Kolkata: Batting genius Sachin Tendulkar Tuesday completed 22 marathon
years in international cricket, still awaiting a record 100th
international ton. The Mumbaikar has gone without a century for the last
eight months.
It was it was on Nov 15, 1989 that a shy 16-year-old Tendulkar made
his debut for India under Krishnamachari Srikkanth in the Karachi Test
against Pakistan, with cricketing pundits immediately professing the
advent of a talent capable of breaking all batting records in the years
to come. He made his ODI debut in the same tour at Gujranwala, and has
never looked back.
Tendulkar now lies ninth in the list of players
with the longest careers in Test cricket. English all-rounder Wilfred
Rhodes holds the unique record of representing his country for 30 years
315 days from June 1, 1899 to April 12, 1930.
Englishmen Dennis
Brown Close and Frank Wooley occupy the second and third place
respectively. Close played Test cricket for 26 years 356 days, while
Wooley's career spanned 25 years 13 days.
Others ahead of
Tendulkar are George Headley (West Indies), John Traicos (South Africa
and Zimbabwe), Jack Hobbs (England), Geroge Gunn (England) and Syd
Gregory (England).
With 15,086 runs under his belt in 183 Tests
(till the first innings of the ongoing match against West Indies at Eden
Gardens) and 18,111 in 453 ODIs, Tendulkar holds the record for the
maximum number of appearances and being the highest run-getter in both
forms. He also has to his credit the most number of hundreds - 51 in
Tests and 48 in ODIs. At 38 years, he is the second oldest Indian still playing international cricket after team mate Rahul Dravid.
Having
carried the aspirations of millions of fans for over two decades,
defying a number of injuries -- including a career threatening tennis
elbow -- Tendulkar has emerged possibly one of the greatest icons the
country has produced in all spheres of life.
Fans from Kashmir to
Kanyakumari worship him, sponsors and endorsers stake their fortune on
him confident of reaping rich dividends, and budding players know, who
to look up to as role model.
On his part, Tendulkar has always
steered clear of controversies on and off the field and played the
gentleman's game in its true spirit.
The century draught from
Tendulkar's blade has generated lot of debates and discussions. After
day one of the ongoing Test at Eden, West indies head coach Ottis Gibbs
commented that the pressure of expectations from his huge Indians fans
seem to be affecting Tendulkar.
After scoring a century in the
Cape Town Test against South Africa, January 2, Sachin has failed to
play even one triple figure knock in the 12 Test innings, the highest
being 91 at Oval during India's disastrous English tour in summer.
However,
he did get two ODI hundreds during this time - 120 against England at
Bangalore and 111 facing South Africa in Nagpur. The last one came March
12.
When Tendulkar started his ODI career, he took almost five
years to get his maiden hundred that came in 1994 against Australia in
Colombo. Then even Sunil Gavaskar commented that once he gets his first
one, there will be no stopping him.
There has been no stopping the 5'5'' talent, and one hopes the magic big ton comes soon.
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