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[uknsaunders]

I saw a few mins of the cricket and caught Tendulkars innings. Looked desperate stuff. Not helped by Monty finding some turn or the pitch scuttling one along to knock his middle pole out. Looks like the end of the road, he's 39 and only Kallis and Gooch have lasted so long with good averages. He was all over the place footwork wise and Anderson duly put him out of his misery.

He can't stay in test cricket now? Can see him taking some easy IPL money for a year or so but not sure about ODI/T20.

[Buzz]

Must have been love, but it's over now...

The fat lady is singing

[Manormanic]

Though, as was pointed out on the Sky coverage, he averaged 70 and 49 in the past two calender years so this could hypothetically be a poor patch rather than terminal decline.

Sadly, I don't think it is...

[uknsaunders]

at 39 you doubt it is. Today just looked like his reactions and eyes had gone. Even the 74 he made in the previous test was a bit of a slog by all accounts.

[tim2000s]

at 39 you doubt it is. Today just looked like his reactions and eyes had gone. Even the 74 he made in the previous test was a bit of a slog by all accounts.

If you mean "slog" as in the sense it was really hard work, he never settled and he never looked comfortable, then yes, that would be a fair description.

[uknsaunders]

yes I did 

[ianbuchanan]

I'm pretty sure he'll retire after this test. Would be a shame to see two greats of the game (Ponting and Tendulkar) to go so soon of each other though.

[Red Ink Cricket]

as much as it would be sad for him to go i think the indian team needs a pretty big overhaul and unfortunately he isnt safe from that.

i hope for the sake of indian cricket that we see a big change in the next test team they put on the field. i think its the only way for them to get out of a pretty big hole

[uknsaunders]

It wouldn't of surprised me if he had planned to announce earlier in the series his retirement. Most likely involving a big fairwell after smashing England 4-0 and treating the last game as almost a testimonial. However, things have caught up with him and the script hasn't gone to plan.

Can't see him surviving to the Australia series in Feb 2013.

[Red Ink Cricket]

well atleast he has his next role already in place - isnt he a politician for a local party or something? maybe that was always part of his plan

[The_Bird]

He should've retired when he got his 100th hundred. No one will ever get near that and he would've gone out as a legend, like he deserved to.

[yvk3103]

The road should have ended a long time back - on a high after the WC or getting his 100th.

Could be that the BCCI is delaying his retirement to first fill the gap created by RD & VVS. RD's retirement was delayed a couple of years till a suitable replacement was found.

One person that should definitely go is MSD - he is NOT a Test player - severely below par. Could well be a turning point (for good) for the test team.

[thedon]

The man is class. Slight blip. He'll be back,and he is the only one who will dictate when he calls it a day. That ball he got today was just unlucky.

[Cover_Drive]

Every King has his tenure and Sachin Tendulkar has had his and now things are beyond his control. He has to call it a day, a very tough decision but he has to!

As far finances are concerned, he is no Mike Tyson, Allen Iverson et cetra, if he want he can easily live a luxurious life once he retires, he has a seat in MP too (if I'm not mistaken) so politician career could be his next of interest.

[mr_wickets]

Every King has his tenure and Sachin Tendulkar has had his and now things are beyond his control. He has to call it a day, a very tough decision but he has to!

As far finances are concerned, he is no Mike Tyson, Allen Iverson et cetra, if he want he can easily live a luxurious life once he retires, he has a seat in MP too (if I'm not mistaken) so politician career could be his next of interest.

You sure about that? He's been the face of indian cricket for years, he must have a few quid tucked away.