Rob Houwing’s TV sport column

I suppose travelling the planet regularly in the line of television commentating duty is always going to be a more desirable job than mere mortal street-sweeper, bank teller or burger-joint manager. (Or, for that matter, online sportswriter?)

That said, SuperSport’s Daryll Cullinan returned from South Africa’s tour of India positively gushing about his experiences there during the two-Test and three-ODI series.

I suspect Cullinan, who turned 43 the day this column was penned and ranks among South Africa’s finest stroke-players, is one of those who particularly respects cricket’s heritage, traditions and landmarks.

So he could hardly contain his enthusiasm, when Pom Mbangwa hosted him on Standard Bank Inside Edge the other night, about having being a witness to Sachin Tendulkar’s first ever double century in ODIs at Gwalior.

Daryll made special, frequent reference to the “humility” exuded by the little maestro, who is showing few signs of losing his relish for batting despite turning 37 towards the end of next month.

He said that despite the unprecedented adulation that accompanies Tendulkar at every turn in his populous home country, the player never sheds a “common touch” and will go out of way to greet a fellow cricketing personality if he spots him – be it Cullinan or anyone else.

Cullinan predicted that Tendulkar would stay in the game for some time to come, given that the historic double-ton served fresh notice of his stamina and endurance despite an ageing body.

“His pure enthusiasm for cricket is what really drives him: he’s like the little boy who wants to go on and on playing despite his mum trying to call him in after dark,” was the gist of Daryll’s assessment.

Cullinan tips Tendulkar to now target a new individual milestone of 50 centuries in each major form of cricket – he is not far off it, either, considering that he already sports 47 tons in Tests and 46 in one-day internationals.

And he reminded that some three or four years ago the Indian superstar had been so consistently and painfully troubled by an elbow injured that he feared his career would be over in a matter of months!

In more general terms, Cullinan lauded the “sensational cricket” in evidence for much of the tour. “Tendulkar, Steyn, Amla, Dhoni … there were simply some incredible performances.” Indeed.

He did confide, too, that he had received at least two emails saying he ought to be deported from India, for mischievously daring to bring up the “Tendulkar v Ponting” greatness debate when he was in a commentary stint with Laxman Sivaramakrishnan during the Test portion.

But clearly a couple of cranks weren’t going to dampen DJ Cullinan’s liking for his Subcontinent assignment …

Rob’s awesome foursome:

1. Titans v Lions, Standard Bank Pro20 semi-final cricket
Centurion, Friday 18:00, CSN & SS2
So who joins the Warriors in both the final of this competition and the lucrative next Champions League? Many neutrals, I suspect, may be rooting for the long-suffering Lions, shock winners of the pulsating first leg of this tie and trying to stave off a white-knuckle decider by clinching this cross-Hennops battle as well. They may, of course, find the Titans a rather harder nut to crack this time. Whoever gets through, they will be playing the Warriors in their home stronghold of Port Elizabeth next Friday in the showpiece.

2. Waratahs v Sharks, Vodacom Super 14 rugby
Sydney, Saturday 10:40, M-Net & SS1
Occasional Sharks skipper Johann Muller went out of his way this week to pooh-pooh in the Aussie press rumours of disharmony in the ranks. Hmm, you’re hardly likely to say “actually, yes, we’re one big can of maggots”, are you? This is a bit of a make-or-break for both teams, who traditionally have some needle between them at the best of times. The Sharks simply cannot afford to go 0/4 … that pretty much makes them also-rans, depressingly early in the competition. Hate to say it, but I tip the Waratahs to win it by six or seven points, even though the visitors have a puncher’s chance.

3. Stormers v Highlanders, Vodacom Super 14 rugby
Cape Town, Saturday 17:05, M-Net, SS HD & SS1
It’s not quite as do-or-die for the Stormers in this one as the Sydney date is for the Sharks, but let’s put it this way: a second successive home defeat and the prophets of eternal Newlands doom will come cackling from their mountainside caves once more. The Incredible Schalk is back to lead the Stormers … and it’s about time he completed a rugby match, after hobbling off early through injury in the pre-season game against Boland and then also against the Waratahs a fortnight ago. The home side to do it … probably even with a bonus point this time.

4. Manchester United v AC Milan, Champions League soccer
Old Trafford, Wednesday 21:45, SS3 & SS HD
It’s hard to see the Milanese coming back into this two-leg knockout tie, after their near-nightmare 3-2 home defeat. Still, if Leeds United could down the Red Devils by one goal at Old Trafford in the FA Cup this season, why shouldn’t star-studded AC Milan be capable of doing it by two in the Champions League? United, though, are pretty seasoned when it comes to closing out ties. Impartial observers will secretly hope for an early strike by the Italians to make it interesting …