SRT's consistency

Gokul Chakravarthy, a great mate of mine, writes a stats-based article analysing SRT's consistency and where he ranks among the big stars in the history. The result is interesting

While Rohit Brijnath, that wonderful writer, shares his thoughts on the man

Too much and too long we go on about Tendulkar's batting style these days, should he play demonically or austerely, a debate hurled back and forth with no finish line in sight, but it's not this minor matter that has changed that is relevant, but what has stayed mostly unchanged. Him.

India is not what it was since Tendulkar took his initial Test stance. Political parties have changed places, new states have sprung up, riots have asked questions of our values, a middle-class has grown wealthy, war and peace has been found with Pakistan, nature and man have had their cruel say. It is an India unrecognisable from 1989. But he is the same. He is an adult, he is a father, he is a husband, of course, but he is still unspoilt, still honourable, still self-effacing. He is an advertisement for the best in sport.

Let us get this out of the way quickly. He was silly for asking for duty on his Ferrari to be waived. He was indicted for ball tampering but that was a joke, this man is no cheat. Perhaps, too, there is the odd other complaint. Of course, he is no perfect man, no saint in virginal white, but in 16 years are these the only blemishes we can find?