Monday, May 21, 2012
After the World Cup, in the same year against Pakistan at Sharjah, Indian captain Mohammed Azharuddin was going through a lean patch. Tendulkar and Navjot Singh Sidhu
both made centuries to set a then record partnership for the second
wicket. After getting out, Tendulkar found Azharuddin in two minds about
whether he should bat. Tendulkar convinced Azharuddin to bat and
Azharuddin subsequently unleashed 29 runs in a mere 10 balls. It enabled
India post a score in excess of 300 runs for the first time in an ODI.
India went on to win that match.
This was the beginning of a period at the top of the batting world,
culminating in the Australian tour of India in early 1998, with
Tendulkar scoring three consecutive centuries. These were characterised
by a premeditated plan to target Australian spinners Shane Warne and Gavin Robertson,
to whom he regularly charged down the pitch to drive over the infield.
This technique worked as India beat Australia. The test match success
was followed by two scintillating knocks in a tournament
in Sharjah where he scored two consecutive centuries in a must-win game
and then in finals against Australia tormenting Shane Warne once again.
Following the series Warne ruefully joked that he was having nightmares
about his Indian nemesis.[61]
He also had a role with the ball in that series, including a five
wicket haul in an ODI. Set 310 runs to win, Australia were cruising
comfortably at 3 for 203 in the 31st over when Tendulkar turned the
match for India taking wickets of Michael Bevan, Steve Waugh, Darren Lehmann, Tom Moody and Damien Martyn for just 32 runs in 10 overs.[62]
Tendulkar single-handedly won the ICC 1998 quarterfinal at Dhaka
to pave way for India's entry into the semifinals, when he took four
Australian wickets after scoring 141 runs in just 128 balls.
The inaugural Asian Test Championship took place in February and March 1999. Held just twice, the 1999 championship was contested by India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.[63] Eden Gardens hosted the first match, in which Tendulkar was run out for nine after colliding with Pakistan bowler Shoaib Akhtar.
The crowd's reaction to the dismissal was to throw objects at Akhtar,
and the players were taken off the field. The match resumed after
Tendulkar and the president of the ICC appealed to the crowd, however
further rioting meant that the match was finished in front of a crowd of
just 200 people.[64] Tendulkar scored his 19th Test century in the second Test and the match resulted in a draw with Sri Lanka.[65]
India did not progress to the final, which was won by Pakistan, and
refused to participate the next time the championship was held to
increasing political tensions between India and Pakistan.[66]
A chronic back problem flared up when Pakistan toured India in 1999, with India losing the historic Test at Chepauk
despite a gritty century from Tendulkar himself. The worst was yet to
come as Professor Ramesh Tendulkar, Tendulkar's father, died in the
middle of the 1999 Cricket World Cup. Tendulkar flew back to India to attend the final rituals of his father, missing the match against Zimbabwe.
However, he returned with a bang to the World cup scoring a century
(unbeaten 140 off 101 balls) in his very next match against Kenya in Bristol. He dedicated this century to his father.[67]
