London, Dec 16 (IANS) Sachin Tendulkar’s match-winning knock in Chennai cricket Test was praised by the British media which also hailed the English team for returning to India in such volatile situation.
The media said that Kevin Pietersen’s side had no reason to feel disappointed as they have done an important job of standing by the Indian people in their hour of crisis.
Tendulkar, they said, was determined to “soothe the pain” of his hometown Mumbai which faced wrath of brutal terror attacks that claimed more than 170 lives.
“Hero rises from horrors of Mumbai attacks to fashion fated Test victory for India,” The Guardian headline screamed.
“Sachin Tendulkar’s outrage over the terrorist murders in his home city of Mumbai has been the most enduring image of the Chennai Test. His defiant words, played endlessly on Indian television, have felt like an address to the nation. He speaks of the need to pull together in bad times until the good times return and his vehement final sentence ingrains itself in the memory of all who hear it. ‘I play for India,’ he spits. ‘Now more than ever’,” the daily wrote.
The Times said: “England take some credit despite defeat as Sachin Tendulkar says his century may have eased some of the nation’s pain.”
Once their disappointment has diminished, England should reflect with satisfaction on the part they played in one of the most politically significant Tests in history. The people of Chennai, after initial uncertainty, had come out in force despite heavy security, with about 95,000 spectators watching a game that proved Test cricket still has a future in India, The Guardian reported.
“There was no disgrace to be had in losing at Chepauk. Indeed, Kevin Pietersen will have reminded his team of this and then of the part they played in an event of massive significance on the subcontinent, firstly by turning up to play where others may have allowed their natural reservations to take precedent, and then, as with their opponents, competing in such a feisty manner. The financial donations they made towards emergency funds were a fine gesture but the biggest gesture of all was being there,” the report said.