laurels

What he said, really meant and definitely didn’t: Andrew Strauss

What he said:

“You’re worried that this might be the series when you’re finally outed as a fraud and not up to playing at this level.”

Andrew Strauss on the insecurities that bedevil a cricketer in his book, ‘Winning The Ashes Down Under: The Captain’s Story’.

What he really meant:

“As a cricketer, you have to face up to the truth that you are only as good as your last few innings. You start each series with a clean slate and past performances bring you no fresh laurels.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I’m a fraud.”

Indian cricket: Tendulkar seeks the next level, Gambhir bats for Kirsten

 

Image via Wikipedia

It’s true that geniuses and champions are never satisfied with what they have achieved.

They are always thinking of the next level, the next summit, the next goal.

They dare not rest on their laurels.

There’s always the next mountain to climb, the next peak to scale.

And so it is with Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

14,000 Test runs in test cricket, over 30,000 international runs and 49 Test centuries to his credit.

Yet, the gentleman talks about yearning to reach the next level.

"I’m really focusing now on how I can get to the next level as a batsman. How can I get even more competitive? How can I get even more consistent? How can I get better?"

What else does Tendukar have to say in his interview to The Guardian?

On dreaming, Tendulkar has this to say:

"Life would be flat without dreams. I think it’s really important to dream — and then to chase those dreams.”

2010 has been Tendulkar’s best year in recent times, reminding us of the young Sachin, unburdened by the cares of the team and varied niggling injuries.

Tendulkar is also back at the top of the ICC rankings, the first time since 2002.

It is said that all’s well with the world when Tendulkar is in full flow and so it is for cricket fans.

The full interview will be published this Saturday.

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