"The Master" just keeps on delivering

Two words. Sachin Tendulkar. Tuesday 8 November 2011 is a day in cricket history. A day Tendulkar made cricket history. The day when he came became the only man in history to ever reach 15,000 Test match runs. An incredible feat, and one that should not be overlooked as another one for the record books because it just so happens this man has been setting goals, targets and achieving the highest heights in cricket since he burst onto the scene in November 1989, aged just 16!

The leading run-scorer and century maker in both Test and ODI cricket, and the only player to score a double hundred in any one-day international match in the history of the game. Tendulkar's rise to the top has been more astronomical than any other sporting event ever.

In a week where the sport was tarnished in the spot-fixing scandal involving Pakistani cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Amir, and sports agent Mazhar Majeed, who was consequently rumbled by an exclusive undercover report by the now-deceased "News of the World". This week has seen their court trial come to a head and verdicts given. All players were charged and convicted with a conspiracy to cheat at gambling and to accept corrupt payments. On 3 November 2011, jail terms were handed down of 30 months for Butt, one year for Asif, six months for Amir and two years eight months for Majeed. Despite this plunging the game into more doubt about its ethics, Tendulkar still continues to prove why cricket is one of the most adored sports on this planet with an exceptional display of batting seen since the days of Donald Bradman. His name was in the history books long ago, now is just a personal mission.

At 38 years of age, it's fair to say Tendulkar's longetivity in the sport is a dying age. His career will be THE ONE to remember. His 22-year tenure in the sport is a stubborn one and there is one goal which has slipped "The Little Master's" grasp in recent months. That elusive 100th hundred.

Tendulkar has been stuck on 99 international hundreds since March now, a period stretching for over 8 months. For somebody of his class, the record breaking century cannot be far away. Many expected him to claim his feat in England on India's recent tour, a tour which the Indians would like to forget soon though. But that tour was a disappointing one.
But the attention will now turn to Tendulkar and his quest to reach number 100 and become the first person in cricket history to reach it, having already scored 51 Test centuries and 48 ODI centuries in 635 international matches.

Tonight, Tendulkar sits on 33 not out after day three of India's first test against the West Indies in Dehli. Sachin needs 67 unbeaten runs to make even more history than what he has already. His aim is surely a matter of where and when now. His achievements are unquestionable. His talent is undeniable. His reputation as "The God of Cricket" will always remain undefeated.

You call me G-Man, They call me Captain

Big news coming from Kent the past week. Belnor Cricket Club's AGM (Annual General Meeting) was held this Monday gone, and we have a new Sunday captain. It's Winchester's very own Gareth Messenger making me the youngest captain to ever be in charge of a team in the club's history.
To say I'm honoured is an understatement. I am proud, very proud. After joining the club in 2007, to go from a 16-year-old 'newbie' to a 19-year-old mature cricketer in charge of an organised side can only make me a better player and a more responsible human being for sure. The role of captaincy is to deliver good performances both as an on-field player and as an off-field player. Tactics on the pitch require thought, experience and understanding of the game - I still have a lot to learn - but having played cricket since the age of just five, and men's cricket since the age of 11 I feel I have a fair knowledge of the game and how I can change a game.

I have always wanted to captain and a couple of years ago I thought I wanted it, however was forced out of it based on pure inexperience. Now I'm a better player, a more clever player and one who has a great relationship with my team-mates.

I did find it surprising winning the votes. 7-2 I believe the score was against the club's former captain who has been in charge the past 2 years. I believe in success and enjoying the game. I will go full throttle next year wanting to win every match we play - I am very competitive. I will go to every match with the intention of becoming the club's most successful captain.
What also surprised me was the congratulations I received from my team-mates as well, despite not even being at the meeting.

The most succesful Sunday captain of our club's history was way back in 1994, winning 11 of his 19 matches in charge which was 57.89% of his games. To say I will better that in my first year would be silly. That's a great achievement for our club, but nobody has done better than that. My target for first year is to win 50% of my matches. I myself want to contribute more to the side with my own performances especially with the bat. If anything, my main attribute-bowling was my disappointment last year and I excelled in the batting arena.


I will demand improvement from every player who contributed to the Sunday team last year. I will work them harder than before, but I will guarentee they will enjoy it. Nobody likes to lose a game of cricket, but everybody likes to enjoy a game. The only way to enjoy a game is to play well. If we lose, then we lose, but I want to see us play well. As long as we play well, results will come, if we do not play well then we're the makers of our own downfall.

If anybody is curious and would like to read my stats as a Belnor Cricket Club player then here they are: http://belnor.play-cricket.com/profile/statistics.asp?id=10661301

When the season gets closer I will be blogging more, and I aim to do a match report both on my blog and as a leaflet so my players can read at the end of every match. I will keep my readers updated on the club's preparation and my side's plans for the upcoming 2011 season. For now though, over and out Roger Wilko!