Wayne Rooney asked to take inspiration from Sachin Tendulkar
The British media has praised the little master Sachin Tendulkar for consistently living upto the expectations of the 1 billion cricket fans in India and successfully turning expectation into inspiration for his cricket fans. In an article written by a former
cricketer who played for England, Ed Smith wrote how Wayne Rooney should learn from the example of Sachin Tendulkar.
The child prodigy, Sachin, started playing at the age of 16 making his debut against Pakistan and since then he has not looked back. At a time when the ordinary man is contemplating about their options in life, Sachin Tendulkar knew what he wanted and he
went out there to get it. Over the years he might have matured as a player, however even at a young age he did not show any signs of weakness.
Wayne Rooney on the other hand made his debut for Everton in 2002 at the tender age of 17. After spending two years at Everton, Sir Alex Ferguson who has a keen eye for talent recognized his abilities as a striker and paid 25.6 million pounds for the young
striker. He thus started his stint with Manchester United aged 18 and many had already predicted that this young man was destined for greatness.
He has been awarded with the PFA young player of the year award. He also became the youngest player to score a goal for England. In an article headlined, ‘Sanctuary of crease lets Tendulkar reveal genius,’ Ed Smith writes that twice last week he was proven
wrong by sportsmen. Firstly, he was proven wrong when Sachin Tendulkar reached the 14000 test runs mark. However secondly he was more astounded at the fact that Sachin Tendulkar managed to do that, in fewer innings than any other 1000 run rally of his career
at an age where his contemporaries have already retired.
Ed smith further noted that like Sachin, Rooney was destined for greatness from a young age. Tendulkar however on the contrary has gone on and done it. He has lived up to the expectations of everyone by proving that he is perhaps the best batsman to have
played cricket after the great Sir Donald Bradman.
Smith said, that even Tendulkars career was plagued with arguments with coaches, match referees along with bearing the brunt of an unsatisfying stint as the captain of his side. No matter how serene Tendulkars career might look after 20 long years of playing
the game, it had its share of troubles.
"Tendulkar has had countless moments when frustration could have overwhelmed him. He has never blown his top, never lost his dignity. Instead,frustration has inpired him. Above all, his career has been played out under the shadow of phenomenal expectation.
Footballers in England have to deal with being heroes. In India it is even worse: they are meant to be Gods."
According to Ed Smith, Tendulkar the 37 year old had realized soon enough that there was only one place where he felt free from the intricacies and hassles of fame. There was one such place where he was allowed to paint his painting, where he felt at home
and that was the crease.
"With the bat in his hands, Tendulkar is the conductor of his own life, not just a participant in a soap opera. There, out in the middle, no one can stop him being himself - not a restless media, not overly demanding fans, not interfering coaches or greedy
agents. It is the ultimate irony: the greatest actors are never freer than when they're on the stage. That is the way for Rooney to find the way out of his present difficulties - he must have the bravery to express himself on the pitch, to make it his sanctuary."
Ed Smith wrote that if Rooney allowed himself to become resentful, he would find himself detached from not only his fans but also his talent. Rooney must on the contrary learn to love the game again and play for the games sake, play for his love, for football.
Rooney, Ed said must work to locate the inner Tendulkar, a genius who managed to get even with his critics by scoring hundreds. Rooney must similarly work to convert his frustration into goals.
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