Wisden Almanack salutes Sachin Tendulkar in its 151st edition
London: Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, who quit international cricket last year after an illustrious 24-year long career, adorns the cover of the 151st edition of the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack.
The 40-year-old cricketer is the first Indian to feature on the cover of the Almanack. He was earlier chosen to feature on the cover of the second edition of the Wisden India Almanack.
The yellow page shows Tendulkar walking out of the Wankhede stadium after playing his last innings against the West Indies in November last year. The photograph captured Tendulkar acknowledging the crowd with his bat raised.
"Sachin simply picks himself," said Lawrence Booth, the Wisden editor. "His status and influence on the game are beyond question. Wisden is delighted to add its own tribute to an exceptional career in this year's Almanack."
The 2014 edition of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack will be published in London on Thursday.
The Wisden said: "Tendulkar played Test matches in front of the most demanding fans in the world for 24 years."
Wisden also compared Tendulkar's record with England skipper Alastair Cook and Australia captain Michael Clarke.
"If further proof was required of just how astonishing that was, it came at Perth in December, when for a few moments one Cook and one Clarke added up to exactly one Tendulkar: 200 Test caps, 15,921 runs and 51 hundreds."
Sachin Tendulkar adorns cover of 2014 Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
London: International cricket is set for a future of "colonial-style divide and rule," and will be "holding its breath" over the extent of Indian influence, according to the 2014 edition of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack published Wednesday, that has retired legend Sachin Tendulkar on its cover.
In February, changes to the governance of the International Cricket Council (ICC), handed the majority of the powers and revenue to the sport's 'big three' nations -- India, Australia and England.
"Here was colonial-style divide and rule," the English editor of cricket's 'bible', Lawrence Booth, wrote in the 151st edition of British-based Wisden, published every year since 1864.
"Cricket is appallingly administered, and is vulnerable to economic exploitation by the country (India) powerful enough to exploit it and the two countries (Australia and England) prepared to lend their plans credibility."
He added: "As India prepare to take their 'central leadership responsibility', international cricket holds its breath."
Turning to events on the field, Booth said England's 5-0 thrashing by Australia in the 2013/14 Ashes represented an all-time low.
"No sporting defeat is a disaster but 5-0 against a team that had won none of its previous nine Tests came close. This, then, was the worst result in England's history."
Meanwhile, South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn was chosen as Wisden's Leading Cricketer in the World for 2013, a year in which he took 51 Test wickets in only nine games at an average of 17.
"Fast, penetrative and parsimonious, it was some combination," Wisden said.
The Five Cricketers of the Year, an honour dating back to 1889, were India's Shikhar Dhawan, Australia duo Chris Rogers and Ryan Harris, England batsman Joe Root and England women's captain Charlotte Edwards.
Opening batsman Dhawan was acknowledged for his role in India's victorious Champions Trophy campaign in England while opener Rogers, fast bowler Harris and Root were chosen for their contributions to the 2013 Ashes.
The Cricketer of the Year, the personal choice of the Wisden editor and an award that generally reflects performances in the previous English season, can, by tradition, only be won once in a player's career.
- 'Cook plus Clarke equals Tendulkar' -
Edwards, who led her side to defeat by Australia in the final of the recent World Twenty20, became only the second female cricketer, after England's Claire Taylor in 2009, to be named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year.
"In winning the Ashes home and away, Charlotte Edwards crowned an outstanding career as an England cricketer," said Wisden.
"After making her Test debut at 16, she remains at the top 18 years later."
But that still leaves her six years short of the 24-year international career enjoyed by Sachin Tendulkar, whose image adorns the cover of the latest Wisden.
The 40-year-old India great announced his retirement from cricket in November, ending a remarkable career during which he became the world's leading scorer in both Test and one-day cricket.
"Tendulkar played Test matches in front of the most demanding fans in the world for 24 years," said Wisden, who compared his record with those of England captain Alastair Cook and Australia skipper Michael Clarke.
"If further proof was required of just how astonishing that was, it came at Perth in December, when for a few moments one Cook and one Clarke added up to exactly one Tendulkar: 200 Test caps, 15,921 runs and 51 hundreds."
Wisden picks Shikhar Dhawan among its five Cricketers of the Year
Wisden, regarded by many as cricket's Bible, has chosen Indian batsman Shikhar Dhawan among its five cricketers of the year. Wisden first chose its first batch of cricketers of the year in 1889. In 2000, Wisden named its Five Cricketers of the Century: Sir Donald Bradman, Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Jack Hobbs, Shane Warne and Sir Viv Richards.
Although there are numerous cricket awards in recent times, Wisden continues to occupy a special place in a cricketer's heart. The award, more of a recognition and decided by the editor, is based on last year's performance and is an important feature of the annual almanac, the 151st edition of which was published on Wednesday.
Apart from Dhawan, the others on the Wisden list are young English all-rounder Joe Root, Australian paceman Ryan Harris, Aussie opener Chris Rogers and England captain Charlotte Edwards, the second woman ever to win this award.
Wisden has named South African pacer Dale Steyn as the Leading Cricketer of the Year and also included 73-year-old Enid Bakewell among the five greatest female cricketers in history.
Twenty-eight-year-old Dhawan was recognized for his 187 off 174 balls on debut against Australia in the Mohali Test in March last year. Dhawan's versatility with the bat saw him scoring 363 runs at an average of 90 as India won the ICC Champions Trophy in UK last year.
Harris and Rogers won because of their contribution with ball and bat, respectively, especially in the return Ashes where Australia whipped England 5-0. Harris took 24 wickets while opener Rogers, who made a comeback at 35, was the leading run-getter.
Twenty-three-year-old Root, scored his maiden Test century against New Zealand at Headingley. His 180 in the second Test against Australia at Lord's helped England win the Ashes.
