Sachin Tendulkar has celebrated 48 Test centuries, over 13000 Test runs and now 169 Test appearances.

In his home country India he is celebrated like a god – hundreds of thousands of infant males carry the name ‘Sachin’ solely because of Tendulkar. It is impossible to overstate his standing in the eyes of millions of Indians.

When the third Test between Sri Lanka and India commenced yesterday in Colombo, Tendulkar became the most capped Test player is history. Crossing the white line for the 169th time he surpassed Steve Waugh’s record of 168 Test appearances, a figure he had matched during the second Test at the SSC.

The former Australian captain will surely become a distant second as Tendulkar is showing no signs of letting up. He still posses the class and, most importantly, determination to continue playing cricket at the highest level.

How many more records that he can break, however, is questionable. His record breaking 13742 (at the time of writing) Test runs have come at an average of 56.08. This is highly impressive but Tendulkar will never match the career average of 99.94, set by the imperious Sir Donald Bradman. That’s one record that the Don will most likely carry forever more.

Tendulkar can add to his 48 Test centuries but can he reach Brian Lara’s highest score of 400*? Tendulkar’s best effort to date – and that is not sound patronising – is 248*. He has four other double hundreds to sit alongside this effort too.

Whilst it would be foolish to bet against Tendulkar breaking Lara’s record, he doesn’t quite seem to have what it takes to amass such a score. He is far more consistent in accruing big scores, but not massive scores. Indian team mate Virender Sehwag is a more likely candidate to threaten this record.

In ODIs Tendulkar has amassed some 17598 runs – comfortably a record. His 200* against South Africa a few months back broke a previously unthinkable landmark in the game. Some had gone close to 200 runs within 50 overs but none had reached it. That innings reminded everyone of what a special player Tendulkar is. That particular record will take some matching.

Does Tendulkar need anymore records? Does he have anything left to prove? The answer is no. If he retired tomorrow he would be remembered as a legend of the game, one of the all-time greats. That he continues to grace cricket pitches around the world with his presence is a treat to millions and long may he continue to ply his trade at the highest level. Who knows, there may even be a record or two left to break.

By Miles Reucroft

Muttiah Muralitharan has bowed out from Test cricket with 800 wickets

We are unlikely to witness such wicket-taking exploits ever again. 800 – a truly remarkable figure. The game has changed markedly this millennium with the advent of Twenty20 cricket and the increasingly infrequent staging of Test matches. These factors, combined with increasingly batsman-friendly tracks bode well for the safe-guarding of Muralitharan’s record.

That said there was a time when 500 Test wickets from one man seemed an impossible dream. Then along came Courtney Walsh. So 600 seemed impossible. Then along came Anil Kumble, Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan to mark an extraordinary period of spin bowling.

Warne called time on his own splendid career having become the first man to reach the 700 landmark. His retirement from the upper echelons of the game paved the wicket-laden way for Murali to weave his way to the next – 800.

That he did cannot be overstated as an achievement. Even those of the persuasion that he is no more than a ‘chucker’ cannot help but be mightily impressed by the imprint that he has left on the game. Can anyone ever topple his record?

When casting your eye down the list of leading wicket-takers ever to have graced the game you have to scroll down to number 18 on the list to find the leader of the current batch of Test playing cricketers – Harbhajan Singh on 355. This assumes that Makhaya Ntini’s Test career is over.

Of the current field there appears to be no obvious candidate. Murali has hinted that Harbhajan Singh could overtake him but this is plainly false flattery – Singh is already 30 years old and doesn’t appear to posses the temperament or stamina to topple 800 wickets.

During his Test career Murali delivered some 44039 deliveries in order to claim his 800 wickets. Any pretender to his throne must posses the same stamina and will to succeed, not to mention sheer enjoyment of the game. This volume of deliveries can only be conducted by a spinner, such is the strain on the body of the paceman’s art.

By way of comparison Warne sent down 40705 deliveries for 708 wickets, Kumble 40850 for 619. The nearest pace bowlers have sent down over 10000 fewer deliveries – Glenn McGrath 29248 for 563 wickets, Ambrose 30019 for 519 and Kapil Dev 27740 for 434.

Harbhajan Singh has already sent down 23594 deliveries for his 355 wickets. That he has already bowled over half of Murali’s total career deliveries suggests that he won’t feature in the final reckoning, although he could (and should) claim over 500 Test scalps.

For now, at least, we will have to live with the memory of Muralitharan and his unconventional off-spin. Unless an indestructible fast bowler is lurking out there somewhere, ready to embark on a 15 year Test career, or there is another Murali hidden in a youth development system out there, it will be a long wait before he is dethroned as cricket’s greatest wicket-taker.

Thank you and goodbye Murali, we salute you!

By Miles Reucroft

It is worth pointing out that Muralitharan took 795 of his Test wickets for Sri Lanka. The other five came in a one-off Test for an ICC World XI against Australia. That this fixture contributes to the career totals of those involved enabled Murali to reach 800. But for those we may never have seen the 800 wicket landmark reached…

Murali lies waitng on 793. He couldn't reach 800, could he?

Both India and Sri Lanka posses household names in their ranks – Sehwag, Tendulkar and Dhoni compliment Sangakkara, Muralitharan and Malinga to form an all-star cast. Yet Murali’s is the name on everyone’s lips. He started the match on 792 Test wickets and had to wait until Day Three to twirl his arm over at the Indian batsmen. Tendulkar soon became number 793, succumbing lbw to Murali’s arm.

The great Sachin Tendulkar swooped to sweep the great Muttiah Muralitharan and something had to give – on this occasion it was Tendulkar’s judgement as he missed the ball and it crashed into his pads, leaving the umpire with no option but to grant Murali another scalp. And what a scalp! We can only hope that it is not his last.

No one would begrudge the maverick Murali an 800th Test wicket and it would certainly serve to illuminate this game as it meanders towards its inevitable conclusion of a draw following the total washout on Day Two. Should he manage to find another seven wickets here then he would also put Sri Lanka in a strong position. It seems unlikely, though, that in the remaining two days he will find the time to work his magic one last time to reach 800.

That once unthinkable mark will have to be reached by someone else, if indeed the game witnesses another with the same stamina, guile and talent as Muttiah Muralitharan. If only he were playing one more Test…

Muttiah Muralitharan, with his record-breaking and contraversial action, will be sorely missed by Sri Lanka and the international game

To say that he is reverred in Sri Lanka is an understatement. In a country split by warring factions Murali is a symbol of unity and success. His exploits are gratefully acclaimed throughout the rest of the sub-continent and most of the cricketing world without, perhaps, the notable exception of Australia.

Down Under Murali has faced near constant accusations of being a ‘chucker’ with former Australian Prime Minister John Howard once publicly calling him as much. The Australian public and press always openly championed Shane Warne as the greatest bowler of them all, a view perhaps shared in England and South Africa, although not nearly as vehemently. As such, Murali never turned in his career defining performances on Aussie soil, perhaps the only black mark against an otherwise glittering career.

He had his action thoroughly examined by the ICC in light of being cited for ‘chucking’ (i.e affording too much flex in his elbow at the point of delivery) but was cleared of any wrong doing. The accusation undoubtedly tarnished his reputation irreversibly though.

Test cricket will bid farewell to its greatest (at least in terms of volume of wickets) bowler during the Galle Test between Sri Lanka and India commencing July 18th. Given his recent form it would seem unlikely that Murali could snare the eight remaining victims required for a historic 800th wicket, but no one would bet against him. He has one final chance to make it and everyone will surely be willing him on.

He will not take part in the subsequent ODIs against India and will pick and choose the international fixtures that he participates in prior to making himself available for selection for the 2011 ICC World Cup which will be held, at least in part, in Sri Lanka.

The timing of Murali’s decision is in keeping with his desire to bow out at the top of his game. Rather than plod along and be selected solely on the basis of his reputation, Murali is conscious not to block the path of emerging talent in Sri Lanka. He also doesn’t wish to suffer the indignity of being dropped. Rather than suffer this humiliating fate, he will depart the international game after one final fling at glory in next year’s World Cup.

Surrey had been sniffing around him to participate for them later on in this County Championship season but this offer appears set to be declined as he limits the amount of cricket that he plays between now and the World Cup. After that it is assumed that he will continue to participate in the lucrative Indian Premier League, a tournament that he won with Chennai Super Kings this year.

It will be sad to lose Murali. His name evokes fond memories and his persistently happy and chirpy demeanour complimented his all-round style. Never a panther in the field and often a bunny with the bat, he always plays with a joie de vivre often lacking in modern sport in general. He is similar in his outlook to Ronaldinho, the Brazilian football star, in that he genuinely appears to enjoy doing what he does.

It would be a fitting departure from Test cricket if he could take eight Indian wickets at Galle, but sport is rarely a breeding ground for sentimentality on such occassions. He will need to lift his game to heights that have recently deserted him after a run of injuries and loss of form. With only one more game to go, however, it would be the perfect send-off to see the tiny Tamil wheeling away in delight at number 800.

By Miles Reucroft

England eased past Sri Lanka yesterday to reach the final of the ICC World Twenty in the West Indies, and they continue to defy those that expected them to fail at the Super 8 stage.

An excellent fielding performance supported the bowling attack that is growing in confidence, and they limited Sri Lanka to 128 after Kumar Sangakarra had won the toss and opted to bat first.

Removing the top four batsmen, and particularly Jayawardene, was always going to be crucial for England, and so when Sri Lanka were floundering on 47 for 4 after 9 overs, the game was already heading towards an England victory.

Despite Angelo Mathews’ 58 from 68 balls, the innings never really got going, and England chased the total down with four overs and seven wickets to spare. Craig Kieswetter and Michael Lumb put on 68 for the first wicket in 8 overs, and then KP arrived to steer England home with an unbeaten 42.

England will face either Australia or Pakistan, who will play out the second semi today. On this performance, you’d think twice about betting against them, regardless of who they’ll take on in the final.

Can England go all the way? I’m beginning to think they can.

Kevin Pietersen should be back in time for England's semi-final showdown

Nothing is ever dull where Pakistan are concerned and there is a feeling that we haven’t yet seen the best of them. They will need to pick up where they left off in their victory over South Africa yesterday though. For England it is just a case of maintaining their current form. Kevin Pietersen will hopefully return for them in time for their semi-final. This certainly represents one of the better chances that they have had to break their international tournament duck.

The batting has clicked and the bowling is giving little away needlessly. The fielding too, has been excellent from Paul Collingwood’s men. With Michael Yardy coming in at number eight and Graeme Swann at nine, England bat deep. Tim Bresnan came to the fore too, in England’s latest triumph with an economic spell of one for 20 followed by a blistering 23 not out from 11 balls to carry England past the winning post.

Whilst it is unclear what the semi-final fixtures are at the time of writing, winless India take on Sri Lanka and Australia take on the hosts West Indies today, it seems likely that England will face Sri Lanka and Pakistan Australia. If England can keep up their current form then they will fancy their chances of reaching an unexpected final. As for Pakistan, will they finally show up? They are still anyone’s guess.

By Miles Reucroft

Welcome to the gun show - Brendon McCullum sits comfortably in the pantheon of top Twenty20 International batsmen

In the first World Twenty20 Chris Gayle smashed the hosts South Africa, for 117 runs at Johannesburg. The fact it was for a losing cause mattered not for the cricket world had witnessed something that had seemed so elusive on the international stage. The best attempts up to this point had come from two Aussies. Ponting’s 98* in the first ever Twenty20 international secured an unbreakable hat-trick for Australian cricket; they had won the first ever Test match, the first ever One Day International and now the first ever Twenty20 international.

11 months later and Damien Martyn had flirted with the three-figure barrier with a plucky 96 against South Africa at Brisbane. Just when would the first international Twenty20 ton come? Enter Chris Gayle, the West Indies captain on September 11th 2007 – hardly an appropriate day for such explosive scenes.

And so it was back to the waiting. We’d seen a Twenty20 century at the highest level, when would we see another? Would we ever see another? Tillakaratne Dilshan scored 96* at the following World Twenty20 in England at The Oval. 2008 and 2009, however, passed without seeing another century. Nobody was up to the task of matching Gayle, not even Gayle himself, despite the fact that he managed to stun anyone with even a passing interest in the game with an innings of such sheer brutality, again at The Oval, against Australia in 2009.

Graeme Smith and Loots Bosman also threatened to break into the exclusive three-figure group at Centurion last November against England. It wasn’t to be, with Bosman topping out on 94. Then along came 2010…

More specifically, February 28th 2010. At Christchurch, against Australia, Twenty20’s best-friend Brendon McCullum re-surfaced to face 56 balls. He scored 116* runs. The strike-rate barrier of 200 had now been brought down. The big-hitting good times were back! Not even the anticipated bowler-friendly wickets of the Caribbean have been able to stop the party. Already we have seen two centuries at the tournament from Suresh Raina against South Africa (101) and from Mahela Jayawardene against Zimbabwe (100). Jayawardene came painfully close to an unthinkable second World Twnety20 century with 98* against the hosts in the Super Eights. Are the floodgates now open?

A Twenty20 century really is something to savour. As is a bowler claiming a five-fer in this format. Whilst there have been four Twenty20 centuries, there have only been three Twenty20 five-fers, the pick of which was Umar Gul’s scarcely believable return of five wickets for six runs against New Zealand at The Oval last year. It is widely accepted that this is a batsman’s game, so perhaps we should reserve our greatest reverence for the stunning bowling displays that destroy the opposition. Gul gave New Zealand nothing on June 13th 2009. He won Pakistan the game.

Whatever the most striking element of the game, it would appear that the standard of Twenty20 is improving. Such is the short nature of the game, however, that individual performances will always stand out head and shoulders above the rest. We reserve our greatest reverence for those who stun us into it. Gayle, McCullum, Raina and Jayawardene have all done that.

By Miles Reucroft

Eoin Morgan has been the pick of England's players so far

It was all change from the terrifically timed charge that saw England plunder 191 runs on Monday. The wicket here in Guyana was an altogether different surface from the one that enabled Eoin Morgan and Luke Wright to cut lose so magnificently barely 24 hours previously. The seam movement and carry through to the wicket keeper must have had Lalit Modi turning in his recently dug Twenty20 grave. This didn’t fit in with the blazing vision of sixes, sixes and more sixes.

The new ball nipped around and the spinners were nigh on impossible to get away. There was never any danger of a big score being amassed here. The only man who looked at ease on this surface was an Irishman. Unfortunately for the men in green he was scoring his runs for the Three Lions. But for the efforts of Eoin Morgan England’s total could well have been an altogether more miserable affair. Should England somehow claw their way into the semi-finals the Middlesex man will be crucial to their efforts.

Paul Collingwood’s men will now face up against South Africa (assuming they see off Afghanistan), New Zealand and defending champions Pakistan in the Super Eights Group E. They will need more batting performances like that produced on Monday if they are to carry on in this tournament, although this side of the draw is arguably more favourable than Group F which will include India, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Australia (assuming they beat Bangladesh).

The English bowlers have yet to get a proper run out so far in this tournament due to the weather and confusion appears to be reigning in this department. A less than happy James Anderson was omitted from the starting XI here against Ireland in favour of Ryan Sidebottom and it will be interesting to see how England settle on their bowling attack. Indications so far are that spin and medium pace will be the order of the day on these Caribbean tracks, although the tournament will not be returning to Guyana again.

At this stage the tournament is still anybody’s. We’ve yet to see a major upset so perhaps today could be the day with South Africa and Australia taking on Afghanistan and Bangladesh respectively. The Super Eights commence on tomorrow with England and Pakistan kicking things off.

By Miles Reucroft

I have not made any hugely controversial predictions, although I’ve gone for a narrow win by the hosts over Ireland – the Irish have one or two reasonable players, and I expect them to come out firing in their opening game. The West Indies should prevail, but I don’t think it will be a walkover.

Elsewhere, I’ve predicted victories for India in both of their group matches, and one victory and one defeat for reigning champions Pakistan.

Here are my SportGuru predictions for Round 1 of the World T20:

New Zealand v Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka by 18 RUNS or 5 WICKETS
West Indies v Ireland: West Indies by 13 RUNS or 4 WICKETS
Afghanistan v India: India by 53 RUNS or 8 WICKETS
Bangladesh v Pakistan: Pakistan by 27 RUNS or 6 WICKETS
India v South Africa: India by 21 RUNS or 6 WICKETS
Australia v Pakistan: Australia by 21 RUNS or 6 WICKETS

The great thing about the World Twenty20 (for fans and those who loathe it) is that it is not a long, drawn out competition. The ICC must have learnt from the debacle that was the most recent 50 over World Cup, also played in the Caribbean, and they should be applauded for this. The Indian Premier League should take note; less can, in fact, be more.

The one thing that the World Twenty20 and the IPL have in common, however, is that they are both money spinning operations. The ICC is clearly cashing in on its new favourite son by hosting the third World Cup in this format less than a year after the second that came a year after the first. For purposes of longevity and sporting relevance, this sequence cannot continue – a biennial tournament would surely be the most workable scenario.

When it comes to the action, it has been the sub-continent sides that have dominated the Twenty20 format. India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have competed in previous finals, India winning the inaugural bash in South Africa at Pakistan’s expense before Pakistan went one better at Sri Lanka’s expense in England last summer. The cricketing world could well be in for more of the same during the first two weeks of May.

Here on The Cricket Blog, we take a closer look at the eight main competitors in the Caribbean to asses their hopes ahead of the tournament.

West Indies
The hosts are more than a match for anyone on their day and will be desperate to impress in front of their home crowds after a tumultuous 2009. They will need captain Chris Gayle to be in the destructive form that he displayed at The Oval last year against Australia and Kieron Pollard to explode as he did for Mumbai Indians in the recent IPL.

Prediction: Should qualify for the Super Eights at the expense of Ireland in Group D. Hard to see them being consistent enough to progress from there though.

Australia
The Aussies haven’t quite taken to Twenty20 as most expected. Disappointing results last year led to an early exit and a humiliating defeat to Zimbabwe lingers long in the memory from the inaugural event. Don’t question their hunger, though – this is the only tournament that has eluded Ricky Ponting’s men. Much will depend on their skipper, as well as Michael Clarke and IPL sensation Doug Bollinger, particularly now that Brett Lee has been ruled out through injury.

Prediction: Will top group A ahead of Pakistan and march on into the semi-finals, where their tournament will come to an abrupt end.

England
Where to begin? A poor man’s version of Pakistan at times, they could be brilliant, could be woeful. With Kevin Pietersen expected to miss at least part of the tournament due to the imminent birth of his first child – poor forward planning there on behalf of the Pietersens, although would it be too much to observe that the birth wasn’t pencilled in during the IPL? (It would be, yes) – it is hard to see anyone with the character to drag England onwards.

Yet another opening partnership highlights a lack of consistency and Paul Collingwood and Graeme Swann will need to the prop the side up, again. If it all goes a little awry as expected, they could always point to the volcanic ash cloud that enveloped Europe for disrupting their preparation in arriving for the tournament.

Prediction: Could lose both group games to West Indies and Ireland. Could make the Super Eights. Could make the semi-finals. Could win it. Who Knows? Super Eights exit most likely.

India
The adopted homeland of Twenty20 will fancy its chances of winning back the World Twenty20 crown. They will, however, be a significantly weaker side for the loss of Virender Sehwag and all his talent and experience, although Murali Vijay is a pretty handy replacement. MS Dhoni is arguably the best captain at the tournament in terms of tactical guile and his own powerful performances, whilst a strong bowling unit supports the explosive batting line-up.

Prediction: It’s difficult to look beyond them as favourites. No Sachin Tendulkar in this format and no Sehwag, but there is enough strength in depth. Finalists.

New Zealand
A steady outfit in limited overs cricket, they will be heavily reliant upon captain and star performer Daniel Vettori, who often looks like a man amongst boys in a New Zealand shirt. Brendon McCullum has displayed his pyrotechnics in this format but the squad looks thin elsewhere with an emphasis on experience. If this is a young man’s game, no one has told New Zealand.

Prediction: Super Eights. Not much expected here and the side usually seems to enjoy its cricket together. Unlikely, however, that they will spring enough surprises to mix it with the ‘big boys’.

Pakistan
It would take a man of the ilk of Nostradamus to predict what on earth will happen here. With the tournament not starting until Friday there is plenty of time for controversy and perhaps another round of international bans to be meted out by the inept PCB. Shahid Afridi, Kamran and Umar Akmal (weren’t they banned by the PCB?! Must only be for Tests…) will be crucial to their chances.

Prediction: Tough group with Australia and Bangladesh could see the defending champions eliminated first up. They are equally as likely to win the whole thing. A semi-final birth, however, is within their reach.

South Africa
The eternal ‘chokers’. Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn will undoubtedly be the go-to men and there is plenty of experience within the ranks; most of it of under-achieving or losing semi-finals. With attention back home predominantly on this year’s hosting of the FIFA football World Cup, however, the Proteas may be slightly less burdened with expectation and optimism than in previous years.

Prediction: Another semi-final elimination at best, Super Eights at worst. They could find themselves in a very tough Super Eights group should they fail to beat India in Group C. It is here that the tournament will end for South Africa.

Sri Lanka
Beaten finalists last time and surely no worse a side for that experience. The leading lights of Jayawardene, Sangakkara and Malinga are seasoned performers and will prove more than a match for most competitors. Then there’s the small matter of Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis. And Angelo Matthews…

Prediction: Should sail past New Zealand and Zimbabwe in Group B before storming through the Super Eights and into the knock-out stages. Our tip for the title.

The next two weeks should provide plenty of entertainment for all cricket fans and there will be no shortage of quality cricket on offer. Do you agree with our thoughts? Let us know.

By Miles Reucroft

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