I know that we have all discussed this threadbare in different forums. However, Spiro Zavos article “Sachin Tendulkar’s bat is too heavy” has some fresh insights. He argues that Sachin probably would have an even more imposing record with a lighter bat.
However, I’ve noticed that Tendulkar often misses with his cross bat shots, the cuts and the hooks that were easy pickings for Don Bradman. To me the reason for this is obvious. The bat Tendulkar uses is just too heavy to get up and then through with his cross bat to deal with the shorter deliveries. Unlike say Brian Lara or Don Bradman, Tendulkar does not make a huge number of massive double centuries. Again, I believe that the heavy bat just gets too heavy over the course of a long innings and he makes a mistake of timing he might not have made with a lighter bat.
I agree with Spiro Zavos, albeit with a difference. I think Sachin needs to change to a lighter bat.
Maybe it is due to wear and tear or even due to the minor changes he had made in his grip to prevent a recurrence of tennis elbow, it is evident that Sachins arms are not as steely as they were before.
Therefore, I posit that the recent spate of ‘played on’ dismissals are due to a combination of weakening forearms and a heavy bat.
Do you agree that Sachin needs to change to a lighter bat?
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