Sachin "Ton"dulkar - How long did it take the Little Master?

Sachin Tendulkar enjoying the Bliss of a Century of Centuries

Sachin Tendulkar has always tried to keep out of the record books, but his genius has always dictated otherwise. While everyone has been cribbing that this was too long drawn - Mar 12, 2011 and now Mar 16, 2011 for the 100th Century ever in International Cricket - These statistics are astronomical - no Human has even got close enough.

The image of Sachin here is from the "Sydney Morning Herald" dated 17-March-2011 and  has been 'touched' by an iPad.


The above is a Google mash-up. We don't complete our data visualizations here, let's take a look at where he actually scored these centuries! For those who've been crying sour over his achievement, that it took "decades", consistency, commitment, spirit, battling a tennis-elbow among other injuries, the man has just shown what "human" can be. It is up to us to imbibe the spirit with which he achieved all over the world, the feat he has.

He is still hungry for matches, hungry to play and all the skeptics can bray and bray, but the Little Master will keep making the day.


This doesn't make you guess too much - it's just the cricket crazy nations with one strange exception 'Namibia' in what was a match of singular nature.

This is also a demonstration of Google's data analytic "Fusion Tables" tool which you should try out if you have not already.

Sachin Tendulkar, the Bharat Ratna or What?

As Cricketing nations celebrated in fervor, the grand finale of the ultimate championship in cricket, the ICC Cricket World Cup, in this year 2011 - fans had already started backing 'Sachin Tendulkar' for a Bharat Ratna.

The "Bharat Ratna," in India is given for exceptional contribution in the fields of art, literature, science and social service. The criteria does not have any mention of sports.

Considering the prior recipients of the Bharat Ratna are either involved in politics in the interests of the people or are exceptional in a form of art. Cricket, insofar is not defined as a form of art either.

The real question is whether a Sports Person should be bestowed the "Bharat Ratna". The tradition of the gems of India predate our colonial history. Not even in those ancient courts adorned by the Ratnas - was a seat reserved for a sportsman.

To get through the red tape, someone from the sports ministry will have to present a proposal to include sports  among the criteria for selecting candidates for awarding a Bharat Ratna. This proposal will have to accepted by the union cabinet. After this, a debate on which sport first, recollecting great names in sports, in much earlier times will definitely ensue.

So we are presented with a new problem; we seek new solutions. For incomparable commitment to a game, taking the game beyond its limits with performances that kept on eclipsing prior performances, an award that salutes the genius of the Cricketer that Sachin Tendulkar is, must be instituted and given to honor him, for he has already honored the sport, his team and his country. Looking at a Sports Award that indeed does some of what we've listed, the Laureus which has already been awarded to Rafael Nadal. All winners of this award seem to be European.

To recognize the likes of Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar, a new cricketing award can be instituted. It is most important that the award recognizes the team commitment and honors the person beyond borders. His achievements are jewels to his home nation and his team, never lesser. As a core cricketing nation in the world, we could institute an award that lauds exceptional achievement in Cricket. Should the award be given when the player announces retirement or prior should be decided. Sachin deserves a new award, one that will define cricketers and sportsmen of the future! At what better time can the ICC institute such an award?