1998 - This was the beginning of a period at the top of the batting world, culminating in the Australian tour of India in early 1998, with Tendulkar scoring three consecutive centuries. The focus was on the clash between Sachin Tendulkar, the world's most dominating batsman and Shane Warne, the world's leading spinner, both at the peak of their careers, clashing in a full-fledged Test series after 7 long years. In the tour opener, Australia faced the then Ranji Champions Mumbai at the Brabourne Stadium in a three-day first class match. Tendulkar made 204* as Shane Warne conceded 111 runs in 16 overs and Australia lost the match within three days (I was there watching from the stands with my friend Viren Rodrigues & Zaheer Khan).
This was followed
by a brilliant 155* in the 1st test at Chennai, 79 in the 2nd
test at Kolkata and an incredible counter attacking 177 at Bangalore. These
were characterized by a premeditated plan to target Australian spinners Shane Warne and Gavin Robertson, to whom he regularly charged down the pitch to drive over
the infield. There was also an 89 ball 100 in the Kanpur ODI against Australia.
The Test match success was followed by
two of the most incredible back to back innings ever witnessed in the History
of ODI in a Triangular tournament in
Sharjah – the first in a must-win game to take India to the finals and then
again in the finals, both against Australia tormenting Shane Warne once again.
These twin knocks are also known as The Desert Storm. The innings in the finals
was played on his 25th birthday. Following the series Warne ruefully joked that
he was having nightmares about his Indian nemesis.
Tendulkar
single-handedly won the ICC 1998 quarterfinal at Dhaka to pave way for India's entry into the
semi-finals, when he took four Australian wickets after scoring 141 runs in
just 128 balls.
In the historic Test
against Pakistan at Chepauk,
Chennai in 1999, the first of a
two-Test series, Sachin scored 136 in the fourth innings with India chasing 271
for victory. However, he was out when India needed 17 more runs to win,
triggering a batting collapse, and India lost the match by 12 runs. The worst
was yet to come as Professor Ramesh Tendulkar, Sachin's father, died in the
middle of the 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup. Tendulkar flew back
to India to attend the final rituals of his father, missing the match against Zimbabwe.
However, he returned to the World Cup scoring a century (140 not out off 101
balls) in his very next match against Kenya in
Bristol. He dedicated this century to his father.
Sachin has an incredible record
against the Australian. Like they say that Bradman reserved his best for the
Poms & Gavaskar for the Windies, Sachin has tormented the Australians (the
best cricket team of my era, no doubt) over the years.
Sachin in Test against the Australian
against some of the best bowlers of my Era with the likes of Craig McDermott,
Merv Hughes, Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Brett Lee & the Legend – Shane
Warne.
M
|
Runs
|
HS
|
Ave
|
100s
|
50s
|
||
39
|
3630
|
241*
|
55.00
|
11
|
16
|
In fact, as per the Stats the period
from 1997-2002 can be called the Golden Era of Sachin Tendulkar, where he
played 59 Test, scoring 5705 runs at astonishing Bradmanesque Avg of 65 with 21
Hundreds & 20 Fifties.
The Australians were not spared by The
Master in the shorter format as well.
M
|
Runs
|
HS
|
Ave
|
100s
|
50s
|
71
|
3077
|
175
|
44.59
|
9
|
15
|
There is a saying in the Cricketing Circles
of Mumbai, that a Mumbai Batsman always reserves his best for the Best Team of
their era and Sachin Tendulkar was no exception. He showed his mantle when he
took the Baton from Sunil Gavaskar and stood tall in 1989 against the Great
Pakistani Attack and then cracked the sleeves of the Aussies & the Proteas
(2 of the best teams on his generation).
- Kinnar Solanki
Twitter - @kinny77
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