Saturday, Jul 06, 2002
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Cricket
By G. Viswanath
The cricket world is fortunate that Bradman lived to see Tendulkar's many innings, dissected his game and drew an inference that the Mumbai maestro belonged to his ilk. This was indeed great tribute coming from Bradman. On Thursday at the Riverside ground in Durham, Tendulkar once again presented his credentials in a manner that drew an admiring response even from the England batsman Nasser Hussain. Twelve summers ago, but at a raw age of seventeen, Tendulkar had punched an England bowler off the backfoot past mid on in the Old Trafford Test and scored his first Test century. By doing so he confirmed to many doubters that he had arrived to stay in international cricket. On Thursday he scored his first one-day International century against England. He had played quite a few against England at home and away and at neutral venues, but he did not have a single hundred against England among his 31 in 290 Internationals. Tendulkar fulfilled the aspiration of millions of his supporters, and perhaps his own too, making a century against England in the league match of the NatWest Trophy III triseries, though in a manner that suggested that it was more a Test match like effort. It was only the second century in the 2002 edition of the NatWest series, the first one having been made at scorching pace by Sri Lanka's Sanath Jaysauriya. The Sri Lankan skipper's effort did not result in a win for his side, Tendulkar's failed to produce a result because rain interfered with the match after 12. 3 overs were bowled. The two teams shared four points, thus making the rest of the preliminary matches before the final at Lord's on July 13, virtually meaningless, unless Sri Lanka performs a miracle to win the rest of the three matches--two against India (at Edbagston on July 6 and at Bristol on July 11) and one against England (at Old Trafford on July 7). All attention was riveted on Tendulkar at the Riverside. He had faced nine balls and made one run in India's opening match at Lord's. Essex captain Ronnie Irani, who had been recalled after five years, trapped him leg before. But England could not capitalise on removing Tendulkar cheaply; Rahul Dravid and Yuveraj Singh tore into the England attack and won the match. Former experts have been freely finding faults with Tendulkar's technique. He was not at ease facing left arm seamer Pedro Collins in the West Indies, but he was prepared and determined to erase the bad memories of the Caribbean tour. The Oval saw him show immense powers of concentration for nearly two hours to quell the challenge posed by the Sri Lankan left arm seamers Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa. Riverside saw him stay focused. He came into bat at the fall of the wicket of Virendra Sehwag and at the end of the eighth over and when India's score was 48. He saw Dinesh Mongia leave the scene four runs later and in the second ball of the eleventh over. It was the crucial phase of the Indian innings after Sourav Ganguly had won the toss and elected to bat. England was on top, Darren Gough working up pace and turning the match in England's favour in the first hour. Tendulkar had not proved to be a big success against England in the short version of the game. Now it was time for him to prove his detractors wrong. And he went about his task with an undefeated 105 off 108 balls and in 14 minutes short of three hours. Normally Tendulkar scores his Test centuries in under four hours. It soon became evident that he was willing to graft. He brought to the fore this batting virtue when Gough, Irani and Andre Flintoff managed to combine accuracy with speed. The best way to face a fast bowler, it is said, is to show the chest and play the ball down the pitch. Tendulkar did this many a times until he had reached the half-century mark. Fascinating it was to watch him gradually take the upper hand. Tendulkar prepares himself very well for a tour and makes mental notes of the strong points of the bowlers he is likely to face. Ashley Giles had troubled him in England bowling to a negative line. He was in full control against him on Thursday, sweeping him in orthodox fashion and also reverse-hitting him between backward square leg and fine leg. He was severe on Paul Collingwood and James Kirtley. The result of his admirable knock was a 32nd hundred in his 291st match for India. His partner for almost two hours, Rahul Dravid, did not play second fiddle, in fact he was in command right from the word go. They built a partnership of 169 off 206 balls after which Yuveraj Singh showed that he is a batsman to play the big shots. Dravid played a purpose role and Yuveraj was responsible demolishing the England attack in the 19 balls he faced. However it was Tendulkar's batsmanship that baulked England. Tendulkar received a standing ovation. The brilliant exhibition of batting by the Indians has made things difficult for Sri Lanka which has lost all the three matches it has played. The Sri Lankans play India and England in back to back day matches on Saturday and Sunday. Rains plague the venue Sharp showers greeted the Indians when they reached here on Friday for their league match against Sri Lanka to be played on Saturday. The team had planned a full work out at the ground, but steady rain that intensified at 5 p.m. driving them to the gymnasium. The incessant rains have raised doubts about the match starting in time on Saturday. Should the two teams be forced to share four points, Sri Lanka will be straightaway ruled out of contention for a place in the final. The teams: India (from) Sourav Ganguly (captain), Virender Sehwag, Dinesh Mongia, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Yuveraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Ajit Agarkar, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Anil Kumble, Venkatsai Laxman, Ajay Ratra, Harbhajan Singh, Tinu Yohannan. Sri Lanka (from): Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Romesh Kaliwitharana, Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardene, Russel Arnold, Upul Chandana, Avishka Gunwawardene, Chaminda Vaasm Nuwan Zoysa, Dilhara Fernando, Chamara Silva, Thilana Samaraweera, Buddika Fernando, Naveed Navaz, Pramodaya Wickremasinghe, Kumara Sangakkara. Umpires: Messrs Steve Bucknor and Neil Mallender.
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