Sachin Tendulkar misses 100th international century

Sachin Tendulkar fell six runs short of becoming the first batsman to score an unprecedented 100 international centuries during the third and final Test against the West Indies.

Tendulkar, who resumed on 67 at his home ground of Wankhede stadium on Friday, was dismissed for 94 when he slashed at a delivery from pace bowler Ravi Rampaul and was caught by Darren Sammy at second slip early on the fourth day.

Tendulkar faced 20 deliveries in the morning session and smashed a total of eight fours and two sixes in a 153-ball knock.

This is the tenth time that Tendulkar has got out in the nineties equalling the record of Steve Waugh and Rahul Dravid.

The 100th century has been tensely anticipated since he notched two 100s during this year's World Cup to reach a total of 99. He has scored 51 Test centuries and 48 in one-day internationals.

Mumbai Test Live: Gambhir out, all eyes on Sachin

Gautam Gambhir could not go on to score the big one as he was removed by West Indies paceman Ravi Rampaul for 55. The fall of the second wicket brought an uncharacteristic cheer from the crowd as their anticipation was culminating with local hero Sachin Tendulkar taking the crease.

In the meanwhile, Rahul Dravid became one of those rare cricketers who have scored more than 13,000 runs in Test cricket.

The duo of Gambhir and Dravid took the total past the 100-run mark with a healthy run-rate. Gambhir was smooth in his shot selection as he slammed his 18th Test fifty to strengthen the run-chase.

India had gone into lunch on the third day of the final Test with 74/1 on the board. The duo of Gautam Gambhir and Rahul ‘The Wall’ Dravid held fort, thwarting the efforts of the Windes bowlers.

West Indies skipper Darren Sammy drew first blood, claiming Virender Sehwag (37) as the scorecard read 67/1. The batsman was bowled while trying to work the ball, not realising the big gap between bat and pad.

Delhi lads Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir had started the proceedings for India in their signature style. They were careful of nipping the odd one that moved on the turf but played everything else with confidence, taking the total past 50-run mark in quick time.

With the belter of the pitch ahead of them, the Indians hoped to surpass the efforts of the visitors as stands started filling-in.

Ravichandran Ashwin completed a five wicket haul by claiming the last man Devendra Bishoo (12), restricting the West Indies to 590 all out.

West Indies had started the morning of the third day at Wankehde with the last wicket stand of Bishoo and Fidel Edwards toiling to take the total past 600 runs, but the spin attack of Ashwin was too good for the tailenders.

Interestingly, Ashwin became the Indian bowler with most wickets in debut series in Test cricket.

Not opting to declare, the visitors made clear that every run was important to them and they would not like to bat last on this track.

On Day 2, the West Indies posted 575/9 at stumps, chiefly because of the success of the top batsmen. The testimony to the effort is the fact that for only the second time in Test history, the top six batsmen managed to score over 60 runs.

Darren Bravo was the man who did most of the damage with his 166 runs, looking reminiscent of Brian Lara.

Ajit Wadekar: It's Sachin`s destiny to score 100th ton at Wankhede

Former India skipper Ajit Wadekar on Tuesday voiced confidence that Sachin Tendulkar will score his hundredth century at the Wankhede stadium, saying it was the batting maestro`s "destiny" to achieve the feat at his homeground.

"It is destiny that he was born and brought up in Mumbai. He is bound to make history at Mumbai," the 70-year-old, who represented India in 37 Tests and scored 2113 runs, said on the sidelines of an event here tonight.

"Among the trio, (Rahul) Dravid and Laxman have scored centuries (in the series), only he is left. He will score it in Mumbai," said Wadekar, who was attending a function to announce the launch of the Eknath Solkar Academy in memory of the former India cricketer.

India is playing against the West Indies in the third and last Test which began here today.

Wadekar also backed discarded off-spinner Harbhajan Singh to make a comeback in the Indian team.

"He has taken loads of wickets. It is just one of the things that happens to any cricketer. I`m sure he will make a big comeback. There is no doubt that R Ashwin has been bowling extremely well but I think you can have two off-spinners like I had in my team. There is no harm in that."

Meanwhile, Solkar`s son Brijesh said the Academy was a tribute to his late father.

"Family members and some close members have formed the Eknath Solkar Foundation, that has initiated the Academy project. This is the least we could do for him," he said.

Cricket legends B S Chandrashekhar, Gundappa Vishwanath, Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri were among those present for the function.

Asha Bhosle: Sachin deserves Bharat Ratna

Singing legend Asha Bhosle has endorsed master blaster Sachin Tendulkar for the Bharat Ratna, India`s highest civilian honour, while her sister Lata Mangeshkar is pithching for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan.

In reply to a query as to who should be given Bharat Ratna - Amitabh or Sachin, she said: "I think Sachin Tendulkar is the most deserving person for it."

The 78-year-old singer, whose name has been recently included in the Guinness World Records for maximum studio recordings (singles), was briefing the media Tuesday at Noor-Us-Shaba Hotel here before her performance at the 56th Foundation Day function of the state.

Significantly, India`s Nightingale Lata Mangeshkar recently said in Mumbai that Amitabh Bachchan should be awarded theBharat Ratna.

She might have a different view on the subject, but when it comes to taking her sister`s legacy forward, Asha said: "I can`t say about myself, but no one can carry forward the legacy of Latadi (Mangeshkar), Kishore (Kumar) or Rafi saab (Mdohammad Rafi).

"We both have sung all kinds of songs and we have sang songs of all ranges. We sang on very high note and sometime on very low. We learnt classical also. At this age, we do four hours of practice everyday. Now about whom you can say did all this or can do it," she added.

Asha feels the quality of music has taken a drastic dip and this saddens her.

"Now, I do not do playback singing much, but go for concerts and foreign tours. There is neither much good music director nor lyricists left."

However, she is hopeful that the golden era of music will return, saying: "Everything has a circle and it will return after sometime."

Post F1, Sachin's racing venture revs up

What do Mohit Burman, Shah Rukh Khan, Yuvraj Singh, Akkineni Nagarjuna and Sourav Ganguly have in common?

All the above said stars have shown keen interest to be a part of the Indian Racing League, partly owned by Sachin Tendulkar. The i1 Super Series, launched a few months back, is the culmination of the idea by Machdar Motor Sports Company and has eyed the fancy of investors after the inaugural Formula One Indian GP’s success despite the huge costs required to stage the event.

If all goes right, sources told a leading newspaper that the first edition of the racing series will hit the tracks on January 8 and conclude on February 26 next year.

According to the newspaper, i1 Super Series will have eight teams (city-based) with two cars each, forming a 16-member line-up. Tendulkar and Sanjana Reddy have together bought 26% share in the league. The races will feature F1 and upcoming Indian drivers and will be held in Delhi, Abu Dhabi, Kuala Lumpur, Doha and Bahrain.

Potential Investors*

Mumbai: Shah Rukh Khan, Jai Mehta, Juhi Chawla

Delhi: Mohit Burman and another investor

Hyderabad: N Prasad, Akkineni Nagarjuna

Chennai: Tony Fernandes, SG Srinivas

Chandigarh: Yuvraj Singh and a local businessman

Kolkata: Consortium involving ex-cricketer Sourav Ganguly

Pune: A businessman related to a top Bollywood family

Bangalore: A consortium of investors

Selectors to pick ODI squad for England payback

BCCI selectors would have no other option but to name a depleted Indian squad for the first two ODIs against England today, Thursday, with many top players, including Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh, unlikely to be available for selection because of injuries.

Apart from Tendulkar and Yuvraj, there are also a question marks over Virender Sehwag`s fitness alongwith a host of other players who suffered injuries during India`s disastrous tour of England recently.

While the selectors, who meet today, Thursday, may find the replacements in the batting department, the bowling unit is of more concern as three premier speedsters in Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma and Munaf Patel are out of contention.

The first two games of the five-match ODI series against England will be played in Hyderabad on October 14 and New Delhi on October 17. The other matches will be held in Mohali (Oct 20), Mumbai (Oct 23) and Kolkata (Oct 25).

Tendulkar, who was ruled out of the last ODI series in England due to a toe injury, is yet to play a match in the Champions League Twenty20 and indications are that he may miss out the first two matches.

Sehwag, who had hearing problems as well as recuperating from shoulder surgery, may also have to sit out of the first two one-dayers though there is still no clear indication on his fitness status.

The good news is that Gautam Gambhir has recovered fully and he has now played two matches for KKR in the ongoing Champions League and should be back in the team.

Similarly Harbhajan Singh`s name would also come up for consideration as the stand-in captain of Mumbai Indians appeared to have regained full fitness from the stomach injury as he has contributed with both bat and ball.

Among the batsmen, the certainties are skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Parthiv Patel and young Ajinkya Rahane. With Rohit Sharma yet to recover from his fractured finger, Manoj Tiwary who was rushed on SOS during last England series is likely to retain his place along with Subramanium Badrinath.

The bowling still remains a concern as save Praveen Kumar, none of the other premier fast bowlers are fit.

Although paceman Ashish Nehra`s name is doing the rounds, he has not played a single competitive match since World Cup semi-final against Pakistan. But with the team in desperate need for some experience, the services of the 32-year-old left-arm seamer with 120 ODIs behind his may be sought.

The name of Karnataka left-arm seamer Sreenath Aravind, who has impressed for RCB in T20 format, could also come up discussion when the selectors meet tomorrow.

For the third seamer`s role, the likes of R Vinay Kumar, Varun Aaron, Umesh Yadav, Ashok Dinda will be fighting for the pace-bowling slots.

Among the spinners, Harbhajan Singh and Ashwin may both find place in the line-up along with Ravindra Jadeja who will be the lone all-rounder in side with his handy batting and slow left-arm orthodox. Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha was also in the fray.

Sachin Tendulkar set to move into new bungalow

Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar is set to move into the bungalow in Bandra that he has got fully remodelled

The villa has a swimming pool on the top floor. Sachin bought it for Rs. 39 cr in 2007 and spent nearly the same amount on its renovation.

Sachin reveals his anti-pressure tactics to children

Two decades of experience playing cricket has taught Sachin Tendulkar to not give in to pressure and play to personal strenths

Speaking to children,My School Campaign on Sunday, Tendulkar said that the mental aspect of the game is as important as having the right technique. "Right from my school days, me and my brother decided that we are not going to open newspapers. I am not going to read what is written about me and I continue doing that," he said.

Advising young cricketers to think only about aspects of the game that will help them perform better, Tendulkar said that those who want to help will help in person. "I trust the judgment of a few people in my life and I speak to them before taking decisions," he said adding that buckling under pressure has a lot to do with bothering about the past or the future than playing in the present.