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Milestone beckons Sachin

Little Master one century away from completing 50 hundreds in Test cricket
Last Updated 03 November 2010, 17:28 IST
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International cricket’s most celebrated star has, for many years now, been the holder of the records for the most Test and one-day runs and centuries. A remarkable accomplishment even in a career of overwhelming highs is the little man’s next target.
The awe on Jesse Ryder’s face when he spoke of Tendulkar and 49 Test hundreds in the same breath a couple of days back had to be seen to be believed.

Ryder will have another first-hand experience of what makes Tendulkar tick, even at 37, when India and New Zealand resume Test hostilities after a 20-month break at the Sardar Patel Gujarat stadium in Motera on Thursday.

Hostilities is perhaps too strong a word, for in recent times, Indo-New Zealand clashes have seldom been characterised by the needle that existed during the days of such feisty characters as Craig McMillan and, before him, Ian Smith. Under Daniel Vettori, the Kiwis have focussed more on substance than style, while Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s fighting outfit is the perfect amalgam of style and substance, a well-oiled machine whose sum, therefore, is inevitably greater than the parts.

One part, however, perforce stands out, as it must when it answers to the name of Sachin Tendulkar. For two decades and more, he has entertained and exhilarated, thrilled and excited his vast legion of fans; occasionally, to show that he is not just a run-driven machine, he has disappointed too.

Now, he stands within one century of an unthinkable, surreal 50 Test hundreds. The entire New Zealand squad on tour has 19 Test tons! Sort of lends some perspective, doesn’t it?

Much like Sunil Gavaskar was hounded 27 years back – ‘When’s the 30th coming?’ was the refrain then as the opener drew level with Don Bradman’s then record 29 tons – Tendulkar is today the recipient of the ‘Best of luck for the 50th’ refrain. While he must be feeling the pressure to get that feat out of the way, Tendulkar has maintained a studied calm, his preparations impeccable as ever and his focus as unwavering as it has been for 21 years at the highest level.

Overwhelming favourites
While Tendulkar, and his imminent 50th, is the cynosure, the larger picture of a three-Test series between two teams unevenly matched must not blur. Top-ranked India, back at full strength with all fitness issues having dissipated, begin overwhelming favourites against a side that last played a Test match in March, and is ranked in the bottom half of the Test rankings.

India, though, are leaving nothing to chance, steadfastly guarding against complacency. New Zealand might be supremely overmatched and only Vettori of the 15-man squad has prior Test experience in India, but to take them lightly will be nothing if not fraught with danger.

There is enough quality in the New Zealand top-order to make life difficult for Zaheer Khan and company, especially given that the pitch and the lush green outfield here will not necessarily facilitate reverse swing, one of India’s prime allies on home patch.
Brendon McCullum’s elevation up the batting tree will offer a dynamic challenge for India’s new-ball bowlers, while the class of Ross Taylor and Ryder – who both had great success when India toured New Zealand in early 2009 -- should pose more than just a token threat.

The Kiwi bowling doesn’t carry the same punch, heavily reliant on Chris Martin and Vettori — playing his 100th Test for New Zealand — and thus offering Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid the opportunity of batting themselves back into the runs.

The return to complete fitness of Gambhir and VVS Laxman will mean a return to the bench of Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara, both of whom played influential parts in India’s victory over Australia in Bangalore, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles.

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, S Sreesanth, Pragyan Ojha, Ishant Sharma, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Amit Mishra.
New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (capt), Tim McIntosh, Brendon McCullum, BJ Watling, Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder, Kane Williamson, Gareth Hopkins, Tim Southee, Hamish Bennett, Chris Martin, Andy McKay, Martin Guptill, Brent Arnel.
Umpires: Steve Davis (Australia) and Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka). Third umpire: Shahvir Tarapore. Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka).
Hours of play: 0930-1130 hours, 1210-1410 hours and 1430-end of play. (live on Neo Cricket).

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(Published 03 November 2010, 17:28 IST)

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