AFP Sports picks Sachin Tendulkar’s top five Test centuries in chronological order after the record-setting Indian batsman said on Thursday he will retire after playing his 200th Test next month.
– 119 not out v England at Old Trafford, August 1990
Tendulkar scored the first of his world-record haul of 100 international centuries as a 17-year-old in circumstances that would have tested the credentials of a Test veteran.
India were wobbling at 5-127 after being set 408 to win the second Test against England at Old Trafford, before the teenager defied the England attack for nearly four hours to help his team salvage a draw.
“I thought it came at the right time when India needed runs to save the game. The first century is always going to be memorable. It gave me the confidence,” Tendulkar later told Indian magazine “Sportstar”.
– 114 v Australia at Perth, February 1992
Tendulkar was still in his teens when he cracked a gem of a hundred on a bouncy Perth track against a lively all-pace attack comprising Craig McDermott, Merv Hughes, Paul Reiffel and Mike Whitney.
He hammered 16 fours in a magnificent display of strokemaking after being promoted in the batting order. India lost the match but Tendulkar won many a heart.
Among his admirers was legendary Australian batsman Don Bradman, who said the Indian reminded him of his younger days.
“It was a very important stage of my cricketing life. Australia was something special. Once you score runs in England and Australia, people in the world come to know about you, about what you have done,” said Tendulkar.
– 111 v South Africa at Johannesburg, November 1992
India were struggling in unfamiliar conditions on their maiden tour of South Africa, but not teenager Tendulkar who showed his team-mates the way with an impressive hundred in the first innings of the second Test at Johannesburg.
He was the lone batsman to cope with the hostile pace attack, led by Allan Donald, as he batted for more than six hours and smashed 19 fours in a breathtaking display.
“I was thrilled making runs against South Africa. They had some big names and I was determined to come good. It was the beginning of their return to international cricket and they were trying hard as well,” said Tendulkar.
– 155 not out v Australia at Chennai, March 1998
Tendulkar was involved in a fascinating duel with leg-spin wizard Shane Warne, who eventually came second-best in the battle of the superstars.
The Indian fell to Warne for four in the first innings, but made amends in the second with a strokeful 155 not out with four sixes and 14 fours to set up his team’s victory.
The focus was also on Tendulkar’s preparations. Days before the opening Test, he batted during practice sessions with a deliberate “rough” outside the leg-stump for the bowlers to replicate Warne’s spin from round the wicket.
“Tendulkar has a touch of genius about him. But I wonder if people appreciate the amount of time he spends working on his game. Sachin plans well before every tour,” Warne wrote in his book “Shane Warne’s Century”.
– 103 not out v England at Chennai, December 2008
In one of the most emotional moments in Indian cricket, Tendulkar masterminded a memorable win over England with an unbeaten 103 a few weeks after his home city of Mumbai was devastated by a series of attacks on November 26.
Set 387 to win on the penultimate afternoon, Tendulkar built on Virender Sehwag’s brisk 68-ball 83 as India achieved the highest run chase on home soil and the fifth-highest in the history of the game.
The master batsman dedicated his century to the nation mourning the Mumbai attacks.
“Their loss can’t be replaced, but I hope this win brings some cheer to those who lost dear ones in the attack,” said Tendulkar.