Cricket commentator, analyst and writer Aslam Khota pays a brief tribute to Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar. The master batsman now holds the world-record for runs scored in Test Cricket.
Sachin scales battings Everest
Sachin Tendulkar finally went pass 11953 runs in Test cricket against Australia in the second Test in Mohali to beat Brian Lara’s world record that was set only 18 months ago. The West Indian had beaten Allan Borders record that was achieved in 1994 also against the Australians, and then suddenly announced his retirement.
But this tribute is about Tendulkar, the first man to touch 12000 runs. This is his moment to saviour, to enjoy and relish a record that is the highest testament of a batsman’s greatness. His countryman are overjoyed and admirers the world over are united in their celebrations. India is a proud nation and they were in similar spirits when Sunil Gavaskar became the first to reach 9000 runs. Then in his 38th year of Test cricket, he scaled the amazing mark of 10 000 runs.
That was in 1987, 21 years ago and Gavaskar became the pioneer, the path breaker and the standard bearer and set the bar for others to challenge. His milestone was achieved against Pakistan when he late-cut Ejaz Fakih for two runs, to move from 9999 to 10 001. There was delirium in the stadium in Ahmedabad, a pitch invasion was inevitable and the celebrations delayed the match for 20 minutes!
Two weeks later, Gavaskar played a classic on a minefield of a pitch in Bangalore. His 96 against a great attack that included Imran Khan and Abdul Qadir was notable for its craftsmanship and impeccable technique. This proved to be his final Test innings – the perfect swansong to a remarkable career.
For Sachin Tendulkar, the final chapter is yet to be written. Sachin also moved to his world record with a late-cut that historic afternoon and it was a most endearing picture as all the Australians congratulated him and the raptures in the stadium in Mohali was chorused with celebratory fireworks. He went about his batting in workmanlike fashion until he was well caught by Mathew Hayden for 86, his contribution in a massive 320 run win over the Aussies.
The little man from Mumbai started his firs-class career as a 16 year old in sparkling fashion and looked to dominate bowlers from the onset. He broke records at will in Tests and limited over internationals (ODI’s). Then the burden of expectation seemed to way him down and he chose a more conservative approach in the latter years. With this record now in his pocket and perhaps with just a year or two left for him, barring injuries, he will in all probability, revert to his old style of batting and entertain the world till his final run. He has the record number of Test hundreds, 39 to be exact. He was the fastest and youngest batsman to reach each of his thousand runs from 1000 to 12000 runs!
Tendulkar first made headlines in February 1988 when as a 14 year old, he was involved in a world-record stand of 664* with his 16 year old school-mate Vinod Kambli. Playing for Shardashram Vidyamandhir, they pummelled the hapless St Xaviers XI at the Azad Maidan ground. Both were unbeaten on 326 and 349 respectively. Two Indian schoolboys, Mohamed Shaibaz and Manoj Kumar scored 721 in 2006 to break that record.
In his maiden Test series aged 16, Tendulkar was hit on the nose by Waqar Younis in the final Test in Sialkot. He was dazed and dropped to the ground, bleeding from his nose, but stood up, wiped the gushing blood, refused medical help and with a bloodied shirt and glove went on to score 57, until he was caught off Imran Khans bowling. This brave and stubborn performance prompted Imran, a brilliant judge at spotting young talent to say that Tendulkar will be a legend.
Sachin was only 17 when he scored his first Test century against England at Old Trafford. India suffered a collapse and at 127 for 5, needed 407 to win. He batted for over 4 hours to be unbeaten on 119 and according to scribes had there been another session India might have won through his efforts.
Noted as the fastest pitch in world cricket, the famed Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) stadium in Perth was the scene of one of the most dramatic hundreds and possibly the best ever scored on Australian soil? Batsmen from the sub-continent seldom come to terms with the pace and bounce in Australia. Tendulkar, then aged 18, came to the crease with the Indians on a 100 for 3. The next five batsmen were then dismissed for the addition of only 59 runs. When he was eventually out with the total on 240, Tendulkar had scored 114 of the 140 that was added while he was at the crease. It was awe-inspiring stuff as Craig McDermott, Merv Hughes, Paul Reiffel, Michael Whitney and Tom Moody watched him strike 16 fours that hit the pickets with ferocity not seen before.
In Cape Town’s new years Test of 1997, South Africans finally witnessed the phenomenon of oriental batsmanship when Tendulkar and Mohammed Azharuddin rescued India from 58 for 5. Their partnership yielded 222 runs in less than 200 minutes in less than two sessions. Azhars 119 off 110 balls with 19 fours and 1 six was bettered by his protégé’s 169 that included 26 boundaries. Allan Donald said it was so brilliant that even he felt like clapping!
Tendulkar has a remarkable record and saves his best against Australia who have clearly been the most dominant team of his era. Of his 39 Test centuries, 9 have been against the Aussies with a best of 241 not out and an average of 55.82. He has scored hundreds against all Test playing countries. Incidentally his poorest average of 35.35 is against the South Africans. He has peeled off 3 hundreds against them and once remarked to me in East London that he considered Donald a great bowler and competitor.
Shane Warne is quoted to have said that; “Tendulkar hits me for six in my nightmares!” The little genius has a phenomenal string of scores and records and they are just too many to mention, save to say that of his record 42 centuries in ODI’s, his first one was only scored in his 79 match!
Azharuddin had a dream start with back-to-back hundreds in his debut, and his end was a nightmare, with match fixing allegations banning him for life from the game. Sachin on the other hand, had one run-in with authority. He was accused of ball-tempering in a Test match in South Africa, by Mike Dennesse, the match referee. The team supported him and refuted the allegations, Tendulkars banning was overturned and he to date has yet to bring the game into disrepute.
There are many the qualities that set him apart. He has old fashioned dedication, determination and concentration combined with a certain technical mastery and an insatiable appetite for runs. His thirst for big scores and success marks him out as the batsman that many would aspire to emulate, like the great Sir Donald Bradman did. Tendulkar placed great store in loyalty and national pride. He is humble with his achievements and lives a simple life, keeping his privacy and that of his wife and daughters out of the public eye.
Cricket’s greatest batsman, whilst watching Tendulkar bat on telly, paid the ultimate compliment when he confided to his wife that Tendulkar reminded him of himself! Bradman was the pre-eminent player of his day. Sachin is a leading figure of his time. Like Bradman, his image will expand rather than diminish when he calls it a day.
END
This article first appeared in THE INDICATOR
If you have comments or questions then email Aslam on
aslamcricket@polka.co.za
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