Sachin never treated the game as source of income: Ranatunga

The glamour and glitz of Twenty20 has had its adverse affect on Test cricket and only someone of Sachin Tendulkar's stature can help restore the waning popularity of the traditional form of the game, feels former Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga.

The Lankan captain lavished praise on Sachin for not treating the game as a source of income.

"Sachin is an iconic figure. We need cricketers like him to save Test cricket. As long as Sachin is playing, I am sure Test cricket is safe," Rantunga said from Colombo while congratulating the champion batsman on his 50th Test century.

"He has been playing for more than 20 years now. I think he is a rare cricketer who does not consider cricket as a source of income. This is the secret of his longevity and phenomenal success as well," the cricketer turned politician said.

The skipper of the 1996 World cup winning Lankan team also believes that some of the greatest attributes of Sachin like dedication, commitment and passion for the game is lacking in cricketers of modern era.

"Sachin has sacrificed a lot to reach the pinnacle. He has sacrificed playing T20 international cricket which is all about money and glamour.

"I have not seen Sir Don playing but Sachin is the best batman in modern era. It is not fair to compare two legends of different generation. Bradman was the best in his era and Sachin is the best in his era," said Ranatunga.

Rantunga also dismissed criticism that Sachin hasn't been a match-winner or a finisher of the game.

"I don't endorse these kind of media generated arguments. This man has scored so many runs, centuries and has played several crucial knocks. What else do you expect from him?" said the burly former Lankan captain.

He feels that it was privilege to compete with Sachin for more than a decade.

"Sachin is very humble. A real gentleman. He is very down to earth despite his stupendous achievements. I consider myself fortunate that I have played enough cricket against him," said Ranatunga who had retired after the 1999 World Cup.

Ranatunga feels that it's entirely upto Sachin as to how long he wants to continue playing.

"It is upto him as to how long he wants to play. As far as I am concerned, we are fortunate that we can watch him bat. Once he retires, the cricket fraternity will need him even more as he will remain the biggest ambassador of the game," Ranatunga concluded.

This ton is for my dad: Tendulkar

The mind went back to the 1999 World Cup in England. Sachin Tendulkar had to rush back to India after losing his father midway through the event. Tendulkar stayed in Mumbai for two days, then returned to England to do duty for the country and promptly score a century, against Kenya. Upon reaching three figures, Tendulkar looked heavenwards, stood still for a moment before acknowledging the cheers from the fans. He later said that he was looking upwards, hoping his father would have seen him do well and would be proud of his son.

On Sunday, as India celebrated his 50th Test century, Tendulkar again remembered his father. "Yesterday (Saturday) was my father's birthday. I dedicate this century to him. The first thing I thought of after reaching the hundred was my father."

Tendulkar, who thanked his fans for their 'fabulous' support over the years, said he was happy that the landmark is done with. Was he under any pressure because of the huge expectation? "You guys only created it," Tendulkar said pointing at the media, at the post-match PC. "You built the foundation on which I constructed my innings today."

Tendulkar was not sure how he should react when asked about his feelings. "Can't say how I'm feeling. I'm happy... Can't really express how I'm feeling."

But when a local journalist asked him if records meant a lot to him, Tendulkar reacted sharply. "I play for the love of the game. I have often requested for time out from cricket so that I can come back refreshed and fit. The Board has given me the rest. If I was after records, I won't ask for rest."

While reiterating that the toss played a crucial role in the Test, Tendulkar said that it could not be an excuse for the team. "The conditions were different on different days but we've to take that." He stressed that a good showing in the second innings was essential for India. "We needed to send a strong message that we're here to fight and I think we've done that."

What about his prolific batting in 2010 in which he has seven centuries in 13 Tests? Tendulkar's simple explanation was, "I've been playing well, been enjoying my batting. And in the last couple of years, I've been moving well."

Tendulkar also spoke to his fans back home in Hindi and Marathi before letting the TV cameras swarm all over him. Tough job, this man has. On the field, and off it.

Tendulkar Hits 50th Test Ton

He made his test debut as a 16-year-old in 1989, so Sachin Tendulkar has 21 years in international cricket to reflect on. This year has been one of his best.

Tendulkar, now 37, capped 2010 with an unprecedented 50th career test century for India on day four of the first test against South Africa on Sunday. He now has 11 more centuries and over 2,000 more runs than his nearest rival.

With a record 175 tests and more than two decades at the crease, he should be slowing down or winding up. Not the little master.

Mr. Tendulkar began this year by making 200 in a one-day international, also against South Africa, the only time a batsman has achieved the feat.

He became the first man to 13,000 and then 14,000 test runs. He already has over 3,000 more ODI runs than anyone else.

In 2010, he passed Steve Waugh's 168 test appearances to become the most capped player ever. And he won the International Cricket Council's player of the year award. Now he's scored test century No. 50.

The appetite for runs, and success, hasn't been sated.

"Every innings I want to go out and score runs," Mr. Tendulkar said after Sunday's century. "There has never been a match when I've said, "If I get out early, it's OK." I've never thought like that. So it's extremely important to have that hunger and it's the hunger that keeps one going.

"I'm glad that it's still there."

So is India.

Mr. Tendulkar has been a key part of its recent rise to the top of the test rankings. He is the world's most worshipped cricketer, the biggest sporting star in India, and the game's most successful batsman.

His post-match news conference on Sunday was carried live on TV back in India. Indian reporters said the 50th hundred was what the entire nation was waiting for, what all Indians were hoping for.

They weren't exaggerating.

Mr. Tendulkar has carried the expectations of a country of cricket fans for the best part of two decades. It hasn't appeared to affect his run-making, and certainly didn't in 2010.

In tests, he has powered to seven centuries this year, two of them double hundreds, for the second-highest return in a calendar year after Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf's nine 100s in 2006. Mr. Tendulkar still has one test to play this year.

"I've just been batting, and enjoying my batting," he said. "Sometimes you are striking the ball really well and that is the time you need to cash in as much as possible. I've tried to do that.

"Every time I go out, the country needs me .. it's never, If I don't score it doesn't matter."

None can come anywhere close to Sachin's record: Richards

Sachin Tendulkar's career longevity and his remarkable achievements make him a class apart, according to the legendary Sir Vivian Richards who reckons that the Indian maestro has set benchmarks that no other contemporary cricketer can come anywhere close to.

Richards said Tendulkar has survived for so long in international cricket because of his "amazing dedication" and it was only a matter of time when he scripts history by becoming the first cricketer to score 50 Test centuries.

"He can certainly achieve that (scoring 50 Test centuries). I think the way the games are going at present, it would be very difficult for anyone to break that record. He is way ahead of others," Richards said in an interview here today.

Richards, one of the most destructive batsman of his era, said only Australian captain Ricky Ponting had a slim chance of coming anywhere near Tendulkar's records among contemporary cricketers.

"I can't see any individual, the closest guy who would come to that may be Ricky (Ponting). But the way things are going on in Australia, they are calling for his head, so I don't know really know how long he will be around. He is the only individual I think who could be close to Sachin's record. But I think it would be hard to surpass," he said.

The West Indian batting great attributed Tendulkar's longevity to the way he has conducted himself right through his career and his discipline among other things.

"Tendulkar is 37, still going great. It's all about how you have conducted yourself. I guess there were times when it looked pretty doubtful with injuries, starting with the back, would have most certainly affected his career but it's due to persistence, dedication, discipline and confidence that you survive for so long," he explained.

Mumbai Indians retain Tendulkar, Harbhajan, Pollard and Malinga

Mumbai Indians have informed the BCCI-owned Indian Premier League that they were retaining four players Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, West Indian Kieron Pollard and Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga for the next two seasons.

"Mumbai Indians have confirmed that we are retaining two players - Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh - among Indians and two foreign players - Kieron Pollard and Lasith Malinga," a MI spokesperson said on Wednesday.

The MI official also claimed that the franchisees have the option of retaining more than one foreigner in their squad as per the decision of the IPL governing council on retention of players.

A media release issued by the BCCI over player retention after the meeting of the IPL GC on September 5 stated: "Up to including four players per franchise may be signed for retention of which only up to three shall be Indian players. The Player must have been included in the franchise's registered squad for the 2010 season.

"The franchise and player must mutually agree to be retained and the player fee to be paid by the franchise to the player for the 2011 and 2012 Seasons."

As a result of MI's decision to retain all four players as permitted, the franchise will have only $4.5 million at their disposal for buying the remaining members for 2011 and 2012 at next month's player auction as its salary cap has been halved.

The player contract will be for a period of two years plus one year right of extension by franchise, as per the decision of the IPL's governing council.