Ricky Ponting recently said something very interesting – “I am past my best as a player, but so is Sachin Tendulkar”
To put things into perspective, this year, Sachin has scored 9 test hundreds, averages 60+, has a 200 in a one day match and the ICC player of the year award in his kitty. So, can Ponting’s words be dismissed as just a jealous opponent’s frustration or is there really some truth in what he says?
One thing is certain. The Sachin of 1998 was very different from Sachin of 2010. While then, he used to charge down the track to the fastest bowlers in the world, today, he stays within his crease, but scores as many runs. If earlier, he used to decimate the opposition’s bowling with relentless attack, today he tires them out by playing more quietly. He used to hit even the good balls to the boundary earlier, but now he plays the bowling on merit. One thing has remained constant though, he is still the prized scalp for the opposition and he still scores runs with absolute consistency.
The point is, which Tendulkar will you pay to watch? Personally, I would any day prefer to watch the Tendulkar of 90s, who used to get even the commentators all excited with his breath taking shots! Remember Tony Graig going totally berserk doing commentary in that famous Sharjah match against Australia? This is the Tendulkar, who used to scare the bowlers and who would be their worst nightmare, ask Shane Warne!
Guess the same applies to life! Don’t we all love the spectacular more than the effective? That’s why superstars are more popular than good actors. That’s why Shahrukh’s films will always make more money than a Naseer’s.
Being spectacular has a lot to do with the ability to take risks and to think big. These are people who disturb the status quo and raise their game, when the situation demands it.
That’s not to say that being effective has no place in the world. But if one is to progress fast, he needs to be spectacular and not just effective.
