Sachin is not responsible for what some of his fans say about him. He cannot help it. But it is quite amusing to see people levelling unwarranted criticiism at Sachin because of the opinion of his fans. Sachin is a hard nosed practical cricket player and nothing wrong about it . Every player at some point in time, in his career will gesture with his bat and will try to escape an lbw decision, be it lara or gilchrist, for the simple reason that
inspite of the rules laid down lbw decision is subjective . In case of an lbw decision ,irrespective of wether you have nicked or not, one umpire might send you back to the pavilion while the other may allow you to stay at the crease. So almost all batters raise their bat almost instintively when they are hit on the pads(just to be on the safer side) just as the bowlers appeal knowing fully well that the batter is not out .
As far as caught behind is concerned Sachin Tendulkar has had his share of decisions where he escaped but the number of times he got wrong decisions might be more than that .
So why he walked ? Maybe he walked not to look stupid because he thought UDRS might "see" or "hear" his nick . But UDRS might have not been able to see or hear his nick. This goes to show that this stupid UDRS is over estimated. the keeper,batter and bowler knew there was a nick but the stupid UDRS did not(that is what I read).
May be he walked because it was a dead match and he did not want law of averages to catch up with him in QF's.
Maybe he walked because he just felt like . What the heck .
In your effort to criticise Sachin's fans(he has no control on them) you are levelling unwarranted criticism against Sachin Tendulkar. I mean "he has a record of bluffing the umpire" is quite amusing.
I understand the chivalry and gentleman's game argument, but really there is no excuse FOR walking especially in the current climate. If you think you're out, tell the umpire. Because it's his decision. Not yours. The current climate of suspicion (and the fact that both teams seemed to be trying to lose that match) only make it more important.
Walking was nice, but it is effectively pre-empting or dissenting from the umpire's decision, and it needs to be gone.
Secondly, the facts of the matter are:
- Sachin is a great player (NOT the greatest lol) not going to argue about top 10, top 5 or top 3 or whatever
- and he deserves his place in the side
- however, he is NOT God, he will NOT play for ever, and the fantasy that he will has pervaded the highest levels of Indian cricket and is harming the development of the next generation of batsmen! Dravid and Sehwag are not the issue, the issue is Gambhir, and Kohli, and Raina, and Rohit, and Yuvi, and everyone else that doesn't retire next week.
As for trying to fool the umpire, I'm not in a position to comment on whether Sachin has a history of it, but I'm sick and tired of people making excuses for it. If bowling a no-ball for $50000 deserves a 5 year ban (it doesn't of course), then any attempt to bluff the umpire and potentially alter a result, deserves double that. At least.
Personally I think even the case of the bowler appealing when it clearly isn't out (pitched outside leg for example) ought to be stamped out too. I think a warning for first offence, maybe a no-ball for second, and then a fine and/or removal from the attack for the innings.
For the batsman's bluff, the penalties should start with a fine, which increases for repeat offences, and there should be no hesitation in escalating this to match bans, and then longer bans.
And if the bluff (batsman or bowler) is successful and is only discovered after play, then a match ban minimum, and depending on the importance of the decision to the match/series/competition, this could go up to a year ban first offence (eg. for a bluff affecting the result of a World Cup final).
even though he was a better number three batter than Dravid.
? Ok... 
