An Indian summer for Sachin
Sachin Tendulkar did not have the happiest of 40th birthdays last week. The man who has been worshipped as a god in India for most of his career lasted only six balls, playing for Mumbai in the Indian Premier League, before being clean bowled by a young West Indian off-spinner who was only a year old when Tendulkar made his international debut.
His dismissal silenced the huge crowd who had turned out for him in Kolkata, and disappointed the TV executives.
His longevity is remarkable. Since making his India debut as a 16-year-old, Tendulkar has played almost 200 Test matches and 464 limited-over internationals, setting records for international centuries (100) and runs (more than 34,000) that will never be beaten. And he is not finished. In all the interviews, there was no hint of him wanting to walk away.
Few cricketers thrive past the age of 40, the notable exception being Sir Jack Hobbs, who struck 100 of his 199 first-class centuries after entering his fifth decade. Like Tendulkar, who has had a bit of a fallow patch of late, the runs dried up for Hobbs as he approached 40 — but then started flowing freely once more. How lovely it would be to see the old Tendulkar once more, leaning forward to drive a ball elegantly.
There is something delightful about watching old sportsmen still at the top of their game. It makes the rest of us feel younger. Australia have just recalled two 35-yearolds to their side for this summer’s Ashes. They are in because they are the best. Sir Clive Woodward was asked in 2003 if he had any concerns about his England rugby squad being full of players on the wrong side of 30.
The list of old sportsmen refusing to go gently into that good night goes on. There’s Ronnie O’Sullivan returning to the Crucible at 37 after not playing for a year and still stroking in sublime pots. Or Katherine Grainger, winning her first Olympic gold in rowing at the age of 36.
And Ryan Giggs, who signed his first professional contract with Manchester United the day after Margaret Thatcher left office, has just signed another extension that will take his stay at Old Trafford to the end of next season (at least) and into his forties. These ageing heroes remind us that sport is not just for those with flat stomachs and birth certificates from the 1990s.
You may have caught a blast of Chris Gayle, the genial Caribbean übermercenary, hammering the biggest, quickest score ever in a T20 match for the Bengaluru Bollywood Basmati Booty-callers or some such. But fun though all the pyrotechnics were, would you rather watch that — or Monty Panesar having to bat for 10 overs to save a Test match against some predatory Aussies or Kiwis? I know which I’d prefer.
By arrangement with the Spectator