"Yet another Sachin Failure" - The story behind : Anon Payn

One bad series from the Master (read: Test Series in Sri Lanka) and we have these so called cricket
analysts mushrooming from all corners claiming it to be "yet another failure" when the fact remains
that despite all the talk of India's fab four, Tendulkar remains India's premier bet.
The last time he was written off was after the 2007 World Cup, when he had performed reasonably
well in the series before that winning the "Man of the Series" in the ODI series against the West
Indies at home.
True the loaded Indian batting line up couldn't find their way past Bangladesh in that tournament
once Sachin failed. Another failure against the Lankans encouraged some publicity hungry maniacs to
make uncalled for statements like "He should take a look in the mirror" and "He's just a comic hero
now".
Perhaps Sachin remains the only batsman in cricket history to be criticized so heavily for two
failures, don't remember any of the Chappell brothers commenting on Inzy's retirement when he
returned binary figures in 2003 World Cup.
Now let's see what transpired after the WC 07.
Test Tour of Bangladesh Series: Tendulkar wins the mantle of "Minnow Basher", piling two tons and
getting adjudged the "Man of the Series".
Future Cup in Ireland (ODIs): With scores like 99, 93 and 8 from three innings against South Africa
Sachin top scores in the series, once again taking away the honors. But he manages only 4 against
the mighty Irish attack.
Tour of England (Tests): Chooses to look ordinary to play two crucial innings of 91 and 82 which are
instrumental in India beating England in England for the first time in a Test series since 1986. Is
criticized for not hooking when a deep square leg is intentionally placed and the bowlers are
deliberately bowling short.
Tour of England (ODIs): With scores of 99, 55, 72 and 94 Sachin proves to be India's most effective
and highest scoring batsman yet again. India go 3-1 down in the series after 4 matches, but riding
on the back of knocks such as 72 in 59 balls and 94 in 81 from the Premier Batsman of the World,
India take it to the last match . Is a victim of two massive umpiring blunders, one of them denying
him a ton by one run, and the other in the final ODI. Is still criticized for not playing a match
winning knock in the final. (Interestingly for Sachin critics it's only the last match of a series that
always matters!)
Australia's Tour of India (ODIs): Tendulkar again amongst runs when most other bats struggle. Two
knocks of over 70 and a one in the 40s come at important moments. Again the top scorer in the
series for India.
Pakistan's Tour of India (ODIs): Unforgettable knocks of 99 and 97 against Pakistan. The latter is
studded with 11 boundaries when he crosses 50.
Pakistan's Tour of India (Tests): An unbeaten fifty in the fourth inning at Delhi and score of over 80
in the first inning at Kolkata before injury strikes, curtailing the series with just three innings
played for Tendulkar.
Tour of Australia (Tests): Minnow bashing resumes down under. Sachin is the single most important
reason for India's fight in the ill tempered series. Top run getter for either side in the series with
493 runs, silencing critics with an inspiring, memorable and mesmerizing performance.
Tour of Australia (ODIs; Tri Series): Reverses law of averages, is dismissed cheaply in a few group
stage matches, but saves his best for the last. The last 3 innings produce scores of 63, 117* and 91.
The first ensures a birth in the best of three finals, and the latter two seal the tournament after
just the first two finals, encoring the famous Sharjah performance.
Nine good series sandwiched between two bad ones (the World Cup and the Sri Lanka Test series), out
of which the series against South Africa in Ireland, the English ODI series, the Tests and the CB
tri-series Down Under were definitely outstanding.
Not the story of a player who, apparently, plays a good knock only once in 6-7 years, and definitely
not of someone who is past his prime.
PS: By the way, didn't hear any suggestions for the miraculously consistent Jaques Kallis after a
disastrous England tour. Surprisingly, it wasn't even discussed as much as a single Tendulkar failure
is.