Tendulkar hoping for ‘something special’ by Amir

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Indian cricketer Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar acknowledges the crowd ahead of play between US Serena Williams and Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova during the Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Tennis Club, in southwest London, on June 26, 2010. AFP PHOTO / GLYN KIRK

Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar is anticipating ‘something special’ from Pakistan quick Mohammad Amir ahead of Pakistan’s first Test against England on Thursday.

The former players have divided opinions regarding the 24-year-old’s return to international cricket. Tendulkar, however, feels that the left-arm pacer must be allowed back into the cricketing fold since he has served his sentence.

“I think those that decided to penalise him, have already done so,” said Tendulkar.

“He is a good bowler, has a huge amount of skill, and if he gets his rhythm right he can hopefully do something special,” said Tendulkar, whose stay at the crease during ICC Champions Trophy 2009 was curtailed to just 14 balls by Amir. It was the only match where they played against each other.

Tendulkar said that he has seen left-arm quick’s recent interviews and Amir has come across as a balanced person with a balanced head.

“That is something, which will also reflect in the game. It is all about how you think, you plan and you execute those plans on the field,” Tendulkar said.

Tendulkar calls for more help from pitches for bowlers

Cricket pitches need to be more bowler-friendly if the rising imbalance between bat and ball is to be addressed, Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar has said.

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) world cricket committee on Tuesday recommended limitations on the thickness and depth of bats amid concerns that the sport has tilted heavily in favour of the batsmen in recent years.

“The wickets need to change; they need to be more helpful for bowlers,” Tendulkar said.

“In T20s, the greatest of bowlers are being reverse-swept. Three-hundred is no longer competitive in ODIs.

“So there should be at least one format where bowlers have a better chance of executing their skills and making it more interesting for spectators.

“I don’t think it’s got much to do with bats, but I’m sure people on the (relevant) panel will be able to look into it.”

Tendulkar’s views echoed the sentiments of Australian opener David Warner who said last week that flat pitches rather than bats with thicker edges are the reason batsmen have the upper hand in test cricket.

 

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