Sachin Tendulkar's run-out unjustified: MS Dhoni

India captain MS Dhoni believed it wasn't right on bowler Brett Lee's part to cross the pitch and then stand in the way of Sachin Tendulkar, who was trying to make it to the striker's end.

"I don't think he can justify the fact that Lee was going towards the point fielder. I don't think he had a business to do it. And then he decided to stop right in front of Tendulkar which meant you have to take a longer way across him, leading to the run-out,” Dhoni said


"I personally thought it was a bit unjustified for Tendulkar. He had to take that extra yards. Billy (Bowden) should have said something, he was in a position to see where exactly the bowler was and where he stopped because it was very difficult for Simon (Taufel) to take a call because he had no clue which angle the batsman was running and where Lee actually stopped."

Another controversial incident in the match was the turning down of obstructing the field' appeal against David Hussey and Dhoni maintained that umpire Billy Bowden erred in not declaring the Australian batsman out after the Indians appealed.

"I think David was really lucky not being given out. He (David) thought he was protecting his face but his hand was too far ahead. I don't know why he was not given out. We were at receiving end of both umpires," said Dhoni.

The incident happened in the 24th over of the Australian innings when they were at a precarious 119 for four with wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade taking off for a single off R Ashwin's final delivery.

Non-striker David Hussey answered his partner's call but as he was completing the run, the Australian put his right hand out to stop the ball from hitting him.

Dhoni was not quite happy with the eventual decision and was seen having a chat with Bowden about it for quite some while.

Asked what Bowden said to him when he spoke after David Hussey was not given out, Dhoni said, "What Billy said was, the first part I am missing, that was about whether he took the decision or the third umpire took the decision. What he told was that the umpire thought David was defending himself or saving himself and so he was not given out.

"But his (David's) hand was in too far ahead in front of his face," said Dhoni.

"In Brisbane in the first game (against Australia last week) Vinay was bowling. We had a slip and no midwicket. The ball went to the point fielder. Vinay crossed over the pitch and coming towards midwicket in a brisk pace for the (point) fielder to have a shy at the stumps. Umpires said (to Vinay) you are not allowed to do that. But he was doing something which was well within the laws of the game."

Nobody available to replace Sachin Tendulkar, says Vengsarkar

Former India skipper Dilip Vengsarkar on Thursday slammed suggestions in the media and views of another former captain Kapil Dev that Sachin Tendulkar should quit one-day cricket, saying that the master batsman needed no advice on this issue.

"There is no need to advise a legend to hang his boots when he himself, I am sure, will do so when the time is right for him to do so," said Vengsarkar, a former chief selector, in a statement issued here.

Kapil Dev had said that Sachin should have quit after the World Cup victory.

"In my opinion, he should have quit ODI on a high after India won the World Cup....But it's for him to decide," Kapil had said.

Vengsarkar, said that even at the age of 39, Tendulkar was as fit as anyone in the Indian team.

He also said that Indian team's bench strength was poor, and there is none to fill in the boots when great players like Tendulkar leave the scene.

"I really wonder whether India has a player of Sachin's class in its midst at the moment. Our bench strength is not at all that solid whereby we can hope to fill the void left by some great players in time to come," he said.

"Sachin may be nearing 39 years, but I strongly feel that he is as fit and as charged up, if not more, than any of the players playing for India at present. His focus, dedication, and commitment to the team is unparalleled to say the least.

"Sachin's sheer presence can mould the future generation of Indian cricketers....the Mumbai team of yesteryears was strong because we had Test players playing club and inter-office cricket regularly in Mumbai. This helped upcoming, young cricketers immensely," Vengsarkar said.

Sachin Tendulkar wins ESPNcricinfo Test batting award

Iconic Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has bagged the fifth ESPNcricinfo best batting performance award in Tests beating the likes of his compatriot Rahul Dravid and Australian skipper Michael Clarke.

Tendulkar, whose 146 in Cape Town in 2011 came in testing conditions and in the face of some sublime swing bowling by Dale Steyn, became the No. 1 choice of seven jurors out of the 11 who had him in their top three.

The Test batting category had the widest gap between the winner and number two position -- six points separated Tendulkar's innings from Michael Clarke's 151, also scored in Cape Town in the Test in which Australia dismissed South Africa for 96 and were then bowled out in their second innings for 47.

It was Tendulkar's second ESPNcricinfo Award. He had won the ODI batting performance in 2009 for his 175 against Australia in Hyderabad.

The awards were decided by a 16-member jury that included former players Ian Chappell, Ian Bishop, Ramiz Raja, Kepler Wessels, Geoff Boycott, Martin Crowe, Sanjay Manjrekar and Russel Arnold, and ESPNcricinfo's senior writers.

The jurors were asked to pick their top three performances in each category from a shortlist of nominees.

Former Aussie captain Chappell said Tendulkar showed true class during his 146.

"He faced 314 balls which is not Tendulkar-like, the strike rate, but these were precious runs. This was another side of Tendulkar, just showing his greatness -- his ability to make runs when things were really tough, and he really had to battle," said Chappell.

A player like Sachin Tendulkar cannot be rested: Akram

Baffled with the rotation policy, former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram said it does not work in the sub-continent and the Indian team management should not have rested a player of Sachin Tendulkar's stature.

"Don't experiment with Sachin Tendulkar," warned Akram. "Rotation policy does not work in our part of the world. A player like Tendulkar cannot be rested. I mean, India did win without Tendulkar in Adelaide, but his presence always plays on the mind of the rival team. That's why he is a Tendulkar. His stature is just too big to ignore," he added.



The former speedster wondered if there were any fitness issues but said Tendulkar must play all matches.

"When you have doubts about Tendulkar's ability and preparedness, then there is something wrong with the team management.

"If you have a Tendulkar in the squad, you cannot afford to have him on the bench. He must play all games," Akram told a website.

The selectors might have given rest to the iconic batsman to ensure that Tendulkar is better prepared to score his 100th international century, but Akram felt the only way to make Tendulkar get to the landmark is to play him.

"If that's the objective then let Tendulkar achieve the milestone...If he gets a century, the whole team profits. And in any case, the rotation policy should be applicable for all 11 positions," he insisted.

Akram said though giving chance to youngsters is a step in the right direction, it raises questions on the future of senior players and Tendulkar also comes in the frame.

"Tendulkar is the greatest Indian player. When and how he wants to leave should be left to him. The BCCI and the selectors should have a chat with him. If he wants to play the 2015 World Cup, then fair enough. But if I was Tendulkar, I would opt out of ODIs and extend my Test career."