SACHIN and HIS 50 Centuries
No. 1: Sachin Tendulkar saved the Old Trafford Test for India in 1990 with an unbeaten 119 in the final innings. At 17 years and 112 days, he was only a month older than Mushtaq Mohammad was when he had become Test cricket's youngest centurion. Wisden noted: "He looked the embodiment of India's famous opener, Gavaskar, and indeed was wearing a pair of his pads."Sachin Tendulkar saved India from defeat with his maiden Test century
No. 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.Sachin Tendulkar cuts during his maiden 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.Sachin Tendulkar overcomes the challenges of a fast WACA pitch
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.Sachin Tendulkar overcomes the challenges of a fast WACA pitch
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.Sachin Tendulkar cuts on his way to 111
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.Sachin Tendulkar celebrates his first hundred in India
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.Sachin Tendulkar on his way to his first hundred in Sri Lanka
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."Sachin Tendulkar pulls during his seventh Test century.
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.Sachin Tendulkar celebrates his first hundred in India
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.Sachin Tendulkar on his way to his first hundred in Sri Lanka
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."Sachin Tendulkar pulls during his seventh Test century.
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.Sachin Tendulkar celebrates his first century against West Indies
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."Sachin Tendulkar pulls during his ninth Test century
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."Sachin Tendulkar defends on his way to a century
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."Sachin Tendulkar pulls during his ninth Test century
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."Sachin Tendulkar defends on his way to a century
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.Mohammad Azharuddin and Sachin Tendulkar meet Nelson Mandela
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."Sachin Tendulkar prepares to hit the ball
No. 13: In the very next Test, Tendulkar scored 139 in another high-scoring contest at the SSC in Colombo.Sachin Tendulkar celebrates his century
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."Sachin Tendulkar prepares to hit the ball
No. 13: In the very next Test, Tendulkar scored 139 in another high-scoring contest at the SSC in Colombo.Sachin Tendulkar celebrates his century
No. 14: Another century against Sri Lanka, this time in Mumbai in 1997. Tendulkar toiled for 71 minutes for 8 runs on the first day but found his touch on the second, moving from 87 to 99 with successive sixes off Kumar Dharmasena. During his innings of 148, Tendulkar went past 4000 Test runs, and his 256-run stand with Sourav Ganguly was an Indian record for the fourth wicket.Sachin Tendulkar plays a reverse pull of sorts
No. 15: The torment of Australia, and Warne, continued in Chennai, where Tendulkar made 155 in 1998. The contest between the two champions was among the best Ian Chappell had watched. "The defining moment came just after lunch, when Warne went round the wicket with Tendulkar having just passed his fifty," Chappell wrote on ESPNcricinfo. "Tendulkar took to his offerings like a kid offered a lolly-shop gift voucher. A brace of sixes and fours from lofted sweep/pull shots to the midwicket region convinced Warne to abort this tactic. Tendulkar's preparatory work had proved to be a masterstroke."Sachin Tendulkar flicks Greg Blewett
No. 16: Tendulkar scored 177 out of the 281 runs India added while he was at the crease against Australia in Bangalore in 1998. Wisden said he was "impossible to contain" and on the second morning Tendulkar scored 60 off 64 balls, before falling to little-known Adam Dale.Sachin Tendulkar reaches his ton
No. 15: The torment of Australia, and Warne, continued in Chennai, where Tendulkar made 155 in 1998. The contest between the two champions was among the best Ian Chappell had watched. "The defining moment came just after lunch, when Warne went round the wicket with Tendulkar having just passed his fifty," Chappell wrote on ESPNcricinfo. "Tendulkar took to his offerings like a kid offered a lolly-shop gift voucher. A brace of sixes and fours from lofted sweep/pull shots to the midwicket region convinced Warne to abort this tactic. Tendulkar's preparatory work had proved to be a masterstroke."Sachin Tendulkar flicks Greg Blewett
No. 16: Tendulkar scored 177 out of the 281 runs India added while he was at the crease against Australia in Bangalore in 1998. Wisden said he was "impossible to contain" and on the second morning Tendulkar scored 60 off 64 balls, before falling to little-known Adam Dale.Sachin Tendulkar reaches his ton
No. 17: At Napier in 1990, Tendulkar had fallen 12 short of becoming the youngest Test centurion. Eight years later, in Wellington, he made his first Test hundred in New Zealand off 123 balls.Sachin Tendulkar brings up his first century in New Zealand
No 18: Tendulkar's 136, a masterclass made with a spasming back, took India to the verge of victory against Pakistan in Chennai in 1999, but the tail collapsed after he was dismissed with only 17 to get. "Because he was such a big player and in awesome form at the time, we were all pretty sure that Sachin was going to win the game for them," Moin Khan, Pakistan's wicketkeeper at the time, said years later. "But as soon as we got him out, it became obvious to us that we would win - in those days India's reliance on him was much greater than it is now."Sachin Tendulkar, hampered by a bad back, reaches his hundred
No. 19: Tendulkar made an unbeaten 124 in the third innings of a nondescript Test at the SSC in 1999, which ended in a draw.Sachin Tendulkar turns the ball on the leg side
No 18: Tendulkar's 136, a masterclass made with a spasming back, took India to the verge of victory against Pakistan in Chennai in 1999, but the tail collapsed after he was dismissed with only 17 to get. "Because he was such a big player and in awesome form at the time, we were all pretty sure that Sachin was going to win the game for them," Moin Khan, Pakistan's wicketkeeper at the time, said years later. "But as soon as we got him out, it became obvious to us that we would win - in those days India's reliance on him was much greater than it is now."Sachin Tendulkar, hampered by a bad back, reaches his hundred
No. 19: Tendulkar made an unbeaten 124 in the third innings of a nondescript Test at the SSC in 1999, which ended in a draw.Sachin Tendulkar turns the ball on the leg side
No. 20: Having spent a month recovering from back trouble, Tendulkar scored a valuable second-innings century - 126 not out - that helped India post 505 for 3 after they had collapsed for 83 in the first innings against New Zealand at Mohali in 1999.Sachin Tendulkar prepares to play the ball
No. 21: Tendulkar scored his first double-century - 217 against New Zealand at Motera in 1999 - in his 71st Test.Sachin Tendulkar celebrates his first double-century
No. 22: Tendulkar made 116 out of a total of 238 at the MCG in 1999, a Test India lost by 180 runs. "Somewhat unsurprisingly, it was yet again the brilliant Tendulkar who was answering the unenviable call to shore up India's battered defences," wrote John Polack. "After an engrossing battle with a bouncer-hungry McGrath had kept him subdued through the early part of his stay, he gradually began to increase his scoring rate with a number of beautifully crafted strokes ... Quite simply, his sense of assurance and sheer range of shots against an adroitly rotated attack were perfectly applied in these hostile circumstances.
No. 21: Tendulkar scored his first double-century - 217 against New Zealand at Motera in 1999 - in his 71st Test.Sachin Tendulkar celebrates his first double-century
No. 22: Tendulkar made 116 out of a total of 238 at the MCG in 1999, a Test India lost by 180 runs. "Somewhat unsurprisingly, it was yet again the brilliant Tendulkar who was answering the unenviable call to shore up India's battered defences," wrote John Polack. "After an engrossing battle with a bouncer-hungry McGrath had kept him subdued through the early part of his stay, he gradually began to increase his scoring rate with a number of beautifully crafted strokes ... Quite simply, his sense of assurance and sheer range of shots against an adroitly rotated attack were perfectly applied in these hostile circumstances.
"No 23: An extract from ESPNcricinfo's report from the day: Tendulkar made 122 against Zimbabwe at the Kotla in 2000, John Wright's first Test as India coach. "Earlier, Tendulkar was visibly miffed with himself. On a flat batting track, against a friendly Zimbabwean attack, he got himself out for just 122. The way Tendulkar was batting, that should have been just the beginning. After flaying Brian Strang for three boundaries in the first over of the day, Tendulkar pounced on anything loose ... each one was a shot of class."Sachin Tendulkar prepares to sweep
No. 24: The unbeaten 201 against Zimbabwe in Nagpur in 2000 was the 50th international century of Tendulkar's career. He was the first batsman to score so many. Sunil Gavaskar, Viv Richards and Desmond Haynes, all retired, had 35 hundreds, and Mark Waugh 31 at the time.Sachin Tendulkar celebrates century
No. 25: The 126 in Chennai against Australia in 2001 helped India win one of the greatest series of all time. He reached the century with his second six, off Colin Miller, and also hit 15 fours. Three came in an over from Shane Warne. Two were played to the fine-leg boundary after which, Warne, bowling from round the wicket, bounced Tendulkar, who responded with an upper-cut to the third-man boundary.Sachin Tendulkar plays the ball lateSachin Tendulkar trudges off after being dismissed for 116 (the Remaining 25 will be posted tomorrow)
No. 24: The unbeaten 201 against Zimbabwe in Nagpur in 2000 was the 50th international century of Tendulkar's career. He was the first batsman to score so many. Sunil Gavaskar, Viv Richards and Desmond Haynes, all retired, had 35 hundreds, and Mark Waugh 31 at the time.Sachin Tendulkar celebrates century
No. 25: The 126 in Chennai against Australia in 2001 helped India win one of the greatest series of all time. He reached the century with his second six, off Colin Miller, and also hit 15 fours. Three came in an over from Shane Warne. Two were played to the fine-leg boundary after which, Warne, bowling from round the wicket, bounced Tendulkar, who responded with an upper-cut to the third-man boundary.Sachin Tendulkar plays the ball lateSachin Tendulkar trudges off after being dismissed for 116 (the Remaining 25 will be posted tomorrow)
