Tendulkar's finest hour

As he closes in on Brian Lara's record for the most runs in Test cricket, it's perhaps time to reflect on a career that has utterly transformed Indian cricket, on the field and especially off it. But for Sachin Tendulkar, the BCCI would never have become the behemoth that it is now, and blogs like this - not to mention billion-dollar TV deals - would never have happened. In terms of impact on a sport, Tendulkar is right up there with Jackie Robinson and Michael Jordan.

Given that one of the doosra's frequent contributors insists that Tendulkar has played no truly memorable innings, it's time to gauge what the rest of you think. Years from now, which will be remembered as his defining innings? The 114 at Perth while still a precocious teen? The brilliant century at Edgbaston in 1996? The destruction of Shane Warne at Chepauk in 1998? The inventive genius on display at Bloemfontein in 2001? Take your pick.

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Comments

[duncan]

Tendulkar is one of a kind in the way he has handled the enormous burden of expectations of a billion people. For twenty years, he has been a symbol of integrity and honesty in sport.

[graeme]

Chetan claims to read between the lines but does he?? The key word was MEMORABLE. To be memorable for me it has to either win or draw a match from a DIFFICULT position against a quality attack and/or on a difficult pitch. That's why Laxman and Dravids efforts in Adelaide and Kolkatta are amazing!

Whether they are 19 or 39 is neither here nor there. Yes, if the tailenders had got the last 16 runs to beat Pakistan or Tendulkar had brought the team home then yes, it would have been memorable. Captains will actually give a batsman runs sometimes in an attempt to win the game. If they fielding side wins they have defeated the batting side-regardless of the style that any particlar innings was played and the innings of the losing team team quickly fades from memory. A game where 6 centuries are scored and ends in a draw is NOT memorable. Scoring a quick flashy century in a game where you lose by a few hundred runs is not one I keep in my DVD rack.

[mk49]

155 not out Chennai '98. Destroyed Warne on a turning track. It was breathtaking.

[mitra]

Sachin having memorable test innings.hmmmmmmm i cant remember.....LAXMAN 281 that is mememorable.....Tendulkar never really won a match for his country ......Inone dayers its another story .....he is in a class by himself.....Dravid has had more memorable innings than sachin....181 vs australia and 270 vs pakistan.....Sachin is great one of the greatest.....but the best inning ever was BRAIN CHARLES LARA...........153* vs Mcgrath,WARNE,Gillespie

[Sankar]

At some point of time, the comparison between Lara, Tendulkar and Ponting has to be stop being so acrimonious. I love lara and I love Sachin. They love each other's game and respect each other. Why all this squabble then? Sachin was/is and will be a class act. Lets salute his achievements. I saluted Lara's feat when he was at the top, why can't we do the same for an equally deserving Sachin?

[Karthik]

I think it is true that Sachin has not played any "truly memorable" innings. The closest ones are the 155 at Chennai and 169 in Cape Town. I haven't seen (live) the innings at Perth or the one at Edbagston to comment on their impact. I would also watch Lara, Azhar,Gilchrist or Laxman on song rather than Sachin at his best.This is not to begrudge his greatness, but just that his batting has a robotic efficiency that lacks a certain flair to enchant.And neither is he the best in the efficient run-accumulator mode either.Kallis, Dravid, Ponting and Hayden have played more sginificant and match-winning knocks.
ODI's,of course, are a different cup of tea and you could reel off numerous memorable knocks.And just to rile you a bit,I think Sachin is the greatest ODI player ever,better than a certain King Viv.

Hey guys...You just wait for some more time..You will get some more great innings to add.

[neilsrini]

The problem is I can't remember a single shot of any of these innings. So I can't vote. I can still remember the smell in the room, the time of day and clothes I was wearing when Chris Lewis was pulled for four on 19 Apr 1994.

In my lifetime I may never see the excitement and buzz you get when you pay to watch Lara again. I can see how people can disagree with me but I've paid to watch Sachin may times and the hair on my back does not stand up in the same way as when you get to see that trademark cut shot from Lara.

Paying to watch Lara makes me feel I am following the long line in history of fans packing in to see WG Grace or the Don.

[Shyam]

I would rate the 241* and 60* in Sydney in 2004 as his best because of the incredible self discipline and mental strength he displayed to come back from a series of low scores. Let's not forget that is was also made in a 'live' test match.
Regarding the criticisms, it's fair to say that Dravid and Laxman have played more match (and series-turning) innings in test matches. However, the Indian team of the 90's when Tendulkar was at his best was one of the weakest we've had in recent times. Tendulkar did not have bowlers like Walsh and Ambrose to run through the opposition as Lara had. Tendulkar still single handedly won matches for India in the ODIs during this time (I'm sure we'll have a blog of his greatest ODI innings, eh Dileep? The list is likely to be a looong one!).

[Sahil Oberoi]

What a bunch of ill informed critics...How can you even bother saying Lara was better than Tendulkar when all the stats show otherwise whether it be Tests or ODI. more importantly, people who actually play the game all say Tendulkar is the better player. Richie Benaud (probably the most knowledgable cricket commentator ever) has Tendulkar in his greatest XI team and NOT Lara. Shane Warne has Tendulkar as his number 1 cricketer in his recent list. Don Bradman (the greatest batsman of the past) has openly said that Tendulkar is the one batsman who reminds him of himself (the best compliment any batsman can hope to receive). It seems the only people who are not convinced are those who watch the game from their armchairs with extremely limited opinions!

[AL]

Have grown up watching Sachin- God's own batsman.
He's simply in a league of his own- with due respect to the laras and pontings.

[SanjayN]

It's interesting to read how many Tendulkar haters have quickly posted their "views". I could sit here and question many of Lara's great innings, but there's no need to bring down another man in order to make your favourite look better.

The fact is Tendulkar's career encompassed the age of ODIs, it's this format that captured the imagination of the majority of cricket fans the world over. Yet, Sachin has managed to finish today, Oct 17 2008, as the highest run scorer in BOTH Tests and ODIs as well as the small matter of highest century maker in BOTH Tests and ODIs. Four unique records all belong to him at the same time, a feat that is unlikely to be emulated by anyone.

"Top of the World" is an apt description.

[Chetan]

Graeme belittles most of the innings in his post, but clearly doesn't read between the lines.

The 155* v Aus, the Aussie attack wasn't the best they've had but I think this was more about how he played. 155 at a S/R above 80. And Reiffel's Test average is 26.9.

155 v RSA, comes in at 2/43, India soon slip to 4/68, when debutant Sehwag comes in. Pressure situation, and creams 155 against a good attack including Pollock, again at a S/R above 80. Lots of runs for RSA because India were playing with what can only be described as an underprepared attack, and come on- who the heck plays TWO spinners in South Africa?!

136 v Pak, those who have seen it say he played brilliantly, good attack including the two Ws. Again look at the situation, comes in at 2 down for 6, India are soon 5/86. He is 7th man down with the score on 254. Only 16 needed for victory with 3 wickets in hand, he can't be blamed for the poor batting of the last three unable to get a mere 16 runs.

114 v Aus, back in 1992 still a young man, again comes in after a poor start, 2/69, India keep losing regular wickets he is penultimate man out. Scored 114 out of 171 whilst he was at the crease (66.67%).

119* v Eng, again still at the start of his career in 1990, this is what you might call a match saving innings, a la 185* by Atherton or 337 by Mohammed or 275 by Kirsten. He came in 4/109, next two go down at 127 and 183 respectively. England need just 4 more wickets to win, he holds them off with Prabahkar.

116 v Aus, usual story now, in at 2/11, regular wickets tumbling at the other end: (3/31, 4/108, 5/138, 6/167, 7/167, 8/169). He is 9th out at 212 after scoring 116. Can't complain about the attack either.

As for comparisons with Brian Lara: these two were the batting giants of the 1990s, along with Steve Waugh a bit later on. However whereas Lara had two of the best bowlers on his side for most of that period (Walsh and Ambrose), Sachin didn't. Even when he did well the opposition could still rack up big totals due to inept bowling performances.

Lara's 153* is often cited as the best "match-winning innings", but I don't see how one players innings can be classed as match-winning. In that Test the Aussies wilted in their second dig to Ambrose I think who took a 5-for. And Lara was aided very well by his tailenders, I think it was Walsh or Ambrose who stuck around for 60 balls or something whilst Lara could build his innings.

If the Indian tailenders had scored the 16 needed v Pak then all of a sudden Tendulkar's 136 looks better?

[richard]

"In terms of impact, I would rate him far higher than Jordan or any sporting icon for that matter"..

surely you jest PK.

yes I love cricket too but when it comes to world wide sports the game is peripheral oddity. Tendulkar isn't even the best batsman of his generation... Lara far better to watch and Ponting will surpass Tendulkar in everything but odi stats.

Ali, Pele, Maradona, Bannister, Owens, Jordan, Federer, Woods etc THEY are universal sporting icons - most of the world hasn't even heard of Tendulkar as good as he undoubtedly is.

[PK]

In terms of impact, I would rate him far higher than Jordan or any sporting icon for that matter. The pressure on Sachin is unbelievable, especially because he had to face it from the age of 16 - imagine that. You have to live in India to really understand the pressure he faces.

Moreover, any icon could/would have easily messed up his/her life - Sachin could have easily turned into an Indian Britney Spears given his teenage success. Rather than crashing and burning, he's turned into a father of two, with a regular family. I think Sachin's real success is the serenity with which he handled all this as a teenager. A teenager! Think about it.

[dhileep]

I rate the 240 in sydney as his best innings.For the zen monk like self denial of his favourite but risky cover drive.The wagon wheel tells the full story, simply amazing!Not many can score a hundred avoiding 40% of the field but to score 240 at a strike rate of 55 with 23 runs coming from the off side in front of point, against an attack of Lee and Gillespie, when going thru a bad patch and carrying injuries..... I havent seen anything like that innings ever!As one of your previous contributor says any one on his day can tear an attack apart or play cute strokes but this scientific approach to batting is an excercise in mind control and that doesnt come easily!
http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/statsguru/engine/match/64062.html?view=wagon

[Pontings_baldspot]

Story of Sachin's life.. Of all the innings' that have been listed above, only one happened in a game India won..

[Sriram]

I think the 136 in Chennai was the best for a number of reasons some of which we tend to forget as time passes. Firstly, at the time, it was a high-voltage test series between India-Pak after a gap of 9 years. The Pakistan bowling attack was high class with Wasim, Waqar and Saqlain who were close to their very best. Waqar had wiped out 2 batsmen when Tendulkar walked in. The spells by Wasim and Saqlain on the last morning were brilliant. For anybody who doubts it watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFOjvZaXeQ8 as an example. Add to this the fact that the Indian team was riddled with alleged match-fixers. And finally, he was playing with an injured back. This innings was the firmest one-man one-finger salute if ever there was one. A great shame that it had to end the way it did.

[RGB]

Here are a couple of other innings

1) 126 vs Aus Chennai 2001

2) 193 vs End Leeds 2002

Both are a little more memorable as they contributed to victories

[Tim]

Whatever the result, you can be sure the innings wasn't half as good as one of Brian Charles Lara's 6 finest!

[graeme]

After looking at the archives, it doesn't make for pretty reading. In the innings mentioned ONLY one ends up in a team victory and that is on home soil. Most runs are scored in losing efforts, against poor attacks or in perfect batting condions. Plenty of players can play gracefully or tear an attack apart sometime but defining , memorable innings turn matches and/or win series. Something like a Laxman 287, now that is memorable!!

122 vs Eng 1996, ordinary bowling attack!-Lewis, Mullaly,Irani,Patel, Hick India lose by 8 wickets.

176 vs WI 2002 every Tom, Dick and Harry gets runs! 5 centuries in the match Match drawn.

155 vs Aus maybe the worst bowling attack Australia has fielded for the last 15 years? Reifel and Kasprowicz open the bowling backed up Robertson and a surgery bound Warne India win by 179 runs

155 vs SA 4 centuries and plenty of runs in the match except for India's 2nd innings, Tendulkar gets 15 India lose by 9 wickets

136 vs Pak Tendulakar almost gets his side home but no cigar, the memorable match winning innings still eludes him India lose by 12 runs on home turf, ouch!

119 vs Eng 6 centuries in the game, yawn....match drawn, memorable??

114 vs Aus, great batting conditions, scores 5 in the 2nd innings when the pressure is on, India lose by 300 runs.

116 vs Aus Tendulkar outperforms the other Inadian batsman but still can't turn the match. India lose by 180 runs and finish on the wrong end of a 3 nil drubbing.

[DT]

I've only seen Tendulkar play live once, but it was unforgettable. Back in 1998, Simon Doull was a real handful in swinging conditions. He had India 4 wickets down just 10 overs into a test in Wellington, moving the ball both ways with brilliant control. Tendulkar came in and batted so serenely in partnership with Azharuddin (who got a 100) it was breath taking. Tendulkar only made 40 odd, but it was amazing how comfortable he looked in conditions that made the 1998 top order of Sidhu, Jadeja, Dravid and Ganguly look distinctly second rate (despite their obvious quality).