Sachin, page 7
CHAPTER 8
1998
An Australia Special
This was the year of Tendulkar, the best so far in his already glittering career. The captaincy had been shed and it had gone back to Mohammad Azharuddin. Suddenly the master seemed to have been freed and he had what would be his best-ever year in terms of centuries.
Over the years, the ‘Tendulkar v Warne show’ had enthralled cricket fans around the world. This year alone saw three such battles between them. First the Test series, then the Pepsi Triangular one-day series in India and finally the Coca-Cola Cup at Sharjah. Each time Tendulkar was the winner, though in the Pepsi tri-series, Australia won the final – without Warne’s help.
Just as Sunil Gavaskar had mauled the West Indies in his heyday, Tendulkar was particularly severe on Australia. He made 446 runs in three Tests against them and had 621 runs in seven ODIs. He made two Test centuries and four in ODIs.
Even in the warm-up match for the tour between Australia and Mumbai, Tendulkar hit a double century and Shane Warne gave away 111 runs in just 16 overs. It was Tendulkar’s first double hundred in his first-class career,
In 1998, in just five Tests, Sachin Tendulkar made three centuries: two against Australia and one against New Zealand. The five Tests saw 647 runs being made at an average of 80.87 and things were just as good in the ODIs. India won the three-Test series at home 2–1 and Tendulkar was Man of the Series with 446 runs with an average of over 111, including two scores above 150. India lost the one-of Test against Zimbabwe and the Test series in New Zealand 0–1.
A total of 34 ODIs produced 1,894 runs with no less than nine centuries at an average of 65.31. Of these, 621, including four centuries, came against Australia in a mere seven games, of which Warne played six.
The year, in fact, began well for India, who had been unable to make an impression in their own Independence Cup the previous year. They won the Independence Cup in Bangladesh with a 2–1 margin, beating Pakistan in the final after winning both league games. What’s more, Tendulkar was adjudged Man of the Series for his consistent performance, which included three fifties in the first three matches.
India lost the Pepsi Triangular Series final to Australia at home but with Tendulkar firing on all cylinders, won the Coca-Cola Cup at Sharjah. Tendulkar dominated the series with 435 runs in five games, including two centuries. His average was 80-plus and strike rate 100-plus. The next best was 276 by Michael Bevan. Tendulkar’s twin centuries in a span of three days against Australia left them bruised and bewildered.
India’s success in the year continued with Tendulkar scoring an unbeaten hundred and taking the Man of the Match award in the final of the tri-series featuring Bangladesh and Kenya. Runs, trophies and awards kept coming as India also won the Singer-Akai Nidhas Trophy in Sri Lanka. The Man of the Match in the final was Tendulkar with 128 runs.
He made a century each in the ODI series in Zimbabwe and the Wills International Cup – where Australia came in for more punishment – though India failed to land the trophies.
Tendulkar also played at the Commonwealth Games, but India failed to land a medal. He then flew all the way to Toronto to play in the last of the five-match series against Pakistan, though the series was already lost.
Tendulkar Hammers Warne and Australia into Submission
‘When Warne made his move round the wicket, 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 mid-wicket region convinced Warne to abort this tactic. Tendulkar s preparatory work had proved to be a masterstroke’ - Ian Chappell, espncricinfo.com, 15 November 2009
THE SITUATION
With Sachin Tendulkar wanting to be relieved of captaincy, the selectors looked towards Mohammad Azharuddin once again. As the calendar turned to 1998, India went to Bangladesh for their Silver Jubilee Independence Cup. Tendulkar made 258 in five matches, including a quickfire 26-ball 41 as India won the final against Pakistan; Ganguly scored 124 to win the Man of the Match award. While Azharuddin and Ganguly had a century each, Tendulkar missed one in the series, scoring 95 against Pakistan in the league game.
Then came the Test series against Australia at home.
RELIVING THE CENTURY
The first Test series after Tendulkar gave up the captaincy was against Australia for the Gavaskar-Border Trophy.
In the first match at Chennai, India won the toss and elected to bat. Fifties from the top three - Nayan Mongia, Navjot Sidhu and Rahul Dravid – saw India make a modest 257, to which Australia replied with 328. On the third day, India, facing a deficit of 71, were well placed at 100 for one. On the fourth day, Dravid got yet another fifty. Then came Tendulkar’s masterpiece.
In the first innings Tendulkar had been tricked by a dipper from Warne after scoring just four runs. In the second there were no such lapses. He went on to score 155 not out of 191 balls in 286 minutes, with 14 fours and four sixes. Tendulkar and Azharuddin (64) hit the Australians for 127 runs; it was one of the many entertaining partnerships the duo shared.
It was Tendulkar’s third century and his highest score against Australia. Bearing the brunt of it was Warne, as Tendulkar tore into him, displaying some brilliant stroke play. India declared at 418 for four to set Australia a target of 348. Before the fourth day was over, Australia had lost Michael Slater, Greg Blewett and Mark Taylor for 31.
On the following day, Indian spinners Anil Kumble (4–46) and Venkatapathy Raju (3–31) wrapped up the match after lunch with Australia bowled out for 168, though there were murmurs over decisions about bat-pad catches close to the wicket on a turning track. India won by 179 runs and Tendulkar was Man of the Match.
Warne had four for 85 in the first innings but was reduced to one for 122 in the second as Tendulkar went after the bowling.
Did you know…
» Sachin Tendulkar’s 155 not out was his third and highest Test century in seven Tests against Australia.
India Beat Australia at Home
‘Don’t bowl him bad balls, he hits the good ones for fours’ - Michael Kasprowicz, ndtv.com
THE SITUATION
Tendulkar was riding high and India was riding on his form. The win at Chennai was followed by an innings win at Kolkata, where Tendulkar scored a vital 79. A brilliant 163 not out by Azharuddin alongside V.V.S. Laxman (95), Navjot Sidhu (97), Rahul Dravid (86) and Sourav Ganguly (65) helped India pile up a huge 633 for five declared. This was after Australia had been dismissed in the first innings for 233. In the second they managed only 181, leaving India winners by 219 runs with a 2-0 lead.
By the time the third Test ended, Tendulkar had made 446 runs at 111.5, including two centuries and one fifty in five innings. He was more than 100 runs ahead of the second highest scorer, Navjot Sidhu (341).
RELIVING THE CENTURY
Mohammad Azharuddin was lucky with the coin once again and elected to bat. The Indians, already 2-0 up in the series, went on the of ensive with Navjot Sidhu (74 of 132 balls with eight fours and three sixes) leading the way.
When Sachin Tendulkar came in, the Australians, as had become a habit for them in this series, looked helpless as he plundered the bowling at will. He added 139 with an indisposed Azharuddin, who made 40. Tendulkar, batting at 117 at the end of the first day, then scored 60 of 64 balls on the second morning before being bowled by debutant Adam Dale while trying to hit over mid-wicket.
Tendulkar was severe on virtually every bowler in the depleted Australian attack. But Michal Kasprowicz and Shane Warne managed to limit the damage to some extent.
India made 424, but Australia replied with 400, including 153 not out by Mark Waugh.
Strangely, after having batted well in the series so far, India crumbled to Michael Kasprowicz (five for 28) and were dismissed for 169 in the second innings, leaving Australia to get 194 for a consolation win. They did that in 210 minutes as Mark Taylor scored 102 not out. Australia lost just two wickets and won with more than a day to spare. The series ended 2-1 for India, and Tendulkar with two centuries was the Man of the Series.
In the Bangalore Test, Tendulkar scored 177 and 31 and did not concede his wicket to Warne who had figures of three for 106 of 35 overs and two for 80 of 25 overs.
Did you know…
» Harbhajan Singh, 17, made his Test debut in this match. He took two wickets in the first and none in the second innings. Darren Lehmann, replacing Steve Waugh, also made his debut for Australia in this match.
» Mohammad Azharuddin took his 100th catch in his 91st Test. He caught Slater in the second innings for the landmark.
» Though he was mauled through the series, Shane Warne became Test cricket’s highest wicket-taker, going past Lance Gibbs record of 309 wickets, when he dismissed Rahul Dravid in the first innings.
Tendulkar’s Decimation of Australia Continues
‘Sachin Tendulkar is, in my time, the best player without doubt - daylight second, Brian Lara third’ - Shane Warne in the Hindu, 4 October 2004
THE SITUATION
Sachin Tendulkar was batting with less pressure on him. With Navjot Sidhu, Sourav Ganguly, Mohammad Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja also scoring well, he batted freely.
Earlier in the year, India had won the Golden Jubilee Independence Cup in Bangladesh, and then the Test series against Australia at home. So when the hosts won the first two matches against Australia and Zimbabwe without any significant contributions from Tendulkar, expectations ran high that they would win the Pepsi Triangular too. Especially if Tendulkar came good.
India started well and won four of their five matches. They beat Australia in the league game with Tendulkar getting yet another hundred. But they lost the final.
RELIVING THE CENTURY
In the third match at Kanpur against Australia, the visitors, already low on morale, made 222 in 50 overs.
Tendulkar opened with Sourav Ganguly and the partnership put on 175 in just 28.1 overs with the Little Master making 100 of 89 balls. He was severe on all the bowlers and smashed seven sixes and five fours in one of his most destructive innings.
By the time Tendulkar left, caught of the bowling of Warne, India were less than 50 runs away from the win, with more than 20 overs in hand. They lost Azharuddin and Ganguly soon after, but coasted to a comfortable win by six wickets with more than five overs to spare.
Australia had won the final match of the Test series and they did this again in the triangular, as they beat India in the final. Apart from the century at Kanpur, Tendulkar’s four other scores were under 15.
Did you know…
» The 175 put on by Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly was a record for the opening wicket by India against Australia.
Australia Despair as Tendulkar Mauls Them Yet Again
‘If I had to bowl to Sachin I would bowl with a helmet on. He hits the ball so hard’ - Dennis Lillee, ndtv.com
THE SITUATION
In the three-nation tournament, Australia had won their first three matches convincingly, beating India once and New Zealand twice. India, meanwhile, had won their first match against New Zealand but lost the second to the Kiwis and then lost once to Australia. So Australia were already into the final and India needed to either beat Australia or have a better run rate than the Kiwis to make the grade.
RELIVING THE CENTURY
Australia won the toss and elected to bat. They made 284 on the strength of Mark Waughs 81 and Michael Bevan’s unbeaten 101. When the regular bowlers found the going tough, Azharuddin tried several change bowlers, including V.V.S. Laxman and Hrishikesh Kanitkar. But it was Tendulkar who got rid of Mark Waugh and then ran Steve Waugh (10) out.
India, chasing 285, needed either to win or score 254 to qualify on better run rate, ahead of the Kiwis. A dust storm hit Sharjah and with four overs lopped of, the targets were revised again and now India needed 276 to win and 237 to qualify.
Gauging the situation, Tendulkar went into overdrive. First he shored up the innings. When Ajay Jadeja left midway, India were 138 for four in 29 overs. With Laxman, Tendulkar put on 104 runs for the fifth wicket at just under 7.5 runs an over. Their partnership lasted 14 overs and by then India were sure of making it to the final.
Tendulkar’s 143 came of 131 balls and he smashed nine fours and five sixes at a strike rate of over 109 to become Man of the Match.
India made 250 and lost by 26 runs, but made the finals on better run rate. In the final, Tendulkar would script yet another masterpiece.
Did you know…
» Sachin Tendulkar’s 143 was his highest ODI score and the third best for an Indian.
» Harbhajan Singh made his ODI debut in the first match of the tournament on 17 April against New Zealand.
» This was the first tournament in 10 years at Sharjah that did not feature Pakistan.
No Respite from Tendulkar for Australia
‘It was one of the greatest innings I have ever seen. There is no shame being beaten by such a great player. Sachin is perhaps only next to the Don - Steve Waugh after the match
THE SITUATION
At Sharjah, Australia won all their league games and India made the final too, albeit on run rate, over New Zealand. Sachin Tendulkar first guided the Indian team to the final by scoring a very quick century in the last league match and then he guided them to a superb title win in the final to avenge the defeat in the tri-series at home.
Over the years Sharjah would become Tendulkar’s favourite hunting ground for centuries. But this time around he made it special by getting two in three days against his favourite opponents, Australia. The second one came in the final and on his 25th birthday. It was his 15th ODI century.
RELIVING THE CENTURY
Despite losing early wickets (Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting and Tom Moody) by the time they reached 26, Australia were helped by Steve Waugh and Darren Lehman’s 103-run stand in 16 overs as they set a challenging target of 272.
Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly began slowly and had just 39 when Ganguly left. Then Tendulkar took over.
First he added 89 in just over 15 overs with Nayan Mongia and then he and Azharuddin put on 120 in just over 20 overs at nearly six runs an over.
Tendulkar’s 134 took just 131 balls and contained a dozen fours and three sixes. Among those who faced his wrath were Shane Warne, whose 10 wicketless overs cost 61 runs and Tom Moody, who went for 63 in 9.3 overs. India reached the target in 48.3 overs. Hrishikesh Kanitkar, who in January had hit a four with one ball to spare against Pakistan in the Golden Jubilee Independence Cup final at Dhaka, got the winning boundary at Sharjah too, with nine balls to spare.
Tendulkar enjoyed tormenting the Australian bowling as he made 80, 143 and 134 in three innings. Overall, he aggregated 435 runs in five innings and was Man of the Match in the last two games as well as Man of the Series.
Did you know…
» Sachin Tendulkar had the fastest fifty of the tournament, of 44 balls, and he also hit a total of 16 sixes.
» Venkatesh Prasad took his 100th ODI wicket, dismissing Michael Kasprowicz.
Tendulkar Ensures No Hiccups Against Kenya in Final
‘Whenever I see Sachin play I am reminded of the Graeme Pollock quote of cricket being a “see the ball, hit the ball game”. He hits the ball as if it’s there to be hit’ - Ian Chappell, rediff.com, September 2002
THE SITUATION
India used the series against two weaker teams - Bangladesh and Kenya - to test some new players. They ended up using 23 players in five games. In the last league match before the final, Kenya shocked India. The Indians didn’t let their guard down after that and coasted through. Yet, it was a Kenyan, Steve Tikolo, who was adjudged Man of the Series.
RELIVING THE CENTURY
Kenya’s captain Aasif Karim won the toss and elected to bat. Despite losing four wickets for 23 runs, Kenya aided by Hitesh Modi (71) and Y. Kennedy Otieno (28) managed a partial recovery and got to 196 in 46.3 overs as Venkatesh Prasad took four wickets. Curiously, India had made exactly the same score but in 47.1 overs, when they had lost to Kenya by 69 runs, three days earlier, in the last league match.
But the Indians were never really in any difficulty this time. In the previous match, Rahul Dravid had been the top-scorer with 33. Tendulkar had sat out the first match against Bangladesh as well as the one against Kenya. He had played the next two, but without any major scores.
In the final, Tendulkar (100 not out) and Sourav Ganguly (36) got India of to a fine start of 77 in 13 overs and then Ajay Jadeja (50 not out) completed the win with an unfinished 120-run stand with Tendulkar in less than 22 overs. India won by nine wickets with 15 overs to spare. Tendulkar’s hundred came of 103 balls with 13 fours and he took home yet another Man of the Match award.
Did you know…
» Aasif Karim, the Kenyan captain who played three World Cups (1996, 1999 and 2003) also captained his country in Davis Cup tennis.
» Bangladesh’s win over Kenya in the league stage was their first ODI win in 23 matches.
Tendulkar Shines Amidst a Rain-hit Series
‘Sachin had carried the weight of 1.2 billion people on his shoulder expecting him to be a miracle worker that he often is. … Longevity is a true mark of character’ – Matthew Hayden, NDTV, April 2008
THE SITUATION
It was a tournament badly hit by rain. India, New Zealand and Australia were the invitees but Australia had turned down the invite. The first match in Galle was totally washed out, without a ball being bowled, while two other matches at Colombo (one each at Premadasa Stadium and Sinhala Sports Club) could not be completed.
A year earlier, India had failed to qualify for the final of the Independence Cup in India. They had won the title when Bangladesh staged their Silver Jubilee Independence Cup at Dhaka. Now they won the Singer-Akai Nidahas Trophy in Sri Lanka, which was staged to mark the Golden Jubilee of Sri Lanka’s independence.
