THE LITTLE WAGER

Just had a bet with myself.

You know how the summer before last was supposed to be The Little Master's farewell tour of Australia? Well, here's what: when India next tour the wide brown land in December 2011, The Little Tendulkar will still be batting for India, still knocking up scores, still having the pundits drone on about farewell tours, while Ricky Ponting will be long gone (but still searching, reaching and struggling for well-pitched-up balls on or about off stump up in the Nine commentary box).

Never quite bought all that "farewell tour" business during the 2007/08 series. What has been even harder to buy is all the chatter from the cricketing classes about how it's only a matter of time before Ponting becomes the highest scorer in Test cricket. I mean, come on. While The Little Sachin (12,773 runs) is still going round there isn't even the slightest point in the pundits contemplating that fact. Given that TLM is still going strong and will only by 38 in 2011, he's got Ponting (10,960 runs) well covered.

And you can't tell me that gnawing away at the back of TLM's mind, is a desperate desire to right the so-called wrongs - from an Indian perspective, anyway - of his 2007/08 visit to Australia.

Comments

[Ottayan]

I believe it is time for Tendulkar to bid farewell.He is now playing for personal glory and nothing else.

[Sameer]

lol at Ottayan

[Adsy]

There are 3 certainties in cricketing life:

1. The Aussies will crash out of the 20/20 World Cup and struggle in the one dayers for the next couple of years.

2. They will beat England in the Ashes series due to an excellent fast bowling effort, mirroring the Poms circa 2005, and continue to dominate Tests until the aforementioned Indian tour 2011.

3. TLM will play and dominate, like he has done for the past 15+ years.

Get Sportsbet on the phone.

[Samir Chopra]

Tony: Interesting call. I'm inclined to think he'll retire after the World Cup (especially since the final will be played at Mumbai, his home-town). But you never know, he might want to do precisely what you say - he does have a thing for Australia after all.

[SaggyGreen]

I'd like to see the little guy back for one more tour. For that will allow two more cricketing certainties -

-He'll be given out LBW in a decision so appalling that even Ponting will wince. (Adelaide '99, Brisbane '03, Perth '08)
-He'll score a glorious hundred (Perth '92, Sydney '04 & '08)

[nick]

Hopefully TLM will emulate Warne and McGrath in his retirement rather than Hayden and SWaugh. Whats Lara up to these days?

[Carrot]

Dare I say it, but I think we miss Watson in the one-dayers.

[SaggyGreen]

Hate to say it, but I think we miss Symonds.