricket fans in India, was appointed to the Rajya Sabha for a seat theoretically reserved for people who distinguish themselves in the fields of arts, science or social service.

"It is an honour which I accept with full respect but I am here because of my cricketing career," he said after the low-key ceremony.

"I cannot take any focus away from my cricket because that is where it all started for me."

Tendulkar, 39, no longer plays international Twenty20 cricket but is still one of the world's leading one-day international and Test players and he competed in the recent Indian Premier League season.

He is the first active sportsman to serve in India's upper house and on Monday he repeated that he had no immediate plans to retire.

"I am in a better position not only to help cricket but also other sports in the country," he said.

"I would be happy if I am remembered (as) someone who has contributed to all sports in India rather than just my cricket statistics."

Tendulkar has previously steered clear of India's political world, and it remains unclear how much he will participate in parliament after his playing days are over.

When he was nominated in April, the Times of India said the gesture made "little sense" while some opposition politicians accused the government of crass populist politics.

Om Mathur, a member of parliament for the main opposition BJP, said at the time that Tendulkar was being used by the ruling Congress party to boost its support in the cricketer's home state of Maharashtra.

Tendulkar is the world's highest run-scorer in both Test and one-day cricket and in March became the first batsman to complete 100 international centuries - 51 in Tests and 49 in one-dayers.

AFP

Tags: cricket, world-politics, india

First posted June 05, 2012 12:10:48

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Tendulkar offered seat in parliament

Updated April 27, 2012 07:16:24

Cricketing great Sachin Tendulkar has been nominated by India's prime minister for a seat in the upper house of parliament, according to a government source.

Prime minister Manmohan Singh's letter recommending Tendulkar's nomination must be endorsed by Indian president Pratibha Patil, the source said.

Tendulkar, who turned 39 this week, was in New Delhi to play an Indian Premier League match for the Mumbai Indians against the Delhi Daredevils on Friday.

Earlier on Thursday, Tendulkar and his wife visited ruling Congress Party president Sonia Gandhi at her residence, a meeting described as a "courtesy visit" by the local media.

The vast majority of the 250 seats in the upper house are chosen by state legislatures, although 12 are filled by presidential appointment and are normally awarded to those who have excelled in fields like the arts, science and sport.

Tendulkar's name is among four the government has recommended to the president to fill seats lying vacant, the Press Trust of India news agency said.

Tendulkar made his international debut in 1989 and has played more Tests (188) and one-day internationals (463) than any other player.

He is the highest run-getter in both forms of the game and last month became the first batsman to complete 100 international centuries - 51 in Tests and 49 in one-dayers.

Reports of his Rajya Sabha (upper house) nomination are likely to spark fresh speculation about his immediate future, although Tendulkar himself has dismissed talk of retirement anytime soon.

ABC/AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, world-politics, india

First posted April 27, 2012 06:32:31

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Tendulkar back for India in one-dayers

Updated January 16, 2012 10:27:14

India has picked Sachin Tendulkar for the tri-series in Australia, ending the star batsman's self-imposed exile from one-day cricket outside the World Cup.

Tendulkar, the world's leading one-day batsman who is chasing his 100th international century, was included in a 17-man squad for the tri-series against Australia and Sri Lanka, to be played from February 5 to March 8.

The same squad, led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, will also feature in two Twenty20 internationals against hosts Australia in Sydney on February 1 and in Melbourne on February 3.

His inclusion means Tendulkar will have further opportunities to record a 100th ton if he is unable to achieve the landmark in the final Test against Australia in Adelaide later this month.

The Indian cricket board announced the squad on the day Dhoni's men were thrashed by an innings and 37 runs in the Perth Test to give Australia a decisive 3-0 lead in the four-match series.

It was India's seventh successive Test defeat abroad, following their 4-0 rout in England last year, in a dismal run that has taken the sheen off their limited-overs World Cup victory last April.

Tendulkar, who turns 39 in April, has played in just four of India's 47 one-day internationals outside the World Cup in the last two years, preferring to rest and concentrate on Test matches.

His record 18,111 runs in 453 one-day matches with 48 centuries includes the first-ever double-century in one-day cricket, an unbeaten 200 against South Africa in Gwalior in February 2010.

He was the star performer in India's World Cup victory, with 482 runs in nine matches, second only to Sri Lankan Tillakaratne Dilshan's 500 runs in as many games.

There was no place in the squad for the World Cup's man of the tournament Yuvraj Singh, who has yet to regain full fitness after being treated for a non-malignant lung tumour.

Fast bowler Ishant Sharma, currently playing in the Test series, has been rested as seamers Praveen Kumar and Irfan Pathan join the new-ball attack for the one-dayers.

Veteran batsmen Rahul Dravid and Venkatsai Laxman, who do not play one-day cricket any more, will return home after the final Test.

Indian squad:

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Virender Sehwag (vice-capt), Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Manoj Tiwary, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Rahul Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Praveen Kumar, Vinay Kumar, Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan, Parthiv Patel.

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, australia, india

First posted January 16, 2012 10:27:14

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Tendulkar and Dravid turn it on at the 'G

By Joel Zander

Updated December 27, 2011 21:22:10

Veteran pair Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid gave the cricket world another reminder of just what it will be missing when they finally ride off into the sunset as they put on another masterclass on day two of the first Test against Australia at the MCG.

The two most prolific run-scorers in the history of the game, Tendulkar and Dravid again showed a crowd of over 50,000 why with a record-extending 20th century stand before Peter Siddle knocked over The Little Master for 72 in the final over of the day.

Cricket Australia's bean counters will rue Tendulkar's absence at the crease on day three, for the man who turns 39 next April was eyeing what would have been a 100th international century.

But this match remains tantalisingly poised with the tourists reaching 3 for 214 at stumps, trailing Australia's first innings of 333 by just 117 runs with seven wickets in hand.

Australian vice-captain Brad Haddin admitted Tendulkar and Dravid, who put on 117 for the third wicket, had tilted momentum in the tourists' favour.

"They played well and they're obviously class players, that innings from Tendulkar is one of the better 70s you'll see in Test cricket," Haddin told Grandstand.

"I think that they've probably got the better of things leading into tomorrow, it's important for us I think to shut down that scoreboard early.

"Doing that will build pressure and give us the opportunity to take some wickets."

The final eight overs of the day made for some unmissable cricket with Siddle bowling Dravid on 65, only for the man known as The Wall to be called back when it was revealed the bowler had overstepped the mark.

Siddle's misfortune unsurprisingly spurred the Victorian on and he got his just rewards with the invaluable scalp of Tendulkar, his four-over spell to close out the day reaping 1 for 5 with a maiden.

"That's cricket, you don't like to see those things happen but we can't do anything about it now," Haddin said of Dravid's reprieve.

"But the thing about it is, he (Siddle) was bowling well and creating chances which is a good thing.

"He's shown for a long time he's a class act and it was a great effort today."

Tendulkar's dismissal halted his world record union with Dravid at 6,747 Test runs and the man from Mumbai has now gone 18 innings without an international hundred, although he has clocked up seven half-centuries in that time.

Dravid dug in to remain unbeaten on 68, while opener Virender Sehwag played a typically cavalier knock of 67.

India is unbeaten in the six previous Tests the trio have all scored half-centuries in the same innings.

James Pattinson was the pick of the Australian bowlers with 1 for 35 from 15 overs, knocking over the well-set Sehwag with a delivery which caught the inside edge and castled middle and off.

In a typically brazen innings from Sehwag, he faced just 83 balls for a strike rate of 80.72 and was livid with himself at not going on, having been given lives by Mike Hussey on 11 and Haddin on 58.

Hussey grassed a particularly difficult diving chance at gully but Haddin's was a sitter and he is lucky it only cost Australia a further nine runs.

Siddle finished with 1 for 53 off 15 overs while Ben Hilfenhaus (1 for 50 from 14) was the other wicket-taker, snaring the scalp of the struggling Gautam Gambhir caught behind for 3.

Gambhir, like Ricky Ponting, has now gone almost two years without a Test ton.

Australia folded for 333 late in the first session, adding a further 56 runs after resumed on 6 for 277.

Siddle (41), Hilfenhaus (19) and Pattinson (18 not out) added some respectability to Australia's total after debutant opener Ed Cowan (68) and Ponting (62) led the way on day one.

Zaheer Khan was the pick of the Indian bowlers with 4 for 77.

Tags: sport, cricket, australia, vic, melbourne-3000

First posted December 27, 2011 18:29:50

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Tendulkar shines in drawn tour match

Updated December 16, 2011 17:59:27

Sachin Tendulkar started what is likely to be his last tour of Australia with a typically classy 92 in India's drawn match against a Cricket Australia Chairman's XI in Canberra.

The two-day match ended on Friday afternoon when rain intervened with the tourists 6 for 320 after 83.1 overs in reply to the home side's 6 for 398 on a very flat Manuka Oval pitch.

With the exception of opener Gautam Gambhir, who looked a little edgy in his knock of 35, India's available first-string batsmen looked in ominous touch ahead of the four-Test series against Australia.

Tendulkar was the star and, after going to lunch 13 not out, the 38-year-old unleashed in the second session in facing just 132 balls and smashing 15 boundaries.

The small but vocal crowd of around 2,000 were disappointed when Tendulkar and VVS Laxman (57 not out) both retired at tea after combining for a 133-run stand.

However they had already seen Rahul Dravid - Tendulkar's only partner in the 13,000 club for Test runs - make 45 in a solid day for India's big three.

Dravid, who is India's captain for the first of two practice games against Chairman's selections, looked in good touch before he was out trying to clear the mid-off fieldsman off the bowling of leg spinner Cameron Boyce (2 for 74).

Laxman, who has performed unbelievably well in Australia throughout his career, also looked in impressive nick.

He took just 76 balls for his unbeaten stint at the crease and found the fence nine times.

Young opener Ajinkya Rahane (3), who is yet to make his Test debut, missed his opportunity and was out early to promising South Australian quick Jake Haberfield (1 for 54).

Rahane's partner Gautam Gambhir got himself set before hitting one to Chairman's XI captain Ryan Broad at short cover off the bowling of Victorian off-spinner Glenn Maxwell (1 for 84).

One-Test quick Peter George failed to make a breakthrough but was the most economical, going for just 38 runs from his 19 overs.

Middle-order batsman Virat Kholi was the only other to fail, out for one caught and bowled to Boyce, while Rohit Sharma (56 not out) and keeper Wriddhiman Saha (23 not out) were the unbeaten batsmen for India at the close of play.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, manuka-2603, act, australia, india

First posted December 16, 2011 17:59:27

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Tendulkar and Paine in action

 Published:Thursday, April 21, 2011 7:38 AEST

Mumbai Indians batsman and captain Sachin Tendulkar plays a shot as Pune Warriors wicketkeeper Tim Paine looks on during their IPL Twenty20 cricket match in Mumbai on April 20, 2011.

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Tendulkar named Wisden Cricketer of Year

Posted April 14, 2011 07:49:00

Sachin Tendulkar has been named Wisden's Cricketer of the Year for 2010, crowning a golden month for "the little master" which also saw him play a starring role in India's World Cup triumph.

Tendulkar's honour from the cricketing bible means India has won the accolade three years running following the back-to-back awards for Virender Sehwag in each of the previous two years.

It follows another prolific run-scoring year for the 37-year-old Tendulkar, who rattled off more than 1,500 Test runs including seven Test hundreds, including a record 50th overall, in 2010.

Tendulkar is also on the brink of hitting 100 international centuries, currently on 99.

He also became the first player to hit a double-century in a one-day international.

"Wisden acknowledges his greatness by naming him as the leading cricketer in the world for 2010," Tendulkar's citation in Wisden read.

Tendulkar's batting also saw him earn a spot in Wisden's 2010 Test XI, along with Sehwag and Bangladesh's Tamim Iqbal.

Other players to feature in the world XI were England off-spinner Graeme Swann and fast bowler James Anderson.

However for the first time, no Australian was included in the all-star line-up.

-AFP

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