Sport Today

>> one interesting thing about Mike Hussey is that it has taken him so long
>> to get into the Aussie squad - not because of any fault on his part, just
>> because it's so ***y hard to get a spot, but he has been playing
>> awesomely for Western Australia for many years now.

>Ah yes, that old chestnut.

>There was a time around 2001-2003 when Hussey was scoring a remarkable
>number of runs in county cricket in England, and I wondered why he wasn't in
>the Australia team.  Somebody pointed out to me that his figures in the
>Sheffield Shield at that time were rather mediocre, which is indeed the
>case.  In four home seasons from 1998/99, he scored one century each season
>and mostly averaged under 40.

>Andrew

> > >   Tendulkar made his international debut against Pakistan in 1989.
> > >   From memory, he had a good tour (not sensational by any
> > >   standards); but good for a 16 year old. Unlike Raina, who hardly
> > >   played any Ranji Trophy matches, IIRC Tendulkar played almost
> > >   a season of Ranji cricket before he was picked for the Pakistan
> > >   tour. I do not recall anyone calling Tendulkar *great* in the year
> > >   1990. Even Gavaskar at that time, advised against any
> > >   comparisons between Tendulkar and himself.

> > >   In his debut series, he played a sensational knock against
> > >   Pakistan in an exhibition match, where he took Abdul Qadir
> > >   to the cleaners. But in his first one-dayer, Tendulkar scored
> > >   a duck. He also didn't have a great run in the Test matches
> > >   that followed. IIRC, he copped a few bouncers from Akram
> > >   and Younis in the Tests. But I think the idea of the
> > >   selectors to *** a young talent in the cauldron-like
> > >   atmosphere of India-Pakistan Test matches payed off.

> > >   In 1990, I recall that Tendulkar narrowly missed scoring his
> > >   first Test hundred on tour against New Zealand. IIRC, he
> > >   scored 88 and fell short of the century mark. Had he scored
> > >   a century in that innings, he would have been the youngest
> > >   ever batsman to score a Test century. He later scored a
> > >   century in the same year, against England, at Manchester.

> > >   From what I recall, Sachin made steady progress in his
> > >   first year of international cricket. The Indian cricket fans
> > >   were quite pleased in the cricketing talent that they saw
> > >   in this 17 year old lad, but none called him *great* at
> > >   that stage, at least. Some fans like yours truly, were
> > >   hoping that he would have the potential to take over
> > >   from SMG, but knowing what had happened to some
> > >   precocious talents like LS, Manninder and Sada; we
> > >   couldn't actually bet our house on that.

> > So, basically you are saying Tendulkar was hyped even before he did
> > anything meaningful. Then I don't see any problem with hyping someone
> > who averages 75+ in both forms of the game and is already World #1 in
> > ODI rankings

>    I am not saying anything. It is you who is attributing statements to
>    me. Tendulkar was not hyped in the year 1990. If you think
>    otherwise, then provide quotes from former players at that time
>    wherein you claim that Tendulkar was hyped as a *great* player.

>    In fact, Vinod Kambli  made a truly sensational debut in the 90's
>    (compared to Sachin) and around 1992/93 people were saying
>    that Kambli was the next great sensation in Indian cricket and
>    he would have a great future. Sadiq, Samarth and Uday can
>    testify to this.