| Series | Countries | Live Scores | Fixtures | Results | News |
Features
|
Photos | Blogs | Statistics | Archive | Video & Audio | Games | Mobile | |||||||||||||||||||||
« Bravo's blinder | Pietersen feels the pain »
November 15, 2009Posted by Hamish Blair on 11/15/2009 in Cricket shots
Tendulkar turns it around
| ||
Hi everyone, thanks again for all the feedback from the last update!
Firstly, to answer the question I had about the model of camera I work with, I currently use is the Canon EOS 1D Mark III. For anyone looking to buy a good SLR camera, I would recommend a Canon or Nikon, which is what most sports photographers use. Both brands come in a range of models with varying features and prices, not surprisingly, the more features the higher the price!
However with both Canon and Nikon the cheaper models use a lot of the same technology that goes into their high end cameras, so you still get a very serviceable camera. Another point to consider is that most of the expense in building up a good kit of camera equipment is in the lenses rather than the actual camera body. Lenses are interchangeable between the various models of a particular brand, so if you decide to upgrade the camera body at some point, as long as you stay with the same brand, the lenses won’t need to be replaced.
On to the photo for today. Given that Sachin Tendulkar is celebrating 20 years in the game, I have selected a photo of him. I have been lucky enough to see some very memorable innings from the Little Master. His century in Melbourne during the 1999 Boxing Day Test and his double hundred in Steve Waugh’s final Test, at the SCG in 2004, are two that immediately come to mind. Another of his brilliant innings I’ve been fortunate enough to see is the innings that where I took this photo; his first innings century in the third Test in Chennai in 2001.
This series was one of the best I have seen. It was my first trip to India and I’ve been lucky enough to return to a number of times since, it’s a place I really love visiting. With the series tied at one all going into the final Test, the match had a number of twists and turns along the way to India’s thrilling two wicket victory. Tendulkar’s century was one of many highlights and also helped India to what would prove to be a crucial first innings lead.
This is an unusual photo, at first glance it looks like a fairly ordinary straight drive, until you notice that the wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist is standing in front of the batsman! Shane Warne was bowling at the time and was consistently bowling outside leg stump. This often leads to a bit of a stalemate, as the batsman can use his pads to protect his wicket, with no worry of lbw. However, Tendulkar came up with a far more rewarding tactic, turning his back to the bowler, waiting for the ball and then playing what I think is best described as a straight drive behind the wicket. He played this shot a few times, each time for four.
It is one of the things that makes cricket great, when you can watch two masters battle it out and it doesn’t get much better the Warne against Tendulkar. On this occasion Tendulkar came out on top and it was amazing to watch his inventiveness to counter Warne. The timing to play such a shot, waiting for the ball to come from behind rather than having the ball coming head on is remarkable. I’d never seen a shot played like that before and haven’t seen it since.
This photo is shot from a similar angle as the photo from my last post of Dwayne Bravo, quite straight, at a very fine leg with the batsman at the near end. As I mentioned last time, I generally start each ball focused on the batsman, which in this case worked well, as Tendulkar turned in my direction to play the shot. I like the way it almost looks like he is playing a conventional drive, but then with Gilchrist facing the other way in front of Tendulkar, puts the shot into context.
Cheers,
Hamish
Posted by: A.Kalidhasan at November 15, 2009 6:23 AM
Excellent work man..Its really amazing....Keep it up...Expecting more from u...All the best....
Posted by: Pradeepan at November 15, 2009 6:27 AM
Thank you so much for this pic. I was there in Chennai watching this from the ground. Steve Waugh moved put Ponting a few feet finer after he played this shot. Next ball, Sachin played the exact shot & Ponting could only dive in vain :)
Posted by: Vik at November 15, 2009 7:49 AM
Fantastic pic! Thanks for posting.
Posted by: Shadlee Rahman at November 15, 2009 8:52 AM
Superb work Hamish. This is one of the best I have ever seen, as much for the sheer uniqueness of it as it is for the quality and the timing of your camerawork. Keep it up and expecting more of the same, if not even better, from you.Cheers mate...
Posted by: Adarsh at November 15, 2009 8:53 AM
That was a very nice picture. Thanks.
Posted by: param at November 15, 2009 9:55 AM
OMG!!...Sachin hitting straight-drive-behind-the-wicket...gr8...One of the Best photo I have ever seen of the best batsman india has ever produced....Great Work from Hamish..Excellent..
Posted by: Srinivasan at November 15, 2009 10:18 AM
Yes, Great Shot. Have you taken the picture of this shot which he played - a soft, backward lifting touch from the middle of the bat to guide the ball over the wicket keeper's head for a boundary ? He played in an ODI in Australia when he scored a century. If you have it, please publish or mail me. I would love to treasure that.
Posted by: Pravinchandar Raajendiran at November 15, 2009 11:00 AM
Wonderful picture! IT's so vivid that made me to remember the days I used watch it on TV skipping classes. Also,the post-match partying by the team in the dressing room is still in my memory!
Posted by: Raman at November 15, 2009 11:43 AM
he is a gr8 timer of cricket ball and he reads the bowler n adjust himself to play any shot to his perfection
Posted by: Niyam at November 15, 2009 12:03 PM
Too bad I never saw this shot being played,it looks great in the picture.Then again all shots look great in your pictures.Keep updating it soon please
Posted by: KARTHIKAI BALAN at November 15, 2009 12:19 PM
SHOT OF CRAFTSMEN
Wonderful shot both from the photographer and the little master (i am worying that sachin finished 20 years in cricket which i can not watch again.)
Posted by: ranjit at November 15, 2009 12:29 PM
Excellent Picture. Brilliant shot captured brilliantly. Thanks
Posted by: Harsh at November 15, 2009 3:16 PM
Another super shot Hamish.. As u mentioned, at first glance, I thought why you chose an ordinary straight drive from the Master.. Then I noticed Gilly.. and did a double take..
Geniuses really do play at another level and the game hasn't seen bigger geniuses than Sachin and Warne.
If its not too much to ask, would it be possible for you to post the EXIF info for your photos..
Thanks,
Harsh
Posted by: rohit at November 15, 2009 3:28 PM
Anybody got video of that Behind wicket Straight Drive?
Please suggest a link.
Posted by: Sudarshan Agrawal at November 15, 2009 4:25 PM
My first look at the picture and I thought that it is a morphed picture because how can Sachin play facing a wicket keeper. I read the article later and was amazed about the shot played and shot captured. I think it is next to impossible for anyone to play this type of shot. How on earth can some one play a shot like this. He spoilt us for the fact that we started dreaming victory from impossible positions.
Posted by: Sree at November 15, 2009 5:01 PM
I, obviously, first saw the photograph before reading the article. And was trying to make out, as to what exactly is happening. Like you've written, I have not seen this shot ever(I did see this innings and its a wonder that I could forget this shot) being played in the last few years. How does one play this? What kinda timing!! The only thing one can say is that the genius of the man stands out in this snap. Great capture, the focus & intensity on Sachin's face, the position of Gilchrist, conveying the delivery ouside leg, excellent. Something you can be really proud of.
Posted by: Aashrey at November 15, 2009 5:08 PM
Seriously I need a video link for this shot. Come on guys, rack something up.
Posted by: Gowtham at November 15, 2009 5:40 PM
I was there too.....Great century in the first innings...India lost a wicket off the first ball, but the whole stadium was up and shouting in joy....for there was Sachin walking out to bat....Can never forget that match...exciting till the end
Posted by: sri at November 15, 2009 6:28 PM
Amazing work...very well done sir!
Posted by: hemant brar at November 15, 2009 7:39 PM
please please please keep on posting.....
Posted by: Rivjot at November 15, 2009 7:54 PM
For people asking for video link, just watch ind v aus 2001 test series dvd, it's in there! If U don't have that DVD then gotta have it (or download it) as it's among the best test series ever!!!!!
Posted by: Shakar at November 15, 2009 9:22 PM
Has been and will be the greatest shot inventor the cricketing world has ever seen, he also invented the uppercut over 3rd man (vs Shoaib Aktar)
Posted by: omesh danram at November 16, 2009 2:24 AM
hey could u send me all the cricket images you have..
i would really be pleased if u could send me some pictures...
my email address is omesh_danram@yahoo.com
and that shot is great
Posted by: Pavan at November 16, 2009 2:30 AM
awesome!!! awesome !!! just awesome!!!
Posted by: Pavan at November 16, 2009 2:31 AM
awesome!!! awesome !!! just awesome!!!
Posted by: Swami at November 16, 2009 3:04 AM
What a nice pic. No T20 match these days can come close to those India- Australia encounters in 90s for sheer quality and excitement.
Posted by: dileep at November 16, 2009 5:02 AM
You have taken a wonderful photograph and shown it to the rest of the world with itz weirdness and a class description. Thanks a lot for your work.
Happy to know that your are using Canon gears, me too a canon fan. Hope you will update to Mark IV.
Posted by: waspsting at November 16, 2009 5:10 PM
That is an amazing shot! I don't think i've seen this innings - I'd have remembered it.
I first saw Lara play the shot (only once), ironically of Tendulkar's bowling. it brought a smile to everyone's face, even the bowler. Tendulkar's bowling is so slow it naturally leant itself to a shot of this type, but Warne is a different matter altogether.
Chris Cairns played a similar shot which has always stayed with me. Warne around the wicket, with deep field (Aussies were trying to save the test). he pitched one very full and very, very wide. Cairns turned around 90 degrees so that he was facing the square leg umpire, and played a straight drive from that position high, wide and handsome over square leg for six. Amazing shot.
Posted by: waspsting at November 16, 2009 5:14 PM
Also, interesting situation came up in a game against Pakistan, when Tendulkar was routinely playing this shot to Saqlain Mushtaq. Ijaz at first slip, anticipating it, moved over to leg slip as the bowler came up, and Tendulkar was surprised to have the shot intercepted and was almost run out.
if he had been, that would have tested the umpires. Was that regular anticipation? Or was it 'changing position after the bowler has begun his run up'?
if the latter, fine leg could run to backward square when he knows a bouncer is coming. But in this case, it was Tendulkar's patterned stroke play to all the balls which allowed the move. Would have been a tough call.
Posted by: subruk at November 16, 2009 6:02 PM
wonderful photograph and story.
during the 97 tour of west indies, i think the first day of the first test, tendulkar was bowling, and brian lara managed to pull off this shot. does anyone have any photographs/videos to share of that incident?
Posted by: Prash at November 17, 2009 5:38 AM
Wonderful shot of the Greatest batsman of all time- by a developing "great" in photography!
Posted by: PRAKHAR at November 17, 2009 11:51 PM
THANKS FOR THIS WONDERFUL PIC OF SACHIN I GUESS
NO OTHER PIC CAN DEFINE THE CLASS WHICH SACHIN HAS.....
WHETHER ITS COVER DRIVE,FLICK...OR THIS ""TURN AROUND SHOT""
SACHIN EXCELL IN ALL THE FIELDS REGARDIND..BATTING
HE'S TRULY A GOD OF CRICKET
Posted by: Ali Asgar at November 18, 2009 12:47 PM
Excellent Excellent timing of the PIC.
Such a shot is a rarity and so is this photo
Great Stuff
Posted by: Harish at November 19, 2009 12:59 PM
The clock is ticking and the time has arrived. MARVELLOUS SHOT N AN EQUALLY MARVELLOUS SNAP!!!!!! I was there in person to witness one of the greatest tests ever played where India won a gripper!!!!!!! Yes the next shot was that Ponting (one of the world's best fielder) moving finer and still beaten was truly amazing!!!! Disgusted Warne delivered a bouncer the very next ball and that was very well glided through Matthew Hayden at slip for another FOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!leaving Sachin smiling non-chantingly at Warne. Gilly was also laughing. In this cricketing world only Sachin can do that!!!SACHIN........SACHIN....... DAN DAN DAN..................
Posted by: Aman at May 30, 2010 2:45 PM
Hamish,
You're probably the best person to answer my question.
1. You're not an Indian.
2. You're part of the media.
3. You've seen them play & taken shots of them for years.
The Question: Is Sachin Tendulkar really a notch above his contemporaries like Lara, Waugh, Ponting etc? Or is that a media myth perpetrated by those who don't want to upset the big bad BCCI?
Records wise they're pretty close, so is there a differentiating factor? Style of play?
Hamish Blair is a London-based Australian photographer who works for Getty Images. He covered his first Test match in 1996 and has spent a good deal of his career since following the Australian cricket team around the world. He has photographed over 100 Tests in the 13 years he has been shooting cricket. In this blog he will pick some of his favourites from among the cricket photographs he has taken and try and tell the story behind them, how he went about taking them and why they are his favourites.