Congrats Guppy. I see that you follow cricket... I'd like to pose a question on the thread here.. Who do you think is the world's best batsman today.

I'd sound partial if I say Sachin, but nobody else in my mind comes close to him. In fact, he has been deemed a terrorist by the Nation of Bowlers!!!

Oops!!! Forgot the question mark.

/me turns towards Paul.

Apologies Great Master!

What say we wait till the end of the series....

Oh no!! That means I have made quite a lot of mistakes, doesn't it?

/me hides under the desk.

I think the odd record or three that Australia just made when beating Namibia is quite 'telling'.
28 runs in one over.
7 wickets for 15.
Highest run win difference ever.

OK, so they aren't the world's greatest, though even their score would have beaten the Canadians...

@shu - world's best batsman without doubt is Matthew Hayden.

Matthew Hayden is just having a good run tinkergaloot. For him to qualify, he has to to make this form last for another 2 years.

Kinda like the younger Waugh, I remember that there was a time when he alongwith Aravinda and Inzy were considered in competition with Sachin. Sachin outperformed and outclassed each and everyone of them. Lara has been in and out of form. He has seen the highest highs and lowest lows. But the Master is on a constant high. If he doesn't score for one series, be assured that the bowlers in the next one will run for cover!!!

A simple statement describes him aptly:

There are bad batsmen, there are ordinary batsmen and there are good ones. And then there is Sachin.

The Don said that he was the one who reminded him of himself.

Remember the last match? Remember the six off Caddick? Mike Artherton was sitting in the commentary box and he used words that any mom in the world would be terrified to hear from her son!!! The fact of the matter is, it would be hard, nay impossible, for anyone in the near future to overshadow him.

As they say in India, 'Cricket is our religion, and Sachin is our God!'

Blasphemy!!!!!!!

Just having a good run? It's a very long run!!! You've actually shown why Hayden is the number one batsmen with one of your own statements- " If he doesn't score for one series, be assured that the bowlers in the next one will run for cover!!!" (re Tendulkar). Well Matt Hayden scores prolifically in every series, is far more consistant than Tendulkar, and can rip the best bowling line up apart with the kind of phenomonal strength that Tendulkar just doesn't possess.
Impossible for anyone to overshadow Tendulkar? I'm afraid it's already been done...

i agree with u @shu Sachin is definately one of the best. McGrath is no doubt the best bowler though

Ganguly is horrible

ya jafo McGrath got 7 wickets for 15 runs. BUT namibia is a newb team so u cant expect them 2 win

I think that your own bowlers (and every other bowler in the world, for that matter) contradict your statement tinkergaloot. It is said that the age of 34 is the prime time for a batsman. So Matthew Hayden is in his prime. But Sachin has still to hit that 'purple patch' in his life. If he bats like this now, only God knows what potential he holds.

Forget the players, and the spectators. Even the umpires are crazy bout him.

And its not strength that makes a batsman tinkergaloot. Its class. If strength be the criteria, hell, Zulu would have beaten others by leaps and bounds. I agree that Matthew Hayden hits the ball like no other man before him. But Sachin, he dismisses the ball from his presence.

And he has 60+ centuries to his name.

Anyways, the showcase match is on today. In 4 hours, the war will start. So here's wishing PooPs and his team, the best of luck!!

Matt Hayden is only 31, the same age as Tendulkar FWIW, Hayden has been ranked at number 1 or 2 in the world (Tests) for the last 2 and a half years. Tendulkar's ranking has been dropping in the corresponding period. Hayden also has the highest ever rating achieved by a batsman since PriceWaterhouseCoopers started the player rankings with 937, Tendulkar's highest being 897. In the One Day game, Hayden currently ranks 2nd behind Jayasuriya. while Tendulkar sits at number 7, with a rating of 728 (compared with Hayden's 826). While Tendulkar does have a higher career ODI rating than Hayden (884 vs. 835), Sachin's was achieved 7 years ago, and in the intervening years has has been struggling to achieve ratings over 800, while Hayden has been consistantly posting 800+ ratings in the last 2 and a half years. Indeed, it was only in the most recent ratings (Feb 22) that Tendulkar actually re-appeared in the top 10 for One Day Internationals. On recent and current form, in both Test cricket and One Day cricket, Hayden clearly wins the battle.

im going over to someones house at 3 am just to watch it

Wait and watch, tinkergaloot. Wait and watch.

And be afraid. Be very, very afraid.

And don't get confused by ratings, they never tell the truth. Just observe the fluency of the strokes. Hayden's is like an action movie, whilst Sachin plays like a poet. And it depends on what you like, Action or Poetry.

What about Gilchrist, he was a contender a few years back, wasn't he? My point is, Hayden is a guy who has been in cricket for a short while, just two and a half years. Wait for another year or two. Its easy to be on top when you are winning. But regularly scaring the bowlers even when your team is in dumps, thats reputation dear friend. Thats class. I bet, if you ask Hayden, he will name Sachin too.

And I hope you understand the kind of pressure that short guy plays under. Whenever he walks onto the field, he carries the hopes, aspirations and dreams of a billion people on his shoulder. That's pressure!!!

When he gets out, half the nation switch off their television sets. Entire stadiums fall pin-drop silent.

And when he hits a ball in the air, an entire nation prays that it doesn't fall into a fielder's hands. His boundaries lift the stock market, his centuries bring business to the sweetmeats shop.

Hell!! I have heard people say that if India loses, let it, but Sachin should score a century.

dear tinkergaloot, its a good thing that you didn't say that in person in India, doubting Sachin's class.

Rankings only tell part of the story. As Aussie batsmen go Matt Hayden is good, damn good. But players such as Steve Waugh and Allan Border are a different class altogether. Hayden has to produce those stats over a career to qualify as an all time great Aussia batsmen like those two already have.

Tendulkar has the class, but doesn't appear to be turning in the stats - frustrating. The same could be said about Lara.

Im English but i think the Aussies are going to win they are just too good at the moment but there might be a surpise you never can tell with sports!

mark...we play you tomorrow night [Oz time]...and my guess is it'll be a bit one-sided...

At this moment The Pakis have made 275 [I think it was] against India...I'm just waiting for their innings to start. Those 2 always put on a good show...

Hell, Sachin's just hit a fantastic half century.

Tho I still think that India's gonna lose.

Man I wanna be proved wrong. I can't stand to watch the match

Things that I do to see India win!!!

It seems like that any time I walk out into the family room to watch the match, a wicket falls. So, my Mum's locked me into my bedroom. Poor me.

But I wouldn't mind it if India wins today!!!

@shu- India should win this match from here- Sachin's batted well, aided by some bowling which has left a lot to be desired, with both Wasim and Waqar bowling a line and length that's just inviting to be hit, while Shoaib still hasn't learnt that fearsome pace is pointless unless it's coupled with good line and length. Enjoy the forthcoming Indian victory! Oh, and I never doubted Tendulkar's class, I just believe that for the last 2 and a half years Hayden has been the better batsman of the two...

Maybe, but you can never supress class. He will rise like a Phoenix from the ashes.

Its Sachin's destiny to rule the world, and hearts!!!

And about the win tinkergaloot, never underestimate India.

We have the ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

So it ain't over till the fat lady sings.

WHAT A MATCH!!!!! Sachin only 2 runs short of a century! INDIA WAS VICTORIOUS!!!!!