India outclass SA to win Durban Test

India outclassed South Africa by 87 runs to win the second Test and level the three-match series at 1-1, on Day 4 at Kingsmead, Durban, on Wednesday.

South Africa were bowled out for 215 in 72.3 overs in their second innings with pacers Zaheer Khan (three for 57) and S Sreesanth (three for 54) claiming three wickets each.

Ashwell Prince was left stranded on 39 from 108 balls after Lonwabo Tsotsobe was run out by Cheteshwar Pujara for a duck.

S Sreesanth continued his impressive showing with the ball, claiming three for 45 in 14 overs and Zaheer took three for 46, while Harbhajan Singh (2 for 55) was the other wicket-taker.

Jacques Kallis (17) was the first to fall on day four; he was surprised by an express delivery from Sreesanth that bounced steeply and could only fend it to Virender Sehwag at gully.

AB de Villiers was trapped leg before wicket by Harbhajan for 33, struck on his pads right in front of the stumps.

Zaheer then claimed two quick wickets, trapping Mark Boucher leg before wicket for one, before having Dale Steyn caught at third slip for 10. He added another wicket after the tea break when he bowled Paul Harris for seven.

On day three, VVS Laxman fell short of a deserved century to help India post 228 in their second innings. The veteran batsman hit a fluent 96 from 171 balls, inclusive of 12 fours, before he was the last wicket to fall, caught behind off pacer Dale Steyn.

S SreesanthThe Indian bowlers had earlier put the team in control as South Africa were dismissed for a paltry 131 in 37.2 overs in their first innings, after India had folded for 205 in 65.1 overs with as many as 18 wickets falling on day two.

Zaheer showed the way with a remarkable spell of three for 29, while Harbhajan ran through the middle and lower order for wonderful figures of four for 10 in 7.2 overs.

India's fielding also rose to the occasion, some unbelievable catches being taken.

Hashim Amla was South Africa's top-scorer with 33 and Alviro Petersen made 24; no other batsman could cross the 20-run mark.

Morning session: (71 runs, 32 overs, 4 wickets)

Resuming on 111 for three in 27 overs, South Africa looked to negotiate the early overs as Kallis and de Villiers played it safe.

Sreesanth settled on a good line and length while Harbhajan continued probing the batsmen as both built pressure by stopping the flow of runs.

Sreesanth's perseverance was finally rewarded with the big wicket of Kallis, for 17. The Kerala pacer got one to bounce sharply off a good length and Kallis could only fend it to Virender Sehwag at gully.

Sreesanth bowled a wonderful spell of five overs in the morning, taking one wicket for seven runs; he didn't offer the batsmen anything, while resorting to a good line and length.

Harbhajan struck a few overs later with the wicket of AB de Villiers. The right-hander, who made 33 from 76 balls, was struck on the pads right in front of the stumps by a straighter delivery from the off-spinner, bowling round the wicket.

Although replays showed that the ball could have bounced over the stumps, it looked plumb to the naked eye.

Zaheer also got among the wickets when he trapped Mark Boucher (1) leg before wicket with one that came in sharply.

Dale Steyn was lucky when his edge off Harbhajan flew just past a diving Rahul Dravid at first slip for a boundary, in the 44th over. This was the first boundary for the hosts on day four after a long wait of nearly 17 hours.

He got another boundary through thirdman off Zaheer as he once again got a thick edge. But his charmed life ended soon after.

Zaheer showed his experience as he bowled him a few bouncers before delivering a wide one that Steyn (10) edged and was caught by the third slip fielder.

Ashwell Prince struggled at the start of his innings and took 51 deliveries to hit his first boundary, driving Ishant Sharma through the covers.

Prince (28 from 77 balls) and Paul Harris (7 from 26 balls) survived a testing spell from the Indians pacers before lunch. At the break, South Africa were 182 for seven in 59 overs, still needing 121 runs for victory.

Sreesanth once again rose to the occasion with a fantastic bowling display, claiming three for 45 in 14 overs. Zaheer continued to torment the Proteas as he took two for 45, while Harbhajan got two for 55.

Source: rediff.com

Tendulkar should get Bharat Ratna, says Vishy Anand

World chess champion Viswanathan Anand on Thursday joined the growing list of top athletes supporting the demand that iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar be conferred the Bharat Ratna -- the highest civilian honour in India .

When asked whether Tendulkar, who recently hit his 50th Test century, deserves to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, Anand said, "Sure, he has done a great job."

"Especially the form our guys are showing should be great for the World Cup. It is not even that the team is depending on one guy, three-four guys are doing well, and hopefully we will pick the World Cup next year. He (Sachin) has been doing a great job," Anand said.

- Congratulate Sachin Tendulkar

Tendulkar had slammed his 50th Test century in the second innings against South Africa in the first Test in Centurion.

Celebrities from different fields have backed the demand for the top honour for the 37-year-old batsman.

The high-profile backers include ace shuttler Saina Nehwal and singing legends Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhonsle.

Even some politicians, including BJP MP and Archery Association of India V K Malhotra have also said that Tendulkar should be conferred the honour for his achievements.

Source: Rediff

Heavy rain delays start of India-SA Test

The start of the first Test between India and South Africa at SuperSport Park in Centurion, on Thursday, has been delayed due to wet outfield caused by heavy rain.

The toss was scheduled to take place at 1400 IST but persistent rain since Wednesday evening meant that the ground had to be covered; a lot of water has also poured on to the uncovered parts of the outfield.

The possibility of play getting underway looks bleak.

The groundstaff has built a temporary tent over the pitch with heaters inside to prevent the track from absorbing extra moisture.

India will be hoping that play is washed out for the day, giving their top bowler Zaheer Khan an extra day to recover from his groin injury.

Team India get memorable reception in South Africa

With the Rainbow Nation celebrating 150 glorious years of Indian settlement in South Africa , Cricket South Africa (CSA) hosted the biggest ever official reception for the visiting Indian cricket team in Johannesburg.

"The official welcome reception for the Indian team is the biggest ever for any team that had visited South Africa," CSA chief executive Gerald Majola said during the reception on Monday.

The function was attended by players of both the teams, board officials of both the countries, including CSA president Mtutuzeli Nyoka and Indian Consul-General Vikram Doraiswami among others.

During his welcome speech, CSA president Nyoka said that Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men were deserving of their world no 1 tag.

"This is a team (India ) that has over the last two years swept all before them. I think that by all accounts they deserve the number one status in Test cricket," he said.

Nyoka singled out Sachin Tendulkar for praise and saluted the champion batsman for his contribution to the game.

"I want to say thank you to you (Tendulkar) for the many years of wonderful memories that you have given us. You are a true champion, a true hero. You are one of the most decorated cricketers playing today. I salute you as a sportsman, as a cricketer and as a human being," the CSA president said.

Nyoka also lauded the cricketing links between the two countries.

"South Africa is what today because of its relationship with India. CSA is a vibrant, strong organisation not least because of the relationship it has with BCCI, and I hope our mission of friendship and brotherhood continues for a very long time," he added.

In keeping with the jovial spirit at the reception, Indian Consul-General Doraiswami said, "We've always believed our cricket team is the best and rankings are just a matter of devious Western subversions. It's good to have it finally recognised officially."

He also recalled how former South Africa paceman Allan Donald had given troubled times to the Indians during the first tour way back in 1992-93.

"Thank God you don't have White Lightning (Donald's nickname) anymore!," Doraiswami quipped.

Source: Rediff.com

Record books don't lie, van Zyl reminds India

Record books don't lie", said South Africa coach Corrie van Zyl while reminding India of their rather unimpressive past performances here as the battle of wits continued between the two sides ahead of the Test series starting on Thursday.

India are the world's number one Test side but van Zyl said they just need to look at the record books to know what an enormous task awaits them here.

Even India coach Gary Kirsten has declared that without a series win in South Africa, the visitors cannot regard themselves as the best Test side in the world.

"We don't pay much attention to what the Indian goals are in the series, but rather concentrate on what is ahead of us," Van Zyl was quoted as saying by 'Sport24.com'.

"They are an experienced team with much depth regarding their batting and bowling, but the record books never lie," he added.

Not to be outdone by van Zyl, Kirsten said the Indians have become a different side in the past couple of years. "If you look at our performances and results over the past two years you can understand why we are the number one team," said Kirsten.

But as van Zyl pointed out, the record books indeed don't paint an impressive picture for India.

On four previous tours, the Indians could not win a series and have won only once in 12 Tests -- their only triumph coming in 2006 in Johannesburg.


Read more at: http://cricket.ndtv.com/storypage.aspx?id=SPOEN20100163110&nid=72293&cp

We were inconsistent: Vettori

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori on Friday admitted that India were the superior team in the ODI series and his side lacked consistency to challenge a strong and balanced opposition.

"India scored over us because it struck a balance in every department of the game in the Test as well as ODI series," a disappointed Vettori said after New Zealand lost the fifth and final ODI in Chennai by eight wickets to suffer a 0-5 series whitewash.

Vettori, however, did not agree that his position as captain is in danger after the disappointing show. New Zealand under Vettori had lost 0-5 in their ODI series in Bangladesh before coming to India.

"I think I have led the team as well as I can. We understand the result. They change me if they feel there is a need to do it," he said.

Vettori said his team would now concentrate on the forthcoming home series against Pakistan and they need a good show to build confidence before next year's World Cup.

"We are far more comfortable playing at home. We need to perform against Pakistan to regain our confidence ahead of World Cup. Some of the players will have to get back to domestic season. We will try to get back our rhythm. I need to be assertive with the boys to step up and do well in putting their hands up," said the Kiwi captain.

Asked if his team did not give their best and they lacked in confidence, Vettori said, "We can address the issue but addressing the issue is not part of the solution but we have to apply our minds to it too.

"We were not consistent in the series. One day we batted and bowled well but the other day we did not show consistency. In one-day matches you have to show particular type of abilities like what India showed," he said.

"We need to keep trying to our abilities. We need to look into areas where we can show improvement. We should not give up our efforts. Hopefully, as part of the solution we are facing Pakistan back home and we need to play well and regain the confidence ahead of the World Cup," he added.

As for the positives from this tour, Vettori said, "I think James Franklin has been in and out of the team but he had performed well on this tour. There are about three guys looking to be making the world cup team but James has proved himself well to be the squad."

Asked about India's chances in the Test series against South Africa starting next week, Vettori said, "India is the leading team in Test and they have been winning their matches in recent times. It is a experienced side. They have some remarkably talented batsmen and bowlers. I think the cricket fans would be keen that they play some lively cricket and win."

Pathan powers India to a thrilling win

They said he couldn't perform in international cricket. They said he was good only for IPL and domestic cricket. He proved them wrong tonight. Yusuf Pathan engineered an improbable win for India with a violent hundred, his first in ODIs, and perhaps sealed a World Cup berth for himself. It looked grim for India when they were tottering at 188 for 5 in the 34th over, after the fall of Rohit Sharma, but Pathan pulled off a heist. One game doesn't guarantee a successful future of course but Pathan left his past behind with a potentially career-changing innings on a drizzly Bangalore night. His century overshadowed a superbly-crafted 98 from James Franklin that had allowed New Zealand to reach a daunting total.

Read more at: http://cricket.ndtv.com/nzinind10/news_story.aspx?ID=SPOEN20100162535&keyword=news&cp

Swann bowls England to innings victory

England have one hand on the Ashes after Graeme Swann bowled them to victory with a five-wicket haul in Adelaide, where neither rain nor the lower order could save Australia on the fifth morning. The significance of the win cannot be underestimated, as it gives England a 1-0 advantage heading in to the third Test in Perth, which starts in a week and a half.

The triumph came when Swann turned a ball through the gate to bowl Peter Siddle, completing his five-for and confirming the margin of an innings and 71 runs. It was a devastating morning for Australia, who began the day hopeful that they could survive for a draw with six wickets in hand, but it took England less than 90 minutes to skittle the remaining Australians.

Last time England took a series lead in Australia, it was 1986-87, and they did not give it away. And as the holders of the urn, Andrew Strauss and his men will retain the Ashes unless Australia can win at least two of the remaining three Tests, a monumental task given that they have now gone five Tests without tasting victory, stretching back to the series against Pakistan in England.

There will be changes for both teams at the WACA, with England forced to look to Chris Tremlett or Tim Bresnan, due to a series-ending abdominal injury to Stuart Broad. Australia will have to find a new opener as Simon Katich's Achilles tendon problem has ruled him out of the rest of the series, while Xavier Doherty and Marcus North will also face a nervous wait to see if they keep their places.

North could have saved his position by salvaging a draw for Australia on the final day, but he was one of the wickets to fall cheaply as England wrapped up the contest before lunch. The visitors knew a thunderstorm was expected later in the afternoon, and after they made the initial breakthrough by getting rid of the established Michael Hussey for 52, they tightened the noose on Australia's lower order.

Hussey and North resumed at 4 for 238 after the loss of Michael Clarke from the last ball of play on Monday, and it took only six overs for England to get a sniff of victory. Hussey was dropped by Matt Prior off the bowling of Swann but didn't survive a second chance when he top-edged a pull off Steven Finn and was comfortably taken at midwicket by James Anderson.

There was a roar from Anderson as soon as he had the ball safely in his hands, knowing that the in-form Hussey was the big breakthrough England required. Brad Haddin followed soon afterwards for 12 when he edged behind off Anderson, and England were in to Australia's long tail, with North carrying the home team's slim hopes at the other end.

Anderson quickly found himself on a hat-trick when Ryan Harris made unwanted history by completing a king pair, leaving a ball that swung back in and struck him in line with the stumps. Out of desperation more than belief, Harris asked for a review, but there was no way he was going to be saved, and neither were Australia.

There was no hat-trick for Anderson when he began his next over but he didn't really mind, as in the meantime Swann had removed North, the last of Australia's specialist batsmen, for 22. This time the review system did overturn a decision; Tony Hill gave North not out as he came forward with bat and pad close together, Swann wanted a referral, and the replays showed it was pad first, hitting the stumps, and a potentially career-busting blow for North.

Swann bowled outstandingly on the final day, and deserved his 5 for 91. In the absence of Broad for much of the innings, he sent down 41.1 overs, and collected the final two wickets when he sneaked the ball under the bat of Doherty for 5 and then finished off Siddle.

And it all happened under the most perfect, sunny skies. If Australia were hoping for storms, their prayers were not answered. In truth, they never recovered from the hurricane that struck on the first morning when they were 3 for 2. And now, England need only one more victory to retain the Ashes.


Read more at: http://cricket.ndtv.com/ashes10/news_story.aspx?ID=SPOEN20100162417&keyword=news&nid=71019&cp

Revealed! History of the Ashes

A tiny, dark-red, terracotta urn containing ashes of indeterminate origin and deemed too fragile to leave the cloistered hush of the Lord's ground museum is the focus of one of the world's great sporting rivalries.

Australia host England at the start of the latest battle for the urn on Thursday in a sport which baffles most of the world outside the Commonwealth.

Through Britain's colonial heritage, cricket has fired the imagination and inspired great deeds in ancient cultures on the Indian sub-continent, among the descendants of slaves in the West Indies and in Australia's immigrant society.

An Ashes series, hosted alternately once every two years, remains the ultimate cricket conTest, however.

WHERE DID THE ASHES COME FROM?

Britain at the peak of its imperial power believed it ruled by right the games it invented or codified in the second half of the 19th century. Australians thought otherwise and victory over England at the Oval in London by seven runs in 1882 inspired a mock obituary in the Sporting Times.

The Ashes urn"In affectionate remembrance of English cricket which died at The Oval, 29th August, 1882. Deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances, RIP. NB The body will be cremated and the Ashes taken to Australia."

Months later Ivo Bligh, captain of the England team in Australia, announced he intended to recover the Ashes. In response some Melbourne society ladies presented him with an urn on Christmas Eve, generally believed to contain the burnt remains of a bail.

Bligh became Lord Darnley and on his death in 1927 his widow presented the Ashes to the Marylebone Cricket Club, the custodians of Lord's. The Ashes have become the symbol of England-Australian rivalry, gaining an increasing mystique with the years.

WHAT IS THE SPECIAL APPEAL?

For more than a century, England and Australia were routinely the best teams in the world and the Ashes series were followed avidly throughout the Commonwealth via the magic of radio and a stream of evocative commentators whose word pictures turned great players into imperishable giants.

They were also the only teams who played each regularly and other countries measured their progress by their performances against the two accepted world leaders.

The proliferation of international cricket, the emergence of first West Indies and now India as the world number one sides and a series of one-sided contests in Australia's favour during the 1990s has not lessened their attraction.

A tour of England remains the ultimate goal for any overseas cricketer and a Test at Lord's the greatest challenge. It is a measure of the ability of Australia to rise to this challenge that the defeat at Lord's last year was their first since 1934.

Winning a series in Australia remains the defining Test for any cricket side. England have not won there since Mike Gatting's side in 1986-87 and only West Indies and South Africa have subsequently succeeded.

Source: rediff.com

3rd Test: India crush New Zealand by an innings and 198 runs, win series 1-0

Spinners Harbhajan Singh and Pragyan Ojha wreaked havoc on a turning track as India recorded one of their most convincing Test wins in recent times by thrashing New Zealand by an innings and 198 runs in third and final Test to clinch the three-match series 1-0 on Tuesday.

Scorecard

The spin duo never looked threatening during the entire series but proved to be an altogether different proposition with turn and bounce that was on offer.

Both Harbhajan (3/56) and Ojha (2/67) got appreciable turn and bounce as the Black Caps batsmen literally struggled to stay put on a track that was suddenly looking difficult to bat on. There was sharp turn on offer and some of the balls were also keeping low.

If Harbhajan and Ojha decimated the top-order, Ishant Sharma (3/15) and Suresh Raina (2/1) blasted out the lower order as New Zealand were all out for 175 in only 51.2 overs.

Needing 349 runs to clear the first innings deficit, the visitors needed to show a lot of application but not having encountered appreciable turn and bounce in the previous matches meant that there wasn't a lot of homework done.

The pressure was immense and Daniel Vettori's men surrendered meekly with the match lasting barely three and half days.

Brendon McCullum (25), the double centurion of the last Test, on whom Vettori must have depended a lot went back in the 14th over as he missed a ball trying to play on the backfoot. It would have hit the leg stump and Simon Taufel made no mistake in ruling the batsman leg before.

Martin Guptill (0) who has had a woeful Test match saw a delivery from Ojha pitched on the leg stump and turn sharply towards the middle stump finding the batsman's pads. Taufel took some time before raising his finger as Ojha was in with a hat-trick chance.

At 38 for three, New Zealand were looking down the barrel. Ross Taylor (29) tried to hit the spinners more out of desperation as the noose got tighter. Wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins - certainly not the best among the wicketkeeper batsman who are playing international cricket was the next man out.

Scratching around for 35 balls having scored only eight, Hopkins tried to drive Harbhajan but the ball turned to find his bat and pad. Gautam Gambhir standing at forward short-leg took a brilliant one-handed reflex catch diving to his right.

While Jesse Ryder (22) did show some stomach for a fight at one end, the other batsmen didn't have good enough technique to play on a turning track. Harbhajan, in fact made good use of the rough patch that was created on side as some of the ball really turned and jumped.

The feisty spinner from Jalandhar got his third victim when Ross Taylor offered a simple bat-pad catch to substitute Cheteshwar Pujara. The television replays however couldn't confirm whether the ball hit the bat or not.

With half the team back in the pavilion for less than 100, the match as a contest was as good as over in the first hour itself.

Kane Williamson (8) was castled by an Ishant Sharma delivery that kept low and moved in after pitching.

Ryder's 53-ball vigil ended when he got out trying to hoick Suresh Raina only to be holed out by Ishant at mid-off. Raina, who is being groomed as a specialist part-timer as Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag don't bowl often these days bowled a straighter one to trap Vettori (13) plumb in front to reduce New Zealand to 124 for eight.

Ishant got his second wicket when Tim Southee (31, 3x6) was bowled through the gate and wrapped it up with another incoming delivery that breached through Chris Martin's defence.

Read more: 3rd Test: India crush New Zealand by an innings and 198 runs, win series 1-0 - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/series-tournaments/new-zealand-in-india/top-stories/3rd-Test-India-crush-New-Zealand-by-an-innings-and-198-runs-win-series-1-0/articleshow/6974922.cms#ixzz165zEmd8K

India beat New Zealand comprehensively, win series 1-0

India beat New Zealand comprehensively, win series 1-0After two drawn Tests, the Indian team won the third Test by an innings and 198 runs in Nagpur

Preeja, Kavita win gold and silver in 10, 000 m

Top Indian long-distance runner Preeja Sreedharan clocked a personal best of 31:50:47 in the women's 10,000m final to clinch the country's fourth gold medal at the Asian Games here today.

Kavita Raut, who won the bronze in the women's 10000m at the Commonwealth Games last month, walked away with the silver with a personal best timing of 31:51.44.

Sreedharan, who had finished fifth in both the 5000m and the 10,000m in the last edition of the Games in 2006, raised her performance to give India a flying start in track and field competition.

The 28-year-old's previous personal best for the 10,000m was 32:04:41 recorded at Watford in June, 2008.

The 25-year-old Kavita's previous personal best was 32:41.31 in May this year.

Bahrain's Shitaya Eshete Habtegebrel won the bronze with a personal best timing of 31:53:27 at the Aoti Main Stadium.


Read more at: NDTV

New Zealand look to find form against India

fter their disastrous outing in the ODI series against Bangladesh, the tour of India provides New Zealandcricket team with an opportunity to start afresh, according to skipper Daniel Vettori.

"This is an important tour for us. India is playing incredible cricket with such an experienced side," Vettori told media persons here.

"We have quiet a few young players with 2-3 years of experience in first class cricket. We are looking for a good performance by the young players, and looking forward to this tour as an opportunity to comeback," Vettori said.

Daniel VettoriExpressing disappointment over the Bangladesh series, which New Zealand lost 0-4, coach Mark Greatbatch said the team did not play the way it should have.

The coach, however, said that his team was excited to be in India and he was looking forward to young players to hit form and find their rhythm.

Greatbatch said that since the wickets here are quiet different from that in New Zealand, they have been planning a balanced bowling attack including some spinners.

New Zealand players, who arrived on Saturday, for the first Test starting Friday, had an exhaustive morning practice session at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera.

Source: rediff.com

'Sport in India has increased beyond cricket'

India fast bowler S Sreesanth along with badminton duo Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponappa performed on some foot tapping Bollywood numbers and enthralled the audiences.

"In recent times, the participation in sport in India has increased beyond cricket. This is quite evident from the success we have achieved recently at various international events and not to forget the just concluded Commonwealth Games," Subrata Roy, chairman of the Sahara India Group said.

"Sports in India, in the past has always taken back seat and never got the deserved recognition, applause and encouragement. Sahara India Sports Awards should be seen as a celebration of this welcoming transformation and a sincere effort to provide a common platform to all sports, irrespective of their popularity, encouraging the sportspersons and giving an impetus to their talent by appreciating and felicitating them.

"As a part of our commitment towards promotion and development of sports in India, the Sahara Indian Sports Awards is a step to honour the spirit of sportsmanship," he added.

Source: rediff.com

Tendulkar named Cricketer of the Year

After a splendid season, where he scored first-ever double century in One-day and climbing the 14000-runs peak, Sachin Tendulkar on Saturday night was named the Indian cricketer of the Year. Our Correspondent Harish Kotian reveals the other winners at the Sahara India Sports Awards.

India's master batsman Sachin Tendulkar, boxing ace MC Mary Kom and wrestling superstar Sushil Kumar took the top honours at the Sahara India Sports Awards in Mumbai, on Saturday.

Veteran Tendulkar was named the Cricket of the Year, while World and Commonwealth Games gold medalist Sushil Kumar was honoured with the prestigious Sportsman of the Year.

The Sportswoman of the Year went deservedly to world champion MC Mary Kom, while the Indian Davis Cup beat the Indian cricket team to take home the Team of the Year Award.

Source: rediff.com

Sachin has signed a deal with Adidas

For the record, Tendulkar signed a deal with Adidas last year.

The SG factory in India makes his bats.

The bats are available in Australia, known as the Sachin Tendulkar Master Blaster Elite and retail for about 650 dollars.

'Getting facts about Sachin's bats is not easy'

It's not easy getting the facts about Tendulkar's bats because just about everyone claims they are the great man's official supplier.

'A lot of manufacturers give him handmade bats because it looks good for them to say they made a bat for Tendulkar,' Solomons said.

'He gets inundated - and then gives them away to poor kids.'

'Sachin's bat is much heavier than Ponting's

They are also heavy, a result of having to share a full-sized bat with his brother when he was a kid.

To put that in context, the bat used by 193cm West Indies great Clive Lloyd - who was renowned for using a gigantic heavy bat - weighed 3 pounds, 4 ounces. Tendulkar is 165cm.

'Now he's gone a little bit lighter. But he still likes a big, thick, heavy bat, much heavier than, say, Ponting's bat.

'The bat Tendulkar uses now is 2lb 12oz.'

'Sachin's bats are English willow, with a thick profile'

The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Solomon as saying: 'I was having lunch two days ago with the guy who makes his bat.

"His bats are English willow, with a thick profile, massive edges which he likes, and he also likes his bats to be heavily bowed.'

This refers to the curvature of the face of the bat.

'When he was with [previous bat sponsor] MRF his bats were close to three pounds,' Solomons said

The secret behind Sachin's magical bat

Does Sachin Tendulkar's bat fit Marylebone Cricket Club regulations?

According to cricket-supply guru, Harry Solomons, who owns Kingsgrove Sports Centre, which once employed the Waugh brothers, 'Sachin's bats look wide, but they are regulation width. It's the thick edges that make it look bigger.

The MCC's Laws of Cricket state:

(a) The overall length of the bat, when the lower portion of the handle is inserted, shall not be more than 38in/96.5cm;

(b) The width of the bat shall not exceed 4.25in/10.8cm at its widest part and

(c) Permitted coverings, repair material and toe guards, not exceeding their specified thicknesses, may be additional to the dimensions above.