Sachin, page 10
The two were incredibly severe on the Kiwis. Both batsmen seemed to hit at will and in all directions, even deliveries that were not as bad as they were made to look.
New Zealand were never really in with a chance. They lost their opening pair in the first five overs. But for debutant Scott Styris’ 43, they would have been bowled inside 200. They were all out for 202 and lost by 174 runs.
The mauling was so severe that New Zealand seemed to lose confidence. They lost the remaining three matches, though not as badly, and India won the series 4–1.
Did you know…
» This was the second time Rahul Dravid was involved in a 300-plus partnership in ODI cricket. The first was the 318-run stand between him and Sourav Ganguly on 26 May 1999. These are the only two instances of 300-plus partnerships in ODIs.
» This was Sachin Tendulkar’s career-best score and the best ODI innings ever by an Indian.
Tendulkar Wages Lone Battle Against Australia in Boxing Test
You might pitch a ball on the of stump and think you have bowled a good ball and he walks across and hits it for two behind mid-wicket. His bat looks so heavy but he just waves it around like it’s a toothpick’ - Brett Lee, msn.com, 18 April 2011
THE SITUATION
It was a series that India and Tendulkar would probably like to forget, even though the maestro had a century in the Boxing Day Test. India lost each of the three Tests by a big margin.
RELIVING THE CENTURY
India won the toss and put the Australians in, but their pacers, Javagal Srinath and Ajit Agarkar, were unable to make use of the early bounce and neither was able to seam the ball. As a result, Australia put on 405, which included 91 by Michael Slater, his eighth score over 90.
When India played, it was Tendulkar against the Australians. Glenn McGrath and debutant Brett Lee reduced India to 31 for three. Even though Ganguly (31) stayed with Tendulkar for a while, the Indians were always struggling. Tendulkar’s lone battle for 116 lasted four and three-quarters of an hour and 191 balls. It was only Anil Kumble’s late 28 not out that helped India cross 200. Leading by 167, Australia quickly made 208 for five, declared in just 59 overs, and set India a target of 376 for a win.
India soon had their backs to the wall after the early exit of V.V.S. Laxman. Once again, Tendulkar’s 52 was the highest, but when Shane Warne claimed his only wicket of the innings, trapping Tendulkar leg before, everyone knew it was a matter of time. Despite debutant Hrishikesh Kanitkar’s 45, India were dismissed for 195, leaving Australia to win by 180 runs. It was the lowest margin of defeat for India in the series, which was lost 0-2.
India went on to lose the third Test by an innings and 141 runs. The only consolation - Tendulkar was adjudged Man of the Match.
Adding insult to injury was a hefly fine and suspended suspension for Venkatesh Prasad, who the match referee, Ranjan Madugalle, felt had crossed the limit with his upturned fists in Slater’s face after the latter’s dismissal for 91.
Did you know…
» Brett Lee made his Test debut in this game. Just as he had welcomed Shane Warne with a century almost a decade earlier, Tendulkar gave Lee a hard time. But Lee had a memorable debut with seven wickets, including 5-47 in the first innings.
PARALLEL LIVES
Viswanathan Anand: A second successive Chess Oscar firmly established Viswanathan Anand as the leading player in the world. Unlike other top stars, Anand was active on the tournament circuit. He began the year with a win in the Wydra Memorial Chess (Rapid) Tournament at Haifa and held on to the title at the Wijk aan Zee event with a record plus-6 score. He was also runner-up at Linares. Later in the year, he beat Anatoly Karpov 5-1 in the Leon tournament in Rapid chess.
Leander Paes: Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi were finally in the big league. They reached the final of all four Grand Slams and won two of them - the French Open and Wimbledon. They were the first Indian pair to win a Grand Slam title. In fact, Paes won not only the men’s doubles with Bhupathi but also the mixed doubles with Lisa Raymond. By the end of the year he was ranked No. 1 in the world in doubles.
THIS ALSO HAPPENED IN 1999
The year began in a horrific way with an Australian missionary and his two sons being burnt to death in Orissa by suspected Hindu fundamentalists. The incident sent shock waves across the country and India’s secular image took a beating.
In February the political instability of the last few years continued as the 13-month-old BJP government fell after losing a confidence motion by just one vote. In less than 10 days, Parliament was dissolved and early elections called. With the Opposition unable to come up with the numbers to form the new government, India went back to the polls with Vajpayee remaining as the caretaker prime minister’. On 13 October 1999, he took oath as prime minister of India for the third time - the first time he was PM for 13 days and the second time for 13 months. Now he was back for a third stint after the BJP-led NDA won 303 seats in the 543-seat Lok Sabha in the aftermath of Kargil operations.
This was the year of the unfortunate Kargil confiict involving India and Pakistan between the months of May and July. The war was a result of infiltration by Pakistani soldiers and Kashmiri militants on the Indian side of the Line of Control. Lives were lost on both sides but by early July, India had recaptured the strategic Tiger Hill and over the next week or so, reported recapturing Kargil and forcing the Pakistani army to retreat. India announced victory in the two-month confiict that led to a further deterioration in relations between the two countries.
China, which had got back Hong Kong a year ago, got back Macau from Portugal on 20 December.
On 25 December, as the world was celebrating Christmas, armed hijackers took over an Indian Airlines flight from Kathmandu to New Delhi with 189 people on board and landed in Kandahar, Afghanistan via UAE. Three days later, they demanded the release of 35 terrorists from Indian jails and US$200 million. On 31 December, the hijackers, who had by then killed a male passenger, freed the hostages after three terrorists in Kashmir were released.
On the other side of the world, on 12 February, the American Senate acquitted President Bill Clinton of lying under oath and obstructing justice in the Monica Lewinsky case. Two months later, two students brought guns to their high school in Colorado and killed 12 students, one teacher and themselves in one of the most tragic incidents on a school campus.
In Turkey, earthquakes killed 17,000 people on 17 August and more than 2,300 people on 21 September in Taiwan. Ten thousand people died in the cyclone that hit Orissa on India’s eastern coast in October that year.
CHAPTER 10
2000
Freed from Captaincy
For a man from whose blade the team was used to seeing a constant flow of runs and centuries, five centuries in a calendar year seemed almost modest. Six Tests in 2000 produced 575 runs for Tendulkar, with one double century. He missed another century by three runs.
In 34 ODIs he scored more than 1,300 runs, including three centuries. By the end of the year Tendulkar had made 50 international centuries and there was no sign of the runs abating.
Captaincy just wouldn’t agree with Tendulkar, though. Under him, India lost a three-Test series in Australia 3–0 and it was a bigger disaster in the Carlton United Series, in which Pakistan was the third team. India lost seven of its eight matches and failed to make the final. Another washout in the two-Test series at home against South Africa made it five Test losses in a row.
Tendulkar gave up captaincy once again and this time there was a new captain, Sourav Ganguly, who immediately won the ODI series against South Africa 3–2.
Later in the year, Ganguly led India to a win over Bangladesh in his first Test as captain and then to a 1–0 win in the two-Test series against Zimbabwe at home. Against Zimbabwe, Tendulkar was simply unstoppable, with one century and one double century in the two Tests.
Freed from Captaincy, Tendulkar Is a Match-winner for India
‘His life seems to be a stillness in a frantic world… [When he goes out to bat] it is beyond chaos - it is a frantic appeal by a nation to one man. The people see him as a God’ - Matthew Hayden in Observer Sport Monthly, 4 August 2002
THE SITUATION
A string of losses abroad and at home prompted Tendulkar to hand over the reins to Sourav Ganguly, who immediately delivered results with a 3-2 ODI series win over South Africa. Ganguly himself was in great form, and lending him stability was his former skipper. After giving up captaincy for the second time, Tendulkar was slowly but steadily regaining his form. By the time he arrived at Vadodara for the fourth ODI, he was almost back to his run-making self. After three modest games, he made 122 in the fourth and 93 in the fifth.
RELIVING THE CENTURY
Leading 2-1, India came to Vadodara looking to wrap up the series. South African skipper Hansie Cronje won the toss and elected to bat on what looked like an easy pitch. With the Indians being rather generous in the field, South Africa made 282 for five in their 50 overs, largely because of some late hitting by Jacques Kallis (81 not out) and Lance Klusener (14 of nine balls).
When India went in to bat, Sourav Ganguly was in a belligerent mood as he made 87 of 84 balls. Tendulkar and he put on 153 in 25 overs and the chase was on.
After Ganguly left, Tendulkar continued aggressively and by the time he was out at 122, India needed just 27 from 29 balls. Ironically, after a great innings, Tendulkar went out to a full toss from Kallis to mid-on, where Steve Elworthy held the catch.
The South Africans nearly won as the Indian middle order failed to take charge. After Shaun Pollocks two wickets in the 49th over, South Africa were in with a chance. But the game swung India’s way one last time when Klusener dropped Robin Singh with India needing four of three balls. India went on to win with one ball to spare and Tendulkar was adjudged Man of the Match.
Did you know…
» Sachin Tendulkar’s 25th ODI century in his 241st match came 15 matches after his 24th ODI hundred. It was his 36th ODI Man of the Match award.
Lanka Run Out India As Tendulkar’s Century Goes in Vain
‘ I think he’s marvellous… He’s blessed. I would say he’s 99.5 per cent perfect’ - Vivian Richards, rediff.com, 2002
THE SITUATION
After his last ODI century against South Africa, Tendulkar had gone without a ton in three series - the Coca-Cola Cup at Sharjah, the Asia Cup at Dhaka and the ICC Knockout Cup at Nairobi. The Indian team flew into Sharjah straight from Nairobi, where they had lost a close final to New Zealand in the final over with two balls to spare. Expectations were high as the team showed signs of settling down under Sourav Ganguly and Tendulkar was scoring well. He had made 69 and was involved in a century stand with his skipper in the final.
India lost the first match of the Champions Trophy and though they reached the final, their two wins came against Zimbabwe. They lost both league matches and then the final to Sri Lanka by a whopping 245 runs, being bowled out for 54 after allowing Sri Lanka to make 299 for five.
RELIVING THE CENTURY
Sachin Tendulkar was given a reprieve at 26 while on his way to his 26th ODI century but, in the end, his score was not good enough to fetch India a win in their opening match of the Champions Trophy.
India managed only 224 for eight as four of their batsmen - Rahul Dravid, Vinod Kambli, Sachin Tendulkar and Vijay Dahiya - were run out. After Tendulkar’s 101, the next best was 35 by Robin Singh. The two put on 100 in 22 overs. Tendulkar played a very disciplined innings of 140 balls with just three fours and one six and helped India get to 224.
The target was fairly simple. On a slow wicket and with the ball diffcult to hold in the evening dew, there were not many problems for the Sri Lankans. Sanath Jayasuriya (48), Russel Arnold (59) and Kumar Sangakkara (40 not out), who was playing his first game against India, took their team to a comfortable five-wicket win.
Tendulkar was named Man of the Match for his heroic but vain effort.
Did you know…
» Kumar Sangakkara, who would one day captain Sri Lanka, was playing his first match against India.
Despite Century, Tendulkar Plays Second Fiddle to Dravid and Srinath
‘What do you call a critic of Sachin Tendulkar? Atheist’ - Anonymous
THE SITUATION
Sourav Ganguly had led the team to a win against Bangladesh in a one-of Test earlier in the month. On that occasion, India had won despite their rivals getting 400 in the first innings. They did the same here. Though Zimbabwe held out for a draw in the second Test at Nagpur, India won the series 1-0.
RELIVING THE CENTURY
Sachin Tendulkar got his 49th international century with his 23rd Test hundred, but the match belonged to two Bangalore boys - Rahul Dravid (200 not out and 70 not out) and Javagal Srinath (four for 81 and five for 60) - as India won by seven wickets at the Ferozeshah Kotla.
Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat. Despite some early blows, they prospered with all-round contributions and an outstanding 183 not out by Grant Flower. They ended with 422 for eight. Flower’s rescue operation included a 97-run stand for the tenth wicket with Henry Olonga, who took 158 minutes for his 11 runs. Flower was at the wicket for 466 minutes and hit 24 fours and two sixes of 351 balls.
Zimbabwe declared in the hope of snaring a wicket or two in the remaining seven overs on the second day. But they failed.
India replied strongly. After they had lost Sadgopan Ramesh (13) early, Shiv Sundar Das (58) put on 107 with Dravid. Thereafter Dravid (200 not out) and Tendulkar (122) added 213 runs for the third wicket as India made 458 for four declared. Tendulkar made a tentative start but once he settled in, he played brilliantly. At one point, he hit Olonga for three fours in a row.
By the time the fourth day ended, Zimbabwe were struggling at 119 for five. They were bowled out for 225, setting India a target of 190 to win in 47 overs.
On the final day, Dravid (70 not out) and Ganguly (65 not out) added 110 after Tendulkar (39 of 39 balls) had given India the required momentum. They won by seven wickets in the 38th over and with the second Test drawn, they won the series 1–0.
In a match that saw the batsmen get to 880 runs, Srinath was outstanding with nine wickets. Despite Dravid’s amazing unbeaten knocks in both innings, Tendulkar’s century and Flower’s 183 not out, it was Srinath who was Man of the Match.
Did you know…
» This was coach John Wright’s first match with India.
» Andy Flower, who had made a century in his previous match in Delhi in 1992–93, scored another, his highest at 183 not out.
» This was Rahul Dravid’s first double century in his 39th Test. He scored 270 runs – 200 in the first innings and 70 in the second – and both times, he remained not out.
Tendulkar Celebrates Century No. 50 with a Double Ton
‘In an over I can bowl six different balls. But then Sachin looks at me with a sort of gentle arrogance down the pitch as if to say, “Can you bowl me another one?”’ - Adam John Hollioake, msn.com, 18 April 2009
THE SITUATION
India was coming of two successive Test wins - one each against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. A draw in the second Test at Nagpur fetched Sourav Ganguly his first proper Test series win but it also robbed him of the chance of becoming the first Indian to win his first three Tests as captain.
RELIVING THE CENTURY
Sachin Tendulkar reached the landmark that would have been considered impossible till a few years ago. But now, as he reached it, many dared to think of a hundred hundreds, so strong and dependable did Tendulkar appear.
Indian cricket was going through a tough phase, primarily because of match-fixing charges. Add to that tabloid gossip about Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly’s alleged link-up with an actress, and what you got was chaos.
Yet nothing deterred the man called Tendulkar or his teammate Rahul Dravid. Tendulkar (201 not out) and Dravid (162) showed their amazing teamwork as they put on a double-century partnership (249 runs for the third wicket) for the second time in a row, following their 213 in the previous Test at Delhi.
Their innings was preceded by a maiden century by Shiv Sundar Das (110). The moment Tendulkar reached his double century, 10 overs after tea, Ganguly declared the innings at a mammoth 609 for six.
Grant Flower, who had a king pair in the previous Test, scored 106 as Zimbabwe made 382 but failed to avoid a follow-on. It was Andy Flowers turn then to bloom a second time in the series with 232 not out, the highest ever by a wicketkeeper. Flower, who had played every one of Zimbabwe’s 47 Tests, hung in and took his side to shore for a draw. His total score was an amazing 540 runs in two Tests and it fetched him the Man of the Series award.
Did you know…
» Sachin Tendulkar became the first batsman to reach 50 international hundreds – Tests and ODIs included. He now had 26 ODI centuries and 24 Test centuries. Sunil Gavaskar, Viv Richards and Desmond Haynes had 35 hundreds each.
» This was Sachin Tendulkar’s second double century and it came in his 79th Test, 13 months after his first – 217 against New Zealand at Ahmedabad in 1999–2000.
» Andy Flower made 540 runs at an average of 270 and Rahul Dravid made 432 at an average of 432, as he was dismissed only once. Sachin Tendulkar made 362 at an average of 181.
Amidst Tendulkar’s Century, Zimbabwean Flowers Bloom
‘Tendulkar was born with extravagant natural talent, but he was also driven and indefatigable. When a boy, he would bat from dawn to dusk, and even a little beyond. As with all the greats, he came not from another dimension, nor the mystical east, but from the nets. By such dedication, he came to understand intimately his own gif, and at length to lavish it upon others - Greg Baum in Wisden Asia Cricket, November 2003
THE SITUATION
