SACHIN’S TEST GEMS

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INTRODUCTION This is a tribute to the 20 years of Sachin

Ramesh Tendulkar (SRT), a legend in the

1. PERTH

SPECTACLE game of Cricket.

2. CAPETOWN The intent of this presentation is to pick

MURDER
the 5 best SRT knocks in test matches.
3. CHENNAI

DISASTER
The top 5 ODI knocks of SRT form the

4. CHENNAI WIN scope of another presentation.

5. MANCHESTER

MAGIC
PERTH
 India in Australia Fifth Test –
SPECTACLE
February 1992
Australia had already
won the series 3-0 when
the tour moved to Perth,
traditionally the fastest
pitch in the world. India
could not match the might
of the Aussie attack
(Mcdermott, Whitney,
Hughes) except SRT. The
young man started
attacking the bowlers
when he saw the wickets
tumbling at the other end.
It was a tremendous
display, considering the
attack, pitch and the
opposition attack –
something that the legend
himself acknowledges
repeatedly.
CAPETOWN
 India in South Africa – 2nd test
MURDER
If ever there was a knock
of purist delight involving
Indians, the 1st innings of
this match must be the one
and only one. In tandem
with Azharuddin, SRT took
on the South African
attack (Donald, Pollock,
McMillan, Klusener) and
sent them to all corners of
the ground. The Little
Master gave a lesson that
is remembered in the
African country even to
this date. The Indian loss
notwithstanding, the
innings was probably close
to the best attacking
batting against a high-
class bowling unit. Only a
brilliant catch in the deep
could stop SRT on that
day.
CHENNAI
 India Vs Pakistan – 1st Test, Chennai
DISASTER
India Vs Pakistan after a 12
years – first test in
Chennai. The Indians were
given a target of 271 to
chase on a wearing pitch.
Saqlain Mushtaq was at his
best and so were Akram
and Younis at their prime.
A master knock by SRT
with his back-pain took
India to the brink of victory
in the company of Nayan
Mongia. He relied more on
boundaries since he couldn't
run fast. This was one
innings that SRT played
with the barriers of pain
and took India to the
victory podium – almost!!!
CHENNAI
VICTORY (AT
 England in India Series 2008 – 1st test
LAST)
10 years after the loss
against Pakistan, India
was chasing a score of
387 to get on the final
day of the test match. In
the company of Dravid,
Laxman and then
Yuvraj, Sachin took
upon himself to guide
India to the victory line
(the only win in his
top-5 test gems). Facing
the threat of Swann and
Monty Panesar, the
legend gave enough
evidence of his ability to
play spin on a last day
weathering pitch. He
wanted to show that he
is not done Yet.
MANCHESTER
 England Vs India – Manchester 1990
MAGIC
A youngster, hardly one
year into test cricket, faced
the prospect of saving a
test match played a great
innings to take India
through to safety. Yet
another master-class on a
wearing pitch and high-
class bowling attack from
England, this time.
Considering the experience
of the teenager and the
situation of the game, it
was a brave innings to
take the team to safety.
The English crowd had a
preview of what they could
expect from India in the
years to come.
 In Chronological Order (Rate your five)

 1991-92 India in Australia test series – firing

OTHER the Indian charge against the Aussies
GEMS
 1997-98 Border-Gavaskar Trophy at
There are quite a few Bangalore – turning the table on the
others which deserve
their mention for one rampaging Aussies
reason or the other.
They are listed here
also.
 1999-2000 Border-Gavaskar Trophy at MCG –
Do feel free to drop a waging a lone hand against the world-beating
line on my mail-id OR Aussies
post your comment on
my blog if you have
other SRT innings that
should appear here
 2001-02 India in South Africa Bloemfontein –
playing a jugalbandi with debutant Virender
Sehwag.

 2003-04 Border-Gavaskar Trophy - 4th Test at

SCG – scoring a double-century after refusing
to play any scoring strokes on the off-side