Are Indian cricket fans being racists?

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Are Indian cricket fans being racists?

It has been said again and again that Ponting is no match to Tendulkar. Excuses have come up ranging from class to number of centuries and records. However, a sneak peak 'keeping aside sentiments' will give a clear indication.

CJ: Siddharth Chhottray

Sun, Sep 27, 2009 11:07:47 IST

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FURY AND rage are common when one compares Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar, the two stalwarts. Is it due to ignorance or racism as a result of tit for tat approach? Let's find it out.

The fury of Indian fan community to a mere comparison of two stalwarts has given a new dimension to this analysis. The Indian community always comments that the Aussies are racists. But, is it right on their part to ignore a living legend like Ponting and over shadow him due to Tendulkar’s presence?

It has been said again and again that Ponting is no match to Tendulkar. Excuses have come up ranging from class to number of centuries and records. However, a sneak peak ‘keeping aside sentiments’ will give a clear indication.

Without even checking the statistics of test cricket, a diehard fan will say Sachin is well ahead. In fact, Ponting has more runs per inning than Sachin and the difference in total runs is very less which shall definitely be covered. Thanks to Tendulkar’s injuries and Ponting’s additional two years.

In one-day internationals (ODIs), it is the other way round with Tenduladar averaging two points ahead of Ponting. So, no one can deny that Tendulkar has fared better in ODI format. Though, it might come as a shock that Ponting had held his top position in International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings for a longer period of 540 days than that Tendulkar (347 days).

After analysing both the formats, one can definitely say that they are world’s top batsmen who are at the same level.

Now comes the crux. Do Indians get carried away by mere batting skills or the overall contribution of their players? Is it justifiable to even think of comparing Tendulkar and Ponting as captains? It would be unfair for a cricket follower to deny that Tendulkar has been one of the biggest disasters as a captain. Many will come up with an excuse that Ponting had a better team at his disposal. But, one must remember that it is always important to extract the performances as a captain. In the same context, why do Indians say that Ganguly was a brave captain when he had the likes of Sachin and Dravid under him along with Kumble and other leading bowlers?

A few arguments have reached the height of weirdness with loyal fans stooping down to such a level and declaring that number of wrong decisions has put Tendulkar behind Ponting in tests! It sounds like wrong decisions were made only for him.

One more strange argument is that Tendulkar has faced the likes of Allan Donald and Walsh in the most difficult era. Is it even difficult than the era where West Indian tigers raced to the crease to deliver fiery bouncers with no safety equipment for batsmen?

Fans also say that such analysis has no sense as Sachin Tendulkar is different from the rest? In that case, what credibility do they put forward apart from blind obsession? The best possible answer would be that Bradman's compliment is above everything else. But, had Bradman seen the drop in Sachin's playing levels? As a matter of fact, can fans use such personal opinions as a shield for every question raised?

If one thinks over logically, definitely many new dimensions will come into this topic.

Is a diehard cricket lover showing too much of expected obsession towards Sachin and unkowingly criticising Ponting in the process? Or is it that they are being racists knowingly? The question still remains unsolved.

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Posted comments (5)

	No doubt, Ponting is a class act but why in the world would you like to give him the place and adulation that Sachin deserves. Sachin is Sachin and Ponting is Ponting. Just to criticize Sachin for the sake of criticizing has gained momentum in recent times- thanks to Sanjay manjarekar!! But the fact remains that Sachin is the greates of all the lot. Ponting hasn't faced the likes of MsGrawths , Warnes or Gillespies in his career as an international career. Despite hailing from not a good fast bowling region, Sachin has shown his supremacy over fast bowlers like a champion ina every condition around the world. The same doesn't stand for Ponting. Captainwiese Pnting may be ahead but as a player and a man of character Sachin is definetely notches ahead of Ponting taking into account the burden Sachin has carried over his shoulder for two decades!!!!!
	\| 29 September 2009 Reply to Comment \| New Comment \| Report Abuse

	The glory of cricket lies in the fact that it is a gentleman's game. If you compare gentlemanly behaviour both on and off the field, Sachin stands head and shoulders above all other cricketers in the last 20 years....yes! above all the other cricketers. Cricket is not only a game but a test of character and in that respect Sachin needs to be emulated by future generations of cricketers. And the respect he commands both among his generation of cricketers and over his fans will never be achieved by Ponting throughout his cricketing career. Is it correct Siddharth? Good piece of analysis. Usage of more stats would improve the quality of your writings.
	\| 29 September 2009 Reply to Comment \| New Comment \| Report Abuse

	Its not about records or stats...its about how you conduct your batting on the feild. Both have been majestic but while sachin has hardly any weakness, ricky struggles against spin big time. No bowler in this world can claim they have dominated Sachin ..(even great Mcgrath and Wasim said Sachin won their overall duals..lets not even go to spinners..) but ricky obviously has shortcomings against Spin. He was harbhajan's bunny for a while....also quicky Ishant had him under ropes...he has lost his duals with murali...I am not saying anything bad about ricky...he is great...but Lara and Sachin are only two batsmen I have seen in last 20 years who were complete in all sense...not just records...
	\| 28 September 2009 Reply to Comment \| New Comment \| Report Abuse