I am glad Tendulkar is retiring after 200 Tests: Boycott

Image
Press Trust of India London
Last Updated : Oct 11 2013 | 1:45 PM IST
Former England captain Geoffrey Boycott is glad that Sachin Tendulkar has decided to call it quits after his 200th Test as he feels the Indian veteran's "legacy to cricket is more important than playing on for another year or two".
"I am glad Sachin Tendulkar has announced he will retire after his 200th Test match because for the best part of 24 years he has been loved, adored and admired by millions," Boycott wrote in his column for 'The Daily Telegraph'.
Tendulkar, who has been in international cricket for 24 years, will retire after playing his 200th Test, which will happen during the home series against the West Indies next month.
"His legacy to cricket is more important than playing on for another year or two. That would not have enhanced his reputation. It would only swell his bank balance and he does not need any more money because he is already one of the richest cricketers ever," Boycott said.
"What he requires is to retain his reputation as one of the finest and greatest batsmen who has ever lived," he added.
Boycott paid rich tribute to Tendulkar's longevity and described him as a flawless player.
"Playing in 200 Test matches is a remarkable achievement. ...To be able to clock up that many matches a player needs exceptional ability to retain his form, which we all know can rise and fall. He must stay very fit, which becomes harder as you get older," he said.
"On top of all that he must maintain his enjoyment of playing and that is not easy because you become jaded after years of travelling the world on overseas tours and playing in many different cities for Tests in India.
"After 10 or 12 years at the top most guys have had enough so to play for as long as Tendulkar you need to be single-minded and driven to the point of wanting to play cricket more than anything else in the world," he added.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Oct 11 2013 | 1:45 PM IST

Next Story