Sachin, the master of singles

When we think of Sachin Tendulkar and his cricket, images of his spanking cover drive, the drive past mid-on where one gets to see the batmaker's label and the savage pull via mid-wicket chase each other.

But noted cricket writer and Australian citizen Peter Roebuck has just added another dimension to the great batsman's greatness. By calling him the the man who knows no boundaries, Roebuck has highlighted something in Sachin's batting that has almost gone un-noticed in the flurry of breathtaking strokes that we got used to when the master was at the crease.

Yes, Roebuck reminds viewers that there is probably no one better in world cricket today when it comes to taking those sharp singles... neither the Australians, nor the South Africans can come close to the Little Champ.

"Among modern batsmen, Sachin Tendulkar is the master of the single. In some respects, it is not much of a claim. It's a bit like saying Roger Federer has the best ball toss around. Tendulkar has many other more colourful qualities: a blistering straight drive, a cart that is liable to land in the fifth row, a square cut that singes the turf, a fine sweep and a defensive stroke played with a sculptured left elbow. Comparatively speaking, the single tucked to mid-wicket seems innocuous," Roebuck says in his syndicated column in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Recalling that Sachin once again began his innings with a tucked single to the leg, Roebuck comments that the move could have been an effort to break the duck in what could well be his last test on Australian soil, or may have been an attempt to guage the pitch, the bowling and the mindset of the fielders.

"The true masters do not disregard the little things," he says while commenting that four singles amount to a boundary, and can be more safely collected. Also, a single taken from a precisely pitched delivery is profoundly discouraging. "Only dolts think sport is all about glamour and panache. Meanwhile, seasoned campaigners keep putting runs on the board," says Roebuck.

The columnist found Sachin the liveliest amongst the senior Indian pros and commented that Rahul Dravid seemed a tad exhausted with his footwork while VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly seemed fluent but fortunate. As for Tendulkar, he was as good as ever at assessing the ball and deciding to play a stroke.

"It is no small thing to move into line with a missile travelling at 145kmh with the intention of manoeuvring it into a gap. Indeed, it is a risky operation and, as a rule, only an established batsmen will undertake it. But the Indian has a supreme ability to make quick decisions and act on them. He knows his game, and from his first delivery is searching for runs. Apparently, the Don was the same," he says.

And for those who believe this could well be Sachin's last tour Down Under, Roebuck has news: "Unless his nerve fails him or batting becomes a chore, Tendulkar will be back in 2012. Far from losing focus, he looks eager. Rejecting the captaincy helped him to renew his vitality. After a struggle, he has come to terms with age; has learnt to combine the singles of experience with the boundaries of youth."

Source: India Syndicate