Youngsters can’t be forced to like Test cricket, it has to come from within: Sachin Tendulkar

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar is of the opinion that players cannot be forced into liking the longer format. "To make someone like Test cricket, it has to come from within. There is no set formula that you have to do certain things and then you start liking Test cricket. I grew up dreaming about playing for India - that was the biggest thing I wanted to achieve: to play Test cricket for India and to do well," Tendulkar said, according to a report in The Indian Express.

"Every practice session I went out, I was prepared to work as hard as any of my coaches wanted me to; the only thing I wanted was an India cap. Yes, maybe there are individuals around who feel, 'If I don't play Test cricket I don't miss much.' You need not force them into something they don't want to be," he told ESPN's Sports Centre programme.

"If someone wants to be in Test cricket, then he will find his way, will be ready to push himself as hard as anyone to realise his dreams. I don't like to push someone to like Test cricket and make him like Test cricket forcibly. I would just keep those two individuals separate," Tendulkar, who has scored 15470 runs from 188 Test matches, said.

Meanwhile writing about Rahul Dravid, The Hindu says actions do speak louder than words. “Rahul Dravid is one person who gives the impression that he plans his utterances. He never supplemented his cricketing brilliance with mindless comments about the game. His technique for enjoying the game is simple. When the cricketer’s personality blends with the culture of the game, gratification automatically ensues. And this is how Dravid has moulded himself all these years making him the Rahul Dravid we know today. In an interview to a television channel, he modestly but clearly spelt out things which he was comfortable with. When he said he was open to coach the Indian team, he perhaps meant the role of a mentor which is very important in the pressure-laden modern sports.”

Meanwhile an under-strength New Zealand side pulled off a superb 88-run win in the third of their five match one day international series with the West Indies on Wednesday. The Kiwis - who trail 2-1 - made 249 in their innings with man of the match opener Rob Nicol top scoring with 59 while the hosts never got any momentum going and were bowled out for 161.