TENDULKAR A T20 MISFIT: BUCHANAN
Published: July 9, 2009
New Delhi: He might have got a boot from the IPL, but John Buchanan refuses to leave India and Indian cricket. Only now he is making news with his presence on Indian bookshelves.
His latest book – don’t let the appearances of this cover with a ball on top of coins – mislead you into judging, it’s merely on the business of cricket.
Buchanan has taken swipes at top Indian cricketers of the present as well as past generations, particularly taking digs at Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar.
Buchanan has sensationally claimed Tendulkar lacks the power, domination and fearlessness to survive the new format, raising a question mark on his usefulness in the IPL.
“History will remember him as a cricketing master. But is he an effective T20 player at this stage of his career? In the position he plays, as an opener or No 3, the T20 game requires not only the finesse and skill he has, but also power and domination… an ability to take the bowlers on while being creative. You have to be inventive, fearless. And I don’t see those qualities as part of Sachin’s make-up at this stage of his career. Sachin Tendulkar is still a great player, but not in this arena of T20,” writes Buchanan.
His swipe at Gavaskar comes while Buchanan is talking about a franchisee meeting with the IPL bosses in Goa in February this year. He claims his suggestion for more international players in the playing eleven were referred to the IPL technical committee headed by Sunil Gavaskar and says:
“What this means is that any idea that effects the way Twenty20 might be played are referred to a committee chaired by a person who is blinkered by bias and tradition,” he says.
But despite his troubled relationship with Sourav Ganguly, he has reserved some rich praise for the former Indian captain. “Ganguly was the model for the new breed of confident and combative Indian cricketers. Ganguly showed that Indian cricket could stand up for itself. He is similar in that way to Ian Chappell who stood up for what he believed and was not afraid to take on the administration,” he writes.
Buchanan hasn’t even spared leading Indian players like Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh. Buchanan has described Yuvraj as trying “to be a modern-day Ganguly but I don’t think he has the charisma or the dignity with which Ganguly carries himself.”
Referring to Harbhajan Singh’s troubled relationship with the Australians, Buchanan says, “Harbhajan is good at dishing out treatment, lighting the fire and then finding an appropriate means to camouflage his actions.”
Having been a part of the IPL for two years, Buchanan has also shared some interesting observations on Bangalore Royal Challengers owner Vijay Mallya and his methods.
“Vijay Mallya didn’t allow the players to play and the coaches to coach, which is why he employed them in the first place,” he says.
Buchanan has also laid the blame for his team’s dismal show in the IPL, squarely on the IPL management for keeping him ignorant of the second player auction.
“We spent all but $1,07,000 of our funds in the first auction. I noted with curiosity after the initial auction that Jaipur (Rajasthan Royals) were fined for keeping $2million of their salary cap up their sleeve… This was the only time to purchase players, wasn’t it?” he writes.
Interestingly, Kolkata Knight Riders owner Shah Rukh Khan is among the lucky few who come in for a praise in Buchanan’s book. But clearly, Buchanan seems to have missed a trick by not releasing the book much earlier, at least before he got the boot by Shah Rukh.
Courtesy: Cricketnext
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9 Comments on "TENDULKAR A T20 MISFIT: BUCHANAN"
Vivek Misra on Sun, 11th Apr 2010 11:44 pm
It would be intresting to see Mr.Buchanan eat his words after seeing Sachin’s performance in IPL 2010.
Vinodh on Mon, 26th Apr 2010 9:19 am
It is stupid statement from Buchanan,That world knows sachin as a Maestro but still Australians do not accept it. Even though australians dominate the Cricket for years, still the percentage to show interest on cricket in Australia is very less, they are trying all there best to sell there books before, it was Greg Chappell, Ricky Ponting to Andrew symonds , but nothing can do with them our Maestro or other Indian cricketers as we are well united to stand by Maestro & support him & world knows that he is Great Cricketer what so ever, which ever format it is, Sachin is Master for his innovative skills in Cricket.
Rohit on Tue, 27th Apr 2010 3:15 am
i am not agree wt buchanan is sying in above quote.sachin proved himself again and again in any formet of modern era of cricket.At 37 he is the leading scorer of the IPL 3,wt else u expect from him.writing a quote or criticizing anybody is simple like filling empty water bottle but dear sir going out there and face fastest of bowers is different game altogether.
shubham on Tue, 27th Apr 2010 4:55 pm
i think all the australians need little bit of rest so that they could digest the success of indians. and questioning the abilities of sachin and mr gavaskar just shows their insecurity.
rohan on Wed, 28th Apr 2010 10:47 am
This Australians lack Sportsmanship.They can tolerate an Indian performing well.Mr Buchanan is out of his wits,he is talking like an a*****e..!!!
dixit agrawal on Thu, 29th Apr 2010 4:39 pm
i completely disagree with buchanan.
if sachin was not fit for t20 format how could u he be the leading run scorer in the ipl.he scored the most number of runs and swept all the players far away from every player especially the australians…….
Naani on Fri, 30th Apr 2010 2:13 am
whoz is this A****le placing comments on Master blaster.If Sachin has given a separate team for T20 world cup,We Indians are sure that the team could can do the maximum to gain the title, apart from Indian team…
Spider on Fri, 30th Apr 2010 2:49 am
Guys it seems you are fighting on wrong issue. This news was of last icct20 world cup, check date.
ujjwal ojha on Thu, 6th May 2010 6:14 am
this is just a publicity stunt…he is fool and he shd look back at his own career before pointing fingers at any body else