Tendulkar batted at the nets for 40 minutes to prepare for Bushfire charity game

 

Indian cricketing legends Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh returned to the nets to practice for the Bushfire Cricket Bash after being away from the game for a considerable period of time. The cricketers prepared for the charity match held on Sunday at the Junction Oval in Melbourne between Ponting XI and Gilchrist XI to raise money for the people and wildlife affected by Australia’s devastating wildfire.

Tendulkar, who is coaching Ponting XI, will come out of retirement for an over, as he has accepted the challenge to play an over, thrown by Australian cricketer Ellyssa Perry. Yuvraj is participating in the charity match and is playing for Gilchrist XI along with other legends such as Andrew Symonds and Courtney Walsh.

Yuvraj Singh revealed that Tendulkar spent 40 minutes practising at the nets. In a video interview with cricket.com.au, Singh stated, “He said he is going to play just six balls, but he batted for 40 minutes in the nets.”

Tendulkar will play an over during the innings break in the charity match, an offer he accepted after he was challenged by ICC’s Woman Cricketer of the Year Ellysa Perry. She had asked Tendulkar to bat for an over, something he agreed to do if it meant that the Bash will receive more donations.

During the match, he said in a video, “I turned up here as a coach, but for me to go out and bat in the lunch will be interesting. I will be holding a cricket bat after 5 and a half years.”

Ponting XI eventually won the game by a run, and fans lapped up every minute of the game as they got a rare chance to see their childhood heroes play once again.

Gilchrist XI: Adam Gilchrist (wk), Shane Watson, Brad Hodge, Yuvraj Singh, Elyse Villani, Andrew Symonds, Cameron Smith, Nick Riewoldt, Peter Siddle, Fawad Ahmed, Courtney Walsh

Ponting XI: Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting, Phoebe Litchfield, Brian Lara, Alex Blackwell, Brad Haddin (wk), Luke Hodge, Brett Lee, Dan Christian, Wasim Akram