01.jpgNo. 2: "This little prick's going to end up with more runs than you, AB," Merv Hughes said as Tendulkar wrecked Shane Warne's debut with an unbeaten 148 at the SCG in 1992. He was the youngest boy to score a Test century in Australia.
No. 3: On a lethal pitch at the WACA in 1992, Tendulkar made 114 against an attack that included Craig McDermott and Merv Hughes, scoring the bulk of his runs with square cuts. "That is when I felt that, yes, now I am here to play cricket anywhere in the world, any bowling attack and I am confident enough to tackle them," he would say, years later.
No. 4: On his way to 111 at the Wanderers in 1992, Tendulkar, at 19 years and 217 days, became the youngest batsman to reach 1000 Test runs, displacing Kapil Dev. "In my era, I think he's the best player I've ever had the pleasure of playing against," Allan Donald, who bowled to Tendulkar in that match, said in 2007.
No. 5: His first century in India was against England in 1993 in Madras, a venue at which he would play many more memorable innings. "Tendulkar's six-hour 165 - including 24 fours and a six - was a gem but, had a third umpire, using TV replay, been on hand to review a run-out attempt by Lewis when he was on 9, India might not have made such a conclusive total," Wisden reported.
No. 6: Tendulkar's second-innings 104 at the SSC in 1993 was his first century in Sri Lanka. It helped set up India's first Test victory in the country. He provided the thrust that allowed India to make a declaration and complete the win late on the final day.
No. 7: A 142 in India's innings-victory against Sri Lanka in Lucknow in 1994. "The home team's start was uninspiring, the openers struggled to find their rhythm against Wickremasinghe ..." Wisden reported. "Not until mid-afternoon, when the assured Tendulkar helped place conditions in perspective, did India resemble the side so used to dominating visiting teams."
No. 8: Tendulkar's 179 in Nagpur in 1994 was his first hundred against the West Indians and it remained his highest score until his maiden double-century in 1999. He got to this century by hooking Courtney Walsh for six.
No. 9: Tendulkar made 122 out of 219 in the second innings at Edgbaston in 1996. No other batsman reached 20. "It will be difficult for India to get back into the series having lost the first Test. However, if one player can make it possible it is Tendulkar," Imran Khan wrote in the Daily Telegraph. "His hundred in the second innings was pure class. His compact defence and freedom of strokes on both sides of the wicket with a straight or a horizontal bat makes me feel that he might break all batting records - especially as he is even younger than Brian Lara."
No. 10: A 177 at Trent Bridge in 1996 helped ensure Tendulkar was Wisden's Cricketer of the Year. "Tendulkar averages over 50 in Tests and is the supreme right-hander, if not quite the finest batsman, on the planet. He is a focused technician, who offers a counterpoint to Brian Lara's more eye-catching destruction, fuelled on flair and ego," Wisden said. "He has, it seems, been around for ever. In the third Test at Trent Bridge last summer, he scored 177, the tenth century of his Test career and his second of the series: yet remarkably, at 23, Tendulkar was younger than any member of the England team, with only Dominic Cork and Min Patel born even in the same decade."
No. 11: Tendulkar's 169 at Newlands in 1997 was part of a thrilling stand with Mohammad Azharuddin. They added 222 in 40 overs. Tendulkar carried on after his partner fell, and helped India avoid the follow-on. He was eventually the last man out, and it needed one of the great out-field catches of all time from Adam Bacher to end it.
No. 12: Tendulkar's 143 allowed India to declare on 537 for 8 at the Premadasa Stadium in 1997. Sri Lanka's riposte was 952. Tendulkar said the pitch was "unfit for Test cricket", adding: "If we had lost the toss and batted second, we could also have played a massive innings. We only lost wickets because we took chances and looked for runs."
No. 8: Tendulkar's 179 in Nagpur in 1994 was his first hundred against the West Indians and it remained his highest score until his maiden double-century in 1999. He got to this century by hooking Courtney Walsh for six.
No. 9: Tendulkar made 122 out of 219 in the second innings at Edgbaston in 1996. No other batsman reached 20. "It will be difficult for India to get back into the series having lost the first Test. However, if one player can make it possible it is Tendulkar," Imran Khan wrote in the Daily Telegraph. "His hundred in the second innings was pure class. His compact defence and freedom of strokes on both sides of the wicket with a straight or a horizontal bat makes me feel that he might break all batting records - especially as he is even younger than Brian Lara."
No. 10: A 177 at Trent Bridge in 1996 helped ensure Tendulkar was Wisden's Cricketer of the Year. "Tendulkar averages over 50 in Tests and is the supreme right-hander, if not quite the finest batsman, on the planet. He is a focused technician, who offers a counterpoint to Brian Lara's more eye-catching destruction, fuelled on flair and ego," Wisden said. "He has, it seems, been around for ever. In the third Test at Trent Bridge last summer, he scored 177, the tenth century of his Test career and his second of the series: yet remarkably, at 23, Tendulkar was younger than any member of the England team, with only Dominic Cork and Min Patel born even in the same decade."
No. 11: Tendulkar's 169 at Newlands in 1997 was part of a thrilling stand with Mohammad Azharuddin. They added 222 in 40 overs. Tendulkar carried on after his partner fell, and helped India avoid the follow-on. He was eventually the last man out, and it needed one of the great out-field catches of all time from Adam Bacher to end it.
No. 12: Tendulkar's 143 allowed India to declare on 537 for 8 at the Premadasa Stadium in 1997. Sri Lanka's riposte was 952. Tendulkar said the pitch was "unfit for Test cricket", adding: "If we had lost the toss and batted second, we could also have played a massive innings. We only lost wickets because we took chances and looked for runs."