Wednesday, November 05, 2008

SUPER TUESDAYS ON SWOOSH0018

FROM THE KOP END

New Argentina boss Diego Maradona held talks on Saturday with Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez and his chosen captain Javier Mascherano.
Maradona travelled down from his meetings at Manchester United's training ground earlier in the day to bring Liverpool's HQ to a standstill.
Liverpool's star-stuck players queued outside Benitez's office to have their pictures taken with one of the world's greatest players. Even members of Jamie Carragher's family arrived to get in on the act.



Benitez said: 'I was having a discussion with Maradona in my office, but it was very difficult. There was a constant stream of our biggest players wanting to meet him. Probably our two most famous were first in the queue.'
Steven Gerrard, Carragher and Robbie Keane headed the line of players wanting to meet the 1986 World Cup winner.
'Maradona was great, he was very patient with all the requests. Even some of Carragher's family turned up,' added the Liverpool manager.'Xabi Alonso also wanted to meet him, his father had played alongside Maradona at Barcelona.'We also had lots of the youngsters here who were just speechless and wanted to meet him.'Maradona spent almost two hours at the training ground, and held talks with Mascherano regarding the possibility of him taking over as captain of Argentina.



Captain credentials: But it was Javier Mascherano who held Maradona's interest.Mascherano was the last player to leave the training ground, but refused to discuss details of his meeting with Argentina's new coach.Benitez said: 'We talked about what Maradona wants from us and from Javier. The talks were positive, it was helpful to know what he was thinking.

Thanks Mohamed Kola for the email


Aslam Khota has been welcomed as a columnist on Fordsburg.com which is Swoosh0018's media partner. So once a month for now we here Aslams expertise and have a monthly column on Swoosh0018 as well

Sachin scales battings Everest

Sachin Tendulkar finally went pass 11953 runs in Test cricket against Australia in the second Test in Mohali to beat Brian Lara’s world record that was set only 18 months ago. The West Indian had beaten Allan Borders record that was achieved in 1994 also against the Australians, and then suddenly announced his retirement.

But this tribute is about Tendulkar, the first man to touch 12000 runs. This is his moment to saviour, to enjoy and relish a record that is the highest testament of a batsman’s greatness. His countryman are overjoyed and admirers the world over are united in their celebrations. India is a proud nation and they were in similar spirits when Sunil Gavaskar became the first to reach 9000 runs. Then in his 38th year of Test cricket, he scaled the amazing mark of 10 000 runs.

That was in 1987, 21 years ago and Gavaskar became the pioneer, the path breaker and the standard bearer and set the bar for others to challenge. His milestone was achieved against Pakistan when he late-cut Ejaz Fakih for two runs, to move from 9999 to 10 001. There was delirium in the stadium in Ahmedabad, a pitch invasion was inevitable and the celebrations delayed the match for 20 minutes!

Two weeks later, Gavaskar played a classic on a minefield of a pitch in Bangalore. His 96 against a great attack that included Imran Khan and Abdul Qadir was notable for its craftsmanship and impeccable technique. This proved to be his final Test innings – the perfect swansong to a remarkable career.

For Sachin Tendulkar, the final chapter is yet to be written. Sachin also moved to his world record with a late-cut that historic afternoon and it was a most endearing picture as all the Australians congratulated him and the raptures in the stadium in Mohali was chorused with celebratory fireworks. He went about his batting in workmanlike fashion until he was well caught by Mathew Hayden for 86, his contribution in a massive 320 run win over the Aussies.

The little man from Mumbai started his firs-class career as a 16 year old in sparkling fashion and looked to dominate bowlers from the onset. He broke records at will in Tests and limited over internationals (ODI’s). Then the burden of expectation seemed to way him down and he chose a more conservative approach in the latter years. With this record now in his pocket and perhaps with just a year or two left for him, barring injuries, he will in all probability, revert to his old style of batting and entertain the world till his final run. He has the record number of Test hundreds, 39 to be exact. He was the fastest and youngest batsman to reach each of his thousand runs from 1000 to 12000 runs!

Tendulkar first made headlines in February 1988 when as a 14 year old, he was involved in a world-record stand of 664* with his 16 year old school-mate Vinod Kambli. Playing for Shardashram Vidyamandhir, they pummelled the hapless St Xaviers XI at the Azad Maidan ground. Both were unbeaten on 326 and 349 respectively. Two Indian schoolboys, Mohamed Shaibaz and Manoj Kumar scored 721 in 2006 to break that record.

In his maiden Test series aged 16, Tendulkar was hit on the nose by Waqar Younis in the final Test in Sialkot. He was dazed and dropped to the ground, bleeding from his nose, but stood up, wiped the gushing blood, refused medical help and with a bloodied shirt and glove went on to score 57, until he was caught off Imran Khans bowling. This brave and stubborn performance prompted Imran, a brilliant judge at spotting young talent to say that Tendulkar will be a legend.

Sachin was only 17 when he scored his first Test century against England at Old Trafford. India suffered a collapse and at 127 for 5, needed 407 to win. He batted for over 4 hours to be unbeaten on 119 and according to scribes had there been another session India might have won through his efforts.

Noted as the fastest pitch in world cricket, the famed Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) stadium in Perth was the scene of one of the most dramatic hundreds and possibly the best ever scored on Australian soil? Batsmen from the sub-continent seldom come to terms with the pace and bounce in Australia. Tendulkar, then aged 18, came to the crease with the Indians on a 100 for 3. The next five batsmen were then dismissed for the addition of only 59 runs. When he was eventually out with the total on 240, Tendulkar had scored 114 of the 140 that was added while he was at the crease. It was awe-inspiring stuff as Craig McDermott, Merv Hughes, Paul Reiffel, Michael Whitney and Tom Moody watched him strike 16 fours that hit the pickets with ferocity not seen before.

In Cape Town’s new years Test of 1997, South Africans finally witnessed the phenomenon of oriental batsmanship when Tendulkar and Mohammed Azharuddin rescued India from 58 for 5. Their partnership yielded 222 runs in less than 200 minutes in less than two sessions. Azhars 119 off 110 balls with 19 fours and 1 six was bettered by his protégé’s 169 that included 26 boundaries. Allan Donald said it was so brilliant that even he felt like clapping!

Tendulkar has a remarkable record and saves his best against Australia who have clearly been the most dominant team of his era. Of his 39 Test centuries, 9 have been against the Aussies with a best of 241 not out and an average of 55.82. He has scored hundreds against all Test playing countries. Incidentally his poorest average of 35.35 is against the South Africans. He has peeled off 3 hundreds against them and once remarked to me in East London that he considered Donald a great bowler and competitor.
Shane Warne is quoted to have said that; “Tendulkar hits me for six in my nightmares!” The little genius has a phenomenal string of scores and records and they are just too many to mention, save to say that of his record 42 centuries in ODI’s, his first one was only scored in his 79 match!

Azharuddin had a dream start with back-to-back hundreds in his debut, and his end was a nightmare, with match fixing allegations banning him for life from the game. Sachin on the other hand, had one run-in with authority. He was accused of ball-tempering in a Test match in South Africa, by Mike Dennesse, the match referee. The team supported him and refuted the allegations, Tendulkars banning was overturned and he to date has yet to bring the game into disrepute.

There are many the qualities that set him apart. He has old fashioned dedication, determination and concentration combined with a certain technical mastery and an insatiable appetite for runs. His thirst for big scores and success marks him out as the batsman that many would aspire to emulate, like the great Sir Donald Bradman did. Tendulkar placed great store in loyalty and national pride. He is humble with his achievements and lives a simple life, keeping his privacy and that of his wife and daughters out of the public eye.

Cricket’s greatest batsman, whilst watching Tendulkar bat on telly, paid the ultimate compliment when he confided to his wife that Tendulkar reminded him of himself! Bradman was the pre-eminent player of his day. Sachin is a leading figure of his time. Like Bradman, his image will expand rather than diminish when he calls it a day.

If you have comments or questions then email Aslam on
aslamcricket@polka.co.za





SUPER TUESDAY QUESTION:

Is Dimatai Berbatov a lazy player?


UBG is gone to spend a weekend away with Barak Obama..so wel have his scoop in dont close the Door..later

13 comments:

  1. Even Azharuddin. The man was a meastro.

    As for Berbatov. I agree Swoosh. His Laziness and lack of effort clearly showed against Arsenal.

    ReplyDelete
  2. As a Manc I agree but he is world class!!!!!! I think he needs to get laid now and again then maybe he will cum right!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. yes he is lazy.... but he is class... has the ability to change the complexion of a match with 2 touches...

    not all players are required to have the same work rate

    ABR

    ReplyDelete
  4. not all people are expected to have the same intelect, that is the reason why we tolerate ABR!

    HE TOUCHED ON IT, IS SACHIN BETTER THEN LARA? FOR ME LARA WAS BETTER, SACHIN MAY HOLD THE RECORDS, BUT LARA COULD TURN A GAME ON ITS HEAD IN ONE SESSION. AND LARA PLAYED WITH OTHER MUGGS AS BATSMEN FOR MOST OF HIS CAREER. HE CARRIED THE TEAM!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I WANT YOU MINI!

    ReplyDelete
  6. IT JUST SHOWS HOW MANY OF U CAKES HAVE WATCHED A FULL UNITED GAME.

    BERBATOV IS WORKING HARDER FOR THE TEAM & IN MY OPINION IS WORKING HARDER THAN VAN NISTELROOY USED TO.

    COUPLE OF MORE GAMES FOR UNITED & U'LL ALL SING YOUR PRAISES.

    "go" BERBATOV U WORKAHOLIC

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sachin vs Lara who cares?

    Graeme Smith is far better than them both, as a captain and a batsman! Biff was back to his magnificent best slaying the Bangladeshi attack and leading the lads to another magnificent series win! Aussies here we come! At the end of his career he will be far ahead of either in terms of runs and centuries!

    BTW did any of them even cum close to jolling a piece like Minkie!

    Swoosh, when you bringing back the "Minkie in die bad" pics?

    ReplyDelete
  8. I had a Dop with Sachin and a Blaar with Lara...

    ReplyDelete
  9. YEH REY!

    IN THAT CASE CLIVE EKSTEEN WHO USED TO BOWL THAT DEVASTATING "STRAIGHT SPIN" WAS BETTER THEN WARNE AND MURALI PUT TOGETHER!

    WASN'T CLIVE RICE BETTER THEN HADLEE AND IMRAN KHAN PUT TOGETHER?

    MINKIE SAW THE LIGHT AND LET THE MUGG GO!

    SWOOSH WHEN ARE WE GOING TO HAVE THE SHANE WARNE THREESOME PICS AGAIN?

    ReplyDelete
  10. TO THIS DAY NO ONE CAN CONCLUSIVELY SAY WHETHER GERRARD IS BETTER THEN CARRICK?

    IT ONE OF THE TOUGHEST DEBATES GOING AROUND!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hey Rod and Ray

    You remember the glory days of the Mean Machine!

    Rod if you listen to Ray, he'll tell you that Fotheringham and Cook were better than Lazard and Seeff or even Rushmere and Amm!

    Swoosh, when you reposting the Aishwarya Rai nude photos?

    Rumour has it that you have the Div Sex Video?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Of Course i'm better than Khan and Hadlee!

    I was better than Sobers and Botham combined. The World was robbed of the greatest allrounder the game had ever seen!

    Clive was marvellous spinner who could keep the ball straight even on the most spin friendly pitches that the sub continent had to offer. I am sure even if he bowled of a cliff the ball would still maintain its straight line trajectory. Pity he never got to play under my captaincy much, he would have been untouchable!

    Hey Swoosh when you posting those Patricia Lewis pics? She's the most beautiful poppie in our land. She represents milk and honey and makes me go KRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

    ReplyDelete
  13. we want porn !!!!!!!!!1
    we want porn!!!!!!!!!
    we want porn!!!!!!!!

    lets get back to basics like when the blogg started! where is the porn where is the beastiality!

    ReplyDelete

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