Tendulkar wins Cricketer of the Year award: Sahara Awards

Capping a splendid season in which he scored the first-ever double century in ODIs and crossed 14,000 runs in Test cricket, iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar was on Saturday named the Indian Cricketer of the Year at the second Sahara India Sports Awards function here.

37-year-old Tendulkar, who was earlier named the ICC Cricketer of the Year for his superb show in both Tests and ODIs, beat back the challenge of India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virender Sehwag and Suresh Raina to be given the honour by the eminent 14-member jury headed by another cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar.

Tendulkar scored 1,064 runs, from August, 2009, to September, 2010, in 10 Tests with six centuries and three fifties. In 17 ODIs, he scored 914 runs with three hundreds, including a world record 200 not out against South Africa at Gwalior on February 24 this year and two fifties during the period under consideration.

"This is the first time I am getting the opportunity to congratulate all sportspersons who have made the country proud. So, congratulations to all of you. I also thank all my colleagues. Without you, this award would not have been possible", the batting maestro said while receiving the award.

Would like to take one series at a time: Tendulkar

Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar said on Friday that he would like to focus on one series at a time rather than thinking too far ahead including the World Cup that will be held in the sub-continent, next year.

"I am not yet thinking about the tour of South Africa and the 2011 Cricket World Cup. My immediate focus is on the upcoming New Zealand series and only when that is over, I will start talking about South Africa," Tendulkar said on the sidelines of a function that marked his association as a brand ambassador with a high-end watch manufacturer Audemars Piguet.

However, Tendulkar admitted that he would be happy if India can maintain the winning momentum in the coming series.

"The momentum is with us right now and we should not let it go. We are not taking anything for granted and want to be on our toes. We would be looking to keep on producing competitive cricket and stick to the basics."

When asked whether he is currently enjoying the form of his life, the iconic batsman who recently completed 14,000 Test runs said that although he is happy but he is still not satisfied.

"There is always room for improvement. I am happy with my current performance but not satisfied. I want to get better. In fact, in any profession one must strive to get better and better," said Tendulkar, adding, "I always want to remain a student of the game because that is when you grasp more and is always keen to improve."

The 37-year-old, who had one of the most fruitful years of his career in 2010 as he won his first ICC's Player of the Year Award and returned to the top of the world batting rankings for the first time since 2002.

In February, he scored centuries in successive Tests against South Africa before becoming the first man to reach 200 in an ODI against the same opponents.

When asked what all has remained in his wish list which he still want to achieve, Tendulkar said, "There is no wish list. I play because I always love playing cricket. The only thing I ever wanted to do was to play for my country.

"Now, my track is only cricket, where a lot of stations come and I cherish arriving at all of them. But I personally just want to do something for my country and go on playing. In this journey I want to achieve whatever I can till the time remains," said the man, who remains just one short of scoring 50 Test centuries.

"It was a fantastic win the Test series against Australia. In fact, it was great to see some guys produced special cricket. (VVS) Laxman is definitely one such special guy, who snatched the victory for us. He was struggling to even jog as he was injured but he went out there and produced such a brilliant innings.

"Even Ishant Sharma, who shared a valuable partnership with him must get a lot of credit. I am extremely glad that we stuck to our No 1 position in Tests."

Talking about the ICC award that he finally bagged this year by beating South African Hashim Amla, England's Graeme Swann and teammate Virender Sehwag, the Mumbaikar said, "Whenever an award comes it always feels good."

He further added, "But no one plays for awards. You always set goals and want to achieve those goals as individuals. And in cricket you always want to achieve goals as an individual and as a team.

"And when you succeed in achieving your goal and get appreciated for your efforts it always feels good."

The cricketer, who was conferred with the Indian Air Force's honorary rank of Group Captain to honour his sporting achievements and contribution to the nation last month, said that "it was a great honour."

"Becoming the group captain with the Indian Air Force was a great honour. It is extremely special because I am associated with a force who protect us. I salute them."

Sachin honoured at Asian Awards

Awards and accolades continue to follow Sachin Tendulkar who added the ‘Lebara People’s Choice’ honour at the inaugural Asian Awards to his trophy cabinet.

Presenting the award to the iconic batsman, Ratheesan Yoganathan, CEO Lebara, said, “Tendulkar is one of the greatest cricketers of all time. Sachin is a hero and a role model to many young Indians.”

“His skill on the pitch is remarkable, but his influence goes beyond just cricket — he has become an inspiration for future generations,” he added.

Tendulkar said getting popular choice awards is the ultimate honour. “To receive an accolade from your peers is one thing, but to receive acknowledgment from the public is the ultimate honour. Thank you to all those who voted for me,” he said.

Sachin still gets nervous before a match: Anjali Tendulkar

Whenever cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has a big match coming up, there are two scenes that gets played out, almost like a routine, at the Tendulkar household — a tense Sachin the night before the match, and a tense wife Anjali on the day of the match.

“He (Sachin) still gets tense before every match after so many years, he won’t eat properly, and gets up early in the morning on the day of the match. I think he performs best that way. It is a kind of a process, so I never try to console or relax him before a match,” says the reclusive Anjali Tendulkar

When the whole nation is agog as Sachin enters the crease, Anjali says that she’s busy switching off her cell phone. “When Sachin is batting, I just switch off entirely. There are no phone calls for me or leaving the television set. I even try not to take food breaks or water breaks as long as possible,” adds Anjali. But why before the television set? Isn’t she supposed to be in the stadium? “I prefer not to watch him live. Television is better,” she says, indicating the huge pressure that builds up inside her head.

Anjali admits that Sachin is very particular about his practice that he think twice about stepping out for it even on a hot Mumbai afternoon. “When I ask him as to why he’s going for practice in the heat, he says, ‘I have a match to play and I need to practice at this time’.”

Anjali reveals that Sachin is foodie too, but indulges in it once in a while. Anjali admits candidly that she’s not a great cook. “He is a foodie. But I’m not that great a cook like his mom, my mom and our cook. They are allfabulous, so there’s no complains about that. He indulges himself once in a while (on food), but always makes sure to work out the next day,” she adds.

British media urges Wayne Rooney to learn from Tendulkar

The British media has lavished praise on iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar and according to a column written by former England cricketer Ed Smith, Manchester United star Wayne Rooney should learn how to turn expectations into inspiration.

In an article headlined 'Sanctuary of crease lets Tendulkar reveal genius,' Smith had written, "Twice last week, sportsmen have proved me spectacularly wrong. First, Sachin Tendulkar reached 14,000 Test-match runs. And that's not the amazing part.


"It took him fewer innings to get from 13,000 to 14,000 than any other 1,000-run chunk of his career. A case could be made that he is at his best now, at 37," the newspaper noted.

The article said Tendulkar and Rooney were destined for rare greatness, even from teenage. Tendulkar has gone on and done it.

A year ago, Rooney looked placed to do the same. But now, as never before, there are real doubts that he will become the player we once assumed he would be.

"Make no mistake, Tendulkar's career has not been as serene as it might look, there have been arguments with coaches and match referees, an unsatisfactory spell as captain and long phases when the muse has deserted him.

"Tendulkar has had countless moments when frustration could have overwhelmed him. He has never blown his top, never lost his dignity. Instead,frustration has inpired him."

"Above all, his career has been played out under the shadow of phenomenal expectation. Footballers in England have to deal with being heroes. In India it is even worse: they are meant to be Gods."

"According to the report 'Tendulkar has come to the conclusion that there is one place where he is free from the hassles of fame. There is one realm where he cannot be pestered. It is called the crease.

"With the bat in his hands, Tendulkar is the conductor of his own life, not just a participant in a soap opera. There, out in the middle, no one can stop him being himself - not a restless media, not overly demanding fans, not intering coaches or greedy agents."

"It is the ultimate irony: the greatest actors are never freer than when they're on the stage. That is the way for Rooney to find the way out of his present difficulties - he must have the bravery to express himself on the pitch, to make it his sanctuary."

"If he allows himself to become embittered and resentful, he will not only become estranged from his fans, but also from his talent. No wonder the ball is bouncing off him at the moment; he probably would like to repel the whole game.

"Instead, he must learn to love it again. Shamed by alleged events off the pitch and embarrassed by events on it, Rooney could be forgiven for feeling sorry for himself," the report said.

"It would be a normal thing to feel. But he doesn't aspire to normality, but to greatness. And greatness, as Tendulkar has showed demands a superhuman degree of resilience and emotional dexterity. Rooney must locate his inner Tendulkar, a genius who got even with his critics by scoring hundreds."

"For Rooney, in every sense, it's time to turn the pressure into goals."

Anjali Tendulkar expresses happiness over Sachin's double century against Australia

Anjali Tendulkar, wife of master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, expressed happiness over Sachin's phenomenal performance in 2-0 series win over Australia.

India defeated Australia by seven wickets to sweep the two-match Test series 2-0 and consolidate their world number one status in the International Cricket Council (ICC) test rankings.

Master-blaster Tendulkar was awarded the Man-of the-match and Man-of-the-Series trophies for the test series. He scored 214 in the first innings and 53 in the second innings in the Bangalore Test match.

Speaking on the occasion of a book release here on Wednesday, Anjali said that like any other countrymen she was equally thrilled to see India beating Australia 2-0 in the test series.

"Obviously, like any other Indian I am thrilled. I know for Sachin, winning is very important but beating Australia in India, that too by 2-0 is a very important thing. I am thrilled for him and for the whole India," said Anjali.

She further added that the 53 runs scored by Sachin in the second innings of the match was also crucial.

"I am always excited. Whatever Sachin does, I am very excited. If he makes a double century I am all the more excited and if it is against Australia I am very excited. For me whatever he does I am very happy. Today, according to me his 53 was also very important, so I feel equally happy with that as long as we win," said Anjali.

Tendulkar claims top spot in ICC Test ratings

Sachin Tendulkar has surged to the top spot in the ICC Test rankings for batsmen, for the first time since 2002. Tendulkar’s heroics in the Test series against Australia earned him 82 rating points, taking him to 891, 17 clear of Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara in the second spot. Virender Sehwag, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Mahela Jayawardene completed the top five.

This is the tenth time Tendulkar has become the top-ranked Test batsman in the world, and the first since the new ratings system came into place. He held the position for the first time in 1994, ahead of consistent runs at the top in the late 90s and early 2000s. His ascension comes close on the heels of his inning the ICC Cricketer of the Year award. Tendulkar has enjoyed a windfall 2010, topping the run charts with 1270 runs, inclusive of four centuries and two double-hundreds. With India set to play three Tests against New Zealand at home and three Tests in South Africa in the immediate future, Tendulkar has the opportunity to better his career-best rating of 898 and become the 26th batsman to cross the 900-point mark.


List of dates when Sachin Tendulkar claimed top spot:

01. Nov 18, 1994 (34 & 85 v WI in Mumbai)

02. Mar 6, 1998 (4 & 155 v Aus in Chennai)

03. Oct 15, 1998 (By default, above Steve Waugh)

04. Dec 26, 1998 (47 &113 v NZ in Wellington)

05. Jan 28, 1998 (0 & 136 v Pak in Chennai)

06. May 18, 2000 (By default, above Brian Lara)

07. Feb 21, 2002 (176 v Zimbabwe in Nagpur)

08. Aug 22, 2002 (193 v England in Leeds)

09. Oct 13, 2010 (212 & 53* v Aus in Bangalore)

It was a great team effort: Tendulkar

After playing the role of a sheet-anchor in India's 2-0 whitewash of Australia, Sachin Tendulkar on Wednesday said the fabulous Test series win was the result of a great team effort.

India beat Australia in the Mohali Test by one wicket and registered a comprehensive seven-wicket win today to complete their first ever series whitewash of Australia.

Tendulkar was adjudged both Man-of-the-Match and Man-of-the-Series for scoring 403 runs, highest in the series.

"It was a fantastic series. I would like to congratulate the whole team. (VVS) Laxman helped us win the first Test at Mohali with Ishant Sharma. And in this match, Murali Vijay, Pragyan Ojha, Harbhajan and S Sreesanth put up great efforts.

It was a great team effort," Tendulkar said after India's win.

Asked if his side had doubts chasing 207 for a win on the last day, Tendulkar said youngsters played well under trying situations and singled out Pujara for special praise.

"It was going to be difficult. Chasing a 200-plus on a track where the ball is going up and down, it was tough.

Cheteshwar Pujara showed a lot of character. His partnership with Murali Vijay was crucial. The team was determined," he said.

Pujara made a fluent 72 on debut and shared two crucial partnerships with Vijay and Tendulkar in India's comfortable win.

Tendulkar is in red-hot form these days as runs continue to flow from his bat, but he was not interested in speaking much about that and prefers that his bat does all the talking.

"I don't like to count, I am just happy to score. Let others count. There are still some niggle but you forget once you cross the rope. Generally working hard. The trainers are keeping me fit," he said.

Sachin Tendulkar's records during his 171st Test Match

- Became the first batsman, when on 27, to surpass 14, 000 runs in Test cricket in what was his 171st match.

- His 49th Test century, scored a day earlier, was also his 11th against Australia. That put him second on the all time list behind Jack Hobbs. It was also his first century at the Chinnaswamy in 12 years -- after his 177 against Australia in 1998.

- When on 116, he also completed 3000 Test runs against Australia, thereby becoming only the third batsman -- after Hobbs (3636) and David Gower (3269) to achieve the feat.

- When he went past 150 for the 20th time in Tests, he surpassed Brian Lara's record of 19 150-plus scores. It was also his sixth score of 150-plus against Australia, going past Wally Hammond and Lara who have five each.

- In scoring his sixth double, he joined Virender Sehwag as the Indians with the most double hundreds in Tests.

- Amidst all these, Tendulkar also became the highest scorer at the M Chinnaswamy stadium -- with 772 runs in eight Tests.

- And he remains the batsman with most runs in 2010 -- 1217 runs in nine Tests

Tendulkar better than ever

Sachin Tendulkar has been in awesome form in 2010, and the journey from 13,000 to 14,000 runs has taken him the fewest number of innings

Sachin Tendulkar is getting older, and his skills are getting better and better. At the ripe age of 37 years and 169 days, Tendulkar has become the first batsman to get to 14,000 Test runs. Even better than the fact that he got there was the manner in which he raced from 13,000 to 14,000. If the question were asked, "Is Tendulkar playing the best he ever has?", the answer could well be, "Yes, he is."

Tendulkar reached 13,000 early this year, against Bangladesh in Chittagong. At the end of that match, he had 13,091 runs; since then, he has required only 12 more innings to crack the 14,000 mark, averaging more than 84 during this period, which is the highest he has ever averaged to get from one 1000-run mark to the next. Twelve innings is the least he has needed ever, and he has scored an amazing four hundreds and three fifties - including a 98 in the previous Test - during this period.

Tendulkar's career in 1000-run intervals

Runs	Innings	Average	50s	100s
1,000	29	39.96	4	4
2,000	16	72.61	6	3
3,000	23	50.66	5	3
4,000	19	56.61	3	4
5,000	16	59.60	2	4
6,000	18	69.06	4	4
7,000	16	75.21	4	4
8,000	17	57.18	4	3
9,000	26	54.82	5	3
10,000	16	62.46	4	2
11,000	28	38.07	3	3
12,000	24	46.19	2	6
13,000	19	65.87	4	5
14,000	12	84.18	3	4

The year 2010 has been a spectacular one for Tendulkar. He has already passed 1000 runs for the year for a record sixth time (Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting and Mathew Hayden have done it five times), and given India's calendar for the rest of the year, he has a chance to go much further. After this Test in Bangalore, India have five more coming up before the end of the year - three at home against New Zealand, and two in South Africa. That should give Tendulkar ample opportunity to make 2010 his most prolific one ever - the highest he has scored in a year so far is 1392 in 16 Tests in 2002. He played 26 innings that year, averaged 55.68 and scored four hundreds. In 14 innings in 2010, he has already scored five hundreds and averages 87.25. At this rate, he is certainly within reach of the record for most hundreds in a calendar year - Mohammad Yousuf's nine in 2006 - though the record for most runs - Yousuf's 1788 the same year - might be a bit of a stretch.

Tendulkar's awesome run over the last four years has just increased the distance between him and Ponting in the race for the highest all-time run-getter. At the end of 2006, Tendulkar, with an aggregate of 10,590 runs, was 1267 ahead of Ponting's 9323. More importantly, Ponting seemed to have all the momentum - he averaged 88.86 in 2006 and scored seven centuries from ten matches, while Tendulkar averaged 24.27, with no centuries in eight Tests. In that year alone, Ponting scored 1066 runs more than Tendulkar. Since then, though, it's been all Tendulkar, and the gap between him and Ponting has increased to 1839.

Sachin Tendulkar completes 14,000 runs in Test cricket

Having been the first one to reach quite a few landmarks, the legendary Sachin Tendulkar on Sunday became the first person in the history of Test cricket to complete 14,000 runs. Tendulkar cut off-spinner Nathan Hauritz's delivery through coverpoint to hit a boundary and accomplished the feat.

It was the fourth delivery of the 27th over of the Indian innings.

Incidentally, it was during Australia's last tour of India, Sachin crossed Brian Lara's record of most number of runs in Test cricket.

Tendulkar best cricketer in world: Ganguly

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly on Saturday said Sachin Tendulkar is the best cricketer in the world.

Having played together for years till he retired from international cricket, Ganguly said: "I haven't seen Sir Donald Bradman playing, but I have seen Sachin. To me, he himself is a milestone, and the best cricketer in the world."

The Bengal ace said Tendulkar, who has been bestowed with the the ICC Cricketer of the Year, is the role model for many.

"He is 37 now and is still going strong. He has proved that performance is the last word in cricket," Ganguly said.

The Big Three of Indian cricket - Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman - are difficult to replace.

"After they retire, the gap can be filled in. But it would be difficult to replace them. These players are a class apart," he said.

No award can scale Sachin's greatness: Kapil

India's only World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev on Thursday said no award could actually determine the greatness of Sachin Tendulkar, who has been named as the ICC Cricketer of the Year.

Reacting to the batting maestro's winning his first ICC award on Wednesday, the legendary all-rounder said: "He doesn't require any award. Sachin is so great that no award can measure him."

Sachin on ICC award: Better late than never!

Sachin Tendulkar has won his first ICC award, the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, by being named the Cricketer of the Year during the 2010 ICC Award ceremony in Bangalore. He also won the LG People's Choice Award for 2010.

Tendulkar spoke to NDTV in an exclusive interview after the ceremony. Here is the transcript.

NDTV: Well.. ICC cricketer of the year and of course people's choice also, Sachin many many congratulations. Of course it's very special coming as it does a day after the spectacular win coming from Mohali. Were you at any point nervous, like the rest of us chewing on our nails?

Sachin Tendulkar: Yes, we were actually sitting in the dressing room..I was sitting with MS, Sehwag.. Ya, I mean only three of us basically, and we had one topic going on and we didn't want to change that topic. We ran out of stories but we said no, we need to continue doing that, a bit of superstitious thing but it was fantastic victory and unbelievable what Laxman did for us and also not to forget what a tremendous character Ishant Sharma has shown.

NDTV: Sachin speaking of tremendous achievement, a huge achievement for you today, two awards, a surprise really for all of us who've followed your career that this is the first time you are actually getting the award.

Sachin Tendulkar: It's better late than never. You keep working hard for it and you know it's come in the 21st year of my international career. So, it's fantastic. As I said earlier, better late than never..so it feels great.

NDTV: And Sachin so many awards like the Padma Bhushan, the Khel Ratna..where does this rank in terms of the fact you have a glittering trophy cabinet and you're adding these trophies to it every year?

Sachin Tendulkar: This is wonderful but obviously I wouldn't want to compare this to Padma Vibhushan and the other awards. They have a different meaning altogether for me. It's the second highest civilian award, so I mean it's something really really special and I treasure all the awards, but well..the last thing I want to do is to compare them to one another as I've always maintained that the Padma Vibhushan award is always going to be special one.

NDTV: Right..you mentioned these awards, I'm sure you've got many many more to go and you've really got enough of them all over your house I'm sure but there are so many people, so many cricketers who say that they would pay to see you play. Who would you pay for Sachin..is there anyone out there?

Sachin Tendulkar: Two of my cricketing heroes obviously... Sunil Gavaskar and Vivian Richards. I've seen them, both of them play but I've never seen Sir Garfield Sobers or Sir Donald Bradman live. So, that's something I would have loved to do.

NDTV: Sachin, in your formative years, there was tremendous amount of competition from the bowlers that you faced, whether it was Curtley Ambrose, Courtney Walsh or Waqar, Wasim, Shane Warne. Somehow that seems to have changed. Do you miss the fact that you wish you had more competitive bowlers and really those legends bowling against you?

Sachin Tendulkar: See you're talking about Shane Warne, Muralitharan, Mc Grath, Wasim all these bowlers, they didn't become great bowlers overnight. It took them good 15 years to become what they are today and similarly there are many talented bowlers playing...to name a few, I mean obviously Milstein then so many bowlers, I mean I wouldn't want to single them out but there are world class bowlers playing at the moment. In time to come, like in ten years from now, they'll all be in the same league. Most of them would have 400 to 500 plus wickets. So you know it doesn't happen overnight and you've just got to wait for 10-15 years to allow a player to showcase the talent that he has and so that the whole world appreciates what his contribution to cricket is.

NDTV: We'll of course wait to see where you are Sachin at that much time 10 years, 20 years. What if you compare yourself to what you were 15 years ago? Sehwag, for instance, says the hair on his head has got thinner, what for you has changed?

Sachin Tendulkar: Maybe my hair are greyer now! So Ya I think plenty has changed since then, the cricket itself has changed, the way the whole team is managed has changed, the pre match preparations have changed, the post match recovery has changed All these things have changed in the last 15 years, 15 years is a long time and it'll continue to change.

NDTV: What about you personally? I would imagine with time things do slow down, body slows down physically it gets a little more challenging, so how do you really make up? You just seem to be growing from strength to strength.

Sachin Tendulkar: It's a challenge which you just have to take it in the stride, and work harder. I've enjoyed my game, it's but natural that when you're a 20-21 year old, your body is different and when you are 37, your body is different. But it's a challenge that I really enjoy..

NDTV: You managed to fool us really well there Really.

Sachin Tendulkar: And it has been wonderful working hard. I'd like to thank all my team mates for having supported me and also the support staff.. .our coach Garry, he has really really worked hard. He has thrown millions and millions of balls at us in the nets, and that's what keeps us going and it allows us to be in good space, good frame of mind and I spoke earlier of pre match preparations it has really helped.

NDTV: Sachin the last time we spoke to you, you spoke about how it would be a dream to play the World Cup that seems a very real possibility now since its only 4-5 months away.

Sachin Tendulkar: Yes, the World Cup is round the corner we are 5-6 months away from the Cup, the tournament. I would want to be in top condition to play the tournament and not only me but the whole team will do everything possible to make sure we are in the right frame of mind and top condition to play.

NDTV: And how do you see India's chances? They're doing wonderfully number one test team , how do you see it going into the World Cup, the way the team is shaping up?

Sachin Tendulkar: Well I don't want to put any pressure on the team mates or rather on myself, just take it in the stride and as I said earlier. Prepare to the best of your ability and before the tournament, one should not feel that no we weren't well prepared enough to participate in the tournament. So, that is what our first goal will be to make sure that the preparations are there to the fullest.

NDTV: Sachin, besides the on field action, it's all the off field controversies that have been dominating cricket this year also we saw the unfortunate episodes with fixing, etc. You're perhaps cricket's biggest playing ambassador at the moment, how do you suggest it be handled because the temptation is enormous for the youngsters?

Sachin Tendulkar: I'm not an expert to give advice on this but the simple fact is I take lot of pride in playing for India. I should be able to sleep well at night and wake up the next morning and feel proud of the fact that I've been able to this for the last 20 years -21 years and for me it's simple, I'll continue to do that. I know I'm on the right track I need not worry about anything else and as an individual I can say that I'll continue to do whatever I've done for the past 21 years and it is as simple as that for me.

NDTV: That is all that we really ask of you Sachin On a lighter note and our final question really What is Arjun going to say when he sees the awards, he always keeps advising you "Papa should do this." So, what'll he say when he sees that piece of metal and these two awards really?

Sachin Tendulkar: Well I'm sure he'll be thrilled, I don't know if he's watching this program or not but he had his birthday on the 24th of last month and my daughter's birthday, Sarah will be on 12th of October so this is for both of them It is a wonderful gift to give!

NDTV: Thank you Sachin

Sachin Tendulkar: Thankyou

Tendulkar named cricketer of the year

Veteran batsman Sachin Tendulkar has won the ICC's prestigious cricketer of the year award for the first time, reflecting the Indian's continued assault on the record books.

The 37-year-old became the first man to score 200 in a one-day international, in February against South Africa, and has extended his record of Test runs and centuries to 13,973 and 48.

He headed off teammate Virender Sehwag, South Africa batsman Hashim Amla and England spinner Graeme Swann to claim the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy -- his first International Cricket Council award of any type -- along with the People's Choice prize.

"I'm really excited to have won two awards, and this last season for the entire team has been really special," he said at the ceremony in the Indian city of Bangalore on Wednesday.

"To win both of these awards tonight is special, and it's the game's way of appreciating someone's performance. It feels great to have two trophies in front of me and I am feeling very proud and happy."

In the period the award covers, Tendulkar scored 1,064 runs at an average of 81.84 in 10 Tests and 914 runs in 17 ODIs at 65.28.

He has risen to third in the Test rankings, his highest position since 2002, following scores of 98 and 38 in Tuesday's one-wicket win over Australia in the opening match in Mohali.

Tendulkar is the first Indian to win the award since Rahul Dravid in 2004, while opening batsman Sehwag was named Test player of the year.

India's ranking as No. 1 Test side in the world was reflected by the presence of Sehwag, Tendulkar and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the ICC team of the year, which also features Amla, Swann, South Africa's Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn, Australia's Simon Katich and Doug Bollinger, England's James Anderson and Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara.

Tendulkar was also named in the one-day team of the year, which includes ODI award winner AB de Villiers of South Africa, Dhoni and five Australians: captain Ricky Ponting, Bollinger, Ryan Harris, Mike Hussey and Shane Watson. English all-rounders Paul Collingwood and Stuart Broad were also selected along with New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori.

Brendon McCullum won the Twenty20 performance of the year for his 116 not out off 56 balls against Australia in February, while his New Zealand team took the Spirit of Cricket award for the second year in a row.

Young England fast bowler Steve Finn won the emerging player award, with the tall 21-year-old having taken 21 wickets in six Tests in the qualifying period.

Shelley Nitschke became the second Australian to win the women's cricketer of the year award, following Karen Rolton in 2006, while Aleem Dar of the Emirates retained his umpire of the year prize.